Another Scripture cited out of context by tulipists is
1 Corinthians 2:14, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
In order to understand Scripture correctly, one must consider both the immediate context and NT teaching. Here is relevant immediate context for that verse:
1Cor. 1:21b, “God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” God’s method of saving sinners or natural men is via revealing the Gospel, and we know from
1Tim. 2:3-4 that God desires all to believe it and be saved.
1Cor. 1:23-24, “We preach Christ crucified… to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” Again, “We preach to all natural men”, and “to those natural men God has called”.
This prompts the question: Is “desire” in
1Tim. 2:3-4 synonymous with God’s “calling” in
1Cor. 1:24–and we might add with God’s “drawing” in
John 12:32 and with God’s “invitation” in
Matt. 22:14? The last verse and
John 13:18 indicate that although God loves and wants to save every natural man, some ignore/reject/resist His desire/calling/drawing/invitation and are therefore not chosen or saved, while some do NOT resist God’s calling but rather believe the Gospel, realizing its wisdom and power to save, at which point they become chosen/elect.
1Cor. 1:26, “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called… Not many were influential.” They were natural men in the lower social class, but yet they believed or cooperated with God’s calling.
1Cor. 1:27-28, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise… the lowly… and the despised”. God’s saving of despised natural men was intended to humble all natural men, so that “no one may boast before him” (
1Cor. 1:29).
1Cor. 2:1-2, “When I came to you, brothers… I proclaimed to you… Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Paul reiterated that God saved some natural men via them accepting Paul’s preaching of the Gospel. When they believe, they receive God's HS per Rom. 5:5.
1Cor. 2:10, “God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.” God’s HS enables natural men to seek, find (Matt. 7:7-9), believe the Gospel and receive the HS/be saved (or not).
Thus,
1 Corinthians 2:14 means, “The man without the Spirit [who resists/refuses to cooperate with God's grace/Gospel and thus does not receive the HS] does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God [the "all truth" of John 16:13 and "everything" of Matt. 28:20], for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”