What 3 verses say that a lost man cannot believe the gospel?

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ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
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#61
If this were not so, then the preaching of the Gospel would be meaningless.

God meant to use the Gospel itself as the power of God unto salvation (Rom 1:16). Which means that the lost can surely understand that Christ died for their sins according to the Scriptures, and rose again for their justification according to the Scriptures. That God commands all men everywhere to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Holy Spirit works in concert with the Gospel.

Furthermore faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (the Gospel) (Rom 10:17). God does not give saving faith to some as a gift, while bypassing others. God does not elect some for salvation and others for damnation(as the Calvinists claim) .

1 Corinthians 2:14 is speaking about the deep things of God. That means the deeper spiritual truths AFTER the Gospel has been preached and obeyed.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Cor 2:10)
The "US" in verse 10 has reference to those that have been born again, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Read verse 11 also and it will divide the spirit of man from the Spirit of God.

The natural man cannot understand, even the basic things of the spiritual gospel. All things of the Spirit are foolishness to him because he cannot discern them.

The natural man has the spirit of man, and his faith is in man and his accomplishments. Spiritual faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and comes only with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit after regeneration.

Babes in Christ are new spiritually born and are in need of being taught the meat of the gospel. Jesus instructed his Apostles to go and preach to the "lost sheep" (born again babes) of the house of Israel, which is not the nation of Israel, but the house of Jacob,(who is representative of God's elect, Rom 9:11) as Jacob's name was changed by God (Gen 33:28) to be called Israel.

Isaiah 28:9-10, Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line, here a little, and there a little.
 
Dec 9, 2011
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#64
I guess John the Baptist was presenting a false hope.
Oh I think I know what you are saying,I think you got what I was saying differently than what I meant.I meant that a lost man that can not repent Is an unsaved person that Is either physically dead or reprobate.Not that a worldly person can’t repent.
 

ForestGreenCook

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Jul 8, 2018
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#65
The above concept is the absolute antithesis of the Gospel. The entire chapter of Luke 15 pertains to this.
The inspired scriptures are written to God's regenerated children, instructing them as how he wants them to live their lives as they sojourn here in this world. They are in the world, but not off the world.

The "LOST" in all three of the parables in Luke 15 are representing God's regenerated children, "lost sheep", "one piece of silver", "the younger son".

"Babes in Christ" are new born spiritually, and are considered as "lost sheep", Jesus instructed his Apostles to go and preach to the "lost sheep" of the house of Israel, which is not the nation of Israel, but the house of Jacob (God changed Jacob's name to be called Israel, Gen 33:28). Jacob is representative of God's elect, Rom 9:11, which consists of people from every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, Rev 5:9.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
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#67
The gospel "IS" the things of the Spirit. Verse 10, the "US" are those who have been born again with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Read verse 11 also, which divides the spirit of man from the Spirit of God.
Paul is perfectly capable with the Holy Spirit to say ' Gospel ' when he means the Gospel. 6¶Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: ( mature ) yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
This is the context.
 

ForestGreenCook

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Jul 8, 2018
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#68
I guess John the Baptist was presenting a false hope.
The natural man, who has not been regenerated, will not repent of breaking a spiritual law that he cannot understand, and thinks it to be foolish. John the baptist was preaching to regenerated children of God, and so were the Apostles, and also Jesus. Only those who have had their hearts changed to a fleshy heart, that have a conscience that can be pricked, will repent of breaking a spiritual law.
 

ForestGreenCook

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Jul 8, 2018
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#69
Paul is perfectly capable with the Holy Spirit to say ' Gospel ' when he means the Gospel. 6¶Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: ( mature ) yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
This is the context.
So, are you denying that the gospel of Christ is about spiritual things?
 

throughfaith

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Aug 4, 2020
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#70
So, are you denying that the gospel of Christ is about spiritual things?
Poor bible study is when we use inductive reasoning and generalising, instead of carefully reading simply what it says . Not what it doesn't say .
Catholics do this when they say things like " The bible doesn't say we can't pray to Mary " therfore concluding by it not saying this its OK. Thats what your doing here . What is Paul talking about in Verse 6 of 1 cor 2 ? Its about things spoken amoung mature believers that is contrasted about the carnal believers not able yet to understand. The chapters are about carnality within the Church .
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
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#71
I do not think any of these fit the ops question explicitly.

I think he wants exact wording not something that could be translated that way

I can translate all of these differently that you in what they are really saying concerning mans ability to be drawn to god and come to faith while dead in sin
How about these?

1 Corinthians 1:18-19
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
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#72
Verse 6 is about verse 1 which is about the gospel.
Then verse 6 says HOWBEIT we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: ( mature ) yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#74
1 cor 2:14 is a good one but @ForestGreenCook already gave that one...
Romans 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

John 3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
what about,


What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just as it is written:
“God has given them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that they should not see
and ears that they should not hear,
to this very day.”
And David says:
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a recompense to them.
Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see,
and bow down their back always.”
I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
(Romans 11:7-12)
i know the invitation to enter the supposed trap in the OP said '3 verses' but verses are arbitrary, not inspired. you may as well call these all one verse. ;)
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#75
You are forgetting that I mentioned the Holy Spirit in connection with the Gospel. You are also forgetting that Paul said that even if men preached the Gospel in pretense, it was still being preached.

PHILIPPIANS 1: THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
i don't see why anything i said makes you think i forget the Holy Spirit, or what you think it is about this passage in Philippians that contradicts what i said. i'm not sure you understood..?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#76
So post #13 supposed right...this (yet another) thread is an attempt to "win" an argument, or prove a point? Just curious.....
yes, you can mark the "I ask a question but I really already have an opinion I plan to argue against all your answers" square off on your BDF bingo card, if that's what you're asking?

:)
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#77
I'm not certain it is. I could see God causing blindness regardless of the fall in order to bring glory to himself still. Sight is a grace, not a right.
well consider the kind of blindness that is a creature with optical organs, that are blemished, that don't function. that's different than something like a worm who is blind because he doesn't have eyes in the first place. i think this is the definition of blindness being considered.

the question becomes whether blindness as a deformity was part of the 'very good' creation before sin entered the world; did God create deformed, broken, crippled versions of living creatures, and call them very good? or did blemish in the earth appear only after they became poisoned & tainted when He cursed the ground for Adam's sake?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#78
let me restate it for you @Nehemiah6 maybe it will help :)

It has been well stated that the only thing a lost person can understand is the gospel.
If this were not so, then the preaching of the Gospel would be meaningless.
the preaching of the gospel is not made meaningless by the fact that it is not understood unless God opens the ear to perceive it and the heart to believe it.

why did Christ preach in parables, in the hearing of those He knew did not believe ((John 6:36)), would not believe ((John 6:64)) & could not believe ((John 10:26))?
was it meaningless for the gospel to be proclaimed in their hearing? of course not. He's God and His word does not go out in vanity.


so i said, it is not true that any arbitrary man can be coerced by another man into receiving and believing the gospel, by clever speech and argument. perfect preaching does not automatically convert anyone or cause anyone to understand who Christ is and what He has done. conversion is supernatural, not formulaic, and by God's will, not human effort - it involves God revealing Himself; He is not found except by those He chooses to reveal Himself to ((Luke 10:22)). i hope you don't disagree??
 
May 31, 2020
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#79
representing God's regenerated children
Where is it written in the Bible that Jesus is here for God’s regenerated children? Which Hebrew and Greek words translate to regenerated?