Aug 13, 2023
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:14
The contrast, in this section of 1 Corinthians, has been between human wisdom and divine wisdom … and between people of God and people of the world. It is the contrast between these two groups of people which is in view in verses 14,15. People of God (Christians) are called 'the spiritual person' in verse 15 … and people of the world (unbelievers) are called 'the natural person' in verse 14.
The Scripture teaches that the natural human heart is corrupted to the point that it does not seek God (Rom 3:11) and does not fear God (Rom 3:18) and does not submit to God's law (Rom 8:7).
But beyond the notion that unbelievers do not obey God, the Scripture teaches that, apart from the life-giving work of God's Spirit, unbelievers cannotsubmit to God. 1 Corinthians 2:14 moves from does not ("The natural person does not accept the things of God") to cannot ("and he is not able to understand them").
The problem is a moral problem. Christ offers Himself to all for eternal life. But, the corruption of the human heart is so thorough that no one wantsthis life in Christ. "The nature of man since the fall is so corrupt and depraved that even when Christ is made known and preached to him, he will not come to Him and believe in Him without the special grace of God inclining his will and giving him a disposition to come. Moral (per)suasion and advice alone will not bring him. He must be 'drawn'" (J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on John, 1:271).
It should fill us with thanksgiving to grasp that everything we have, including our coming to Jesus, is a gift from God. How thankful we should be for sovereign grace.