Again, there is
a sense in which this is true, but
another sense in which it is not. The correct (and very Biblical) way to understand it is, man
will not ~ because of his condition from birth, which is death in sin ~
if left to himself, believe and thus choose God. If left in this natural state, he (or she, of course) will
never believe and thus
never choose God... not woodenly because he or she can't or is incapable, but because he or she will remain wholly inclined not to do so. Observe what Jesus Himself says in John 6, 8, and 10:
- "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." (John 6:63-65).
- "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God" (John 8:42-47).
- "...the Jews gathered around him and said to him, 'How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.' Jesus answered them, 'I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name bear witness about Me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand" (John 10:24-29).
Deception it is certainly not. This is the Word of God.
Grace and peace to you, Behold.
Amen and here Christ talks more on this same concept.
I bolded the things Christ said that bear witness to the truths you already shared.
The Fourfold Witness
31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not [
e]true. 32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.
38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.
39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
41 “I do not receive honor from men.
42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.
43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.
44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that
comes from the only God?
45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is
one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust.
46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.
47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
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God's word is not abiding within them, God's Spirit has not been at work within them, THEY ARE NOT OF GOD.
Therefore, when Christ appears, they do not believe.
These are not changed men. Takes being born of God first to believe in Christ. When a person is born of God having the NEW MAN within created by God in righteousness and holiness, then and only then are they believers in Christ, as in Christ appears in their lives, they believe in Christ.
They did not believe the scriptures or the prophets.
They did not have the love of God within them, which can only come from God
So therefore, they are unwilling to come to Christ to be saved.
Romans 8 says it is impossible.... for the carnally minded, to please God, so they can never be saved, as they will never believe.
Enmity is like intense dislike, hatred even.
6 For to be [b]carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the [c]carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Jesus in John 8 says if you are not OF GOD, you will not hear and believe, Jesus says if you are OF GOD, you will hear and believe.
47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
Notice they are OF GOD before they HEAR....so when they hear God speak, only then do they believe. You must be OF GOD or you will never believe. You must be BORN AGAIN to believe, which is what Christ is saying there. To be OF GOD, means God is at work within them on the inside, and HE does His works by the Spirit to make a person born again.
John 6:29
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the
work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
He does that according to His will for any particular person, His Spirit moves on them like wind...
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [
a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Born again comes first, entering the kingdom comes after.
Neither can you see Christ as the Captain of salvation in the kingdom of God
Not born again = carnally minded.
Born again = spiritually minded