The Natural Man’s Responsibility Before God’s Call

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually examined.” (1 Corinthians 2:14, LSB)

When Paul says the natural man cannot understand the things of the Spirit, he is not removing personal responsibility. The inability he speaks of is a moral and spiritual inability, not a lack of capacity like a broken machine or a missing skill. The natural man is responsible because his rejection of God’s truth is not from ignorance alone, it is from willful unbelief.

Romans 1:18–20 makes this clear. Paul says that men “suppress the truth in unrighteousness,” and that God’s eternal power and divine nature “have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” In other words, the problem is not that God has hidden Himself. He has revealed Himself in creation, in conscience, and ultimately in the gospel. The natural man simply chooses not to bow the knee.

Jesus also held men accountable for their rejection of Him. In John 5:39–40, He said to the religious leaders, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that bear witness about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” Notice, He does not say they could not come because they lacked the right kind of intellect, but that they were unwilling to come. Their hearts were hardened in pride.

This is why the call to repentance still goes out to all. In Acts 17:30, Paul told the Athenians, “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now commanding men that everyone everywhere should repent.” The command to repent is universal, and with it comes accountability. No one will be able to stand before God and claim they were never invited to come.

Yes, it is true, the natural man will not accept the things of God without the Spirit’s work. But it is equally true that when God calls, the natural man is responsible to respond. The refusal is not due to God withholding grace, but to the sinner clinging to sin and self.

This truth should produce two responses in us:

  • Urgency in evangelism. We know that apart from the Spirit’s work, man will not turn to Christ, but we also know the Spirit works through the preaching of the gospel (Romans 10:17).

  • Personal accountability. If you hear the call of God today, through Scripture, through preaching, through that gnawing conviction in your soul, do not harden your heart. Do not hide behind excuses. You are responsible before the living God to turn from your sin and believe in Christ.

You may feel unworthy. You may think you have too many questions. But the invitation of Isaiah 55:6–7 still stands: “Seek Yahweh while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to Yahweh, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”

God is calling. The responsibility to answer is yours.

In Love,

Pastor Jody
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