The Natural Man: Spiritually Blind and Incapable
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” — 1 Corinthians 2:14
This verse is not a passing remark—it is a doctrinal pillar. It tells us plainly that the unsaved man—the “natural man”—is spiritually blind. He cannot receive the things of God. He cannot understand them. To him, spiritual truth is not merely confusing—it is foolish. This is not a matter of education or intelligence. It is a matter of spiritual incapacity. The natural man is dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1), and dead men do not see, hear, or respond.
If the Gospel Is Hid, Who Then Can Be Saved?
This raises a serious and necessary question: If the natural man cannot receive spiritual truth, how then can he be saved? If the gospel is hid to those who are lost, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, then what hope is there for the unregenerate soul? Surely, if salvation requires understanding, and understanding requires spiritual discernment, then the unsaved are trapped in a hopeless cycle.
But here is where the grace of God breaks through.
The gospel is not hidden by God—it is hidden by blindness. The god of this world, Satan, has blinded the minds of them which believe not. They do not see because they cannot see. Yet God, in His mercy, does not leave them in that state. He initiates. He convicts. He draws. He opens the eyes of the blind. The gospel is preached to all, and through that preaching, the Spirit of God begins His work.
The Divine Sequence: How the Unsaved Receive Salvation
Faith does not begin in man—it begins in God. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The Word is proclaimed, and the Spirit moves. John 16:8 tells us that the Spirit reproves the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. This is not limited to a select few—it is the world. The Spirit convicts broadly, and the Father draws. Jesus said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44). This drawing is not forced—it is gracious. It is the loving hand of God reaching into the darkness and offering light.
And yet, God does not override the will. He does not coerce belief. He invites. He convicts. He draws. But man must respond. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). The gospel is a genuine offer to all. The Spirit makes it understandable. And faith is the response God requires.
Does God Choose Who Will Be Saved?
At this point, some may ask: Doesn’t God choose who will be saved? Isn’t salvation a matter of election? And if so, is the offer of the gospel truly universal?
This is where clarity is essential. Scripture does speak of election and predestination, but these terms must be understood rightly. God’s desire is clear: “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). Christ’s sacrifice was not limited: “He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). The invitation is open: “Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). And the drawing is broad: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32).
These verses do not describe a narrow gate reserved for the elect—they describe a wide invitation extended to all. The Spirit convicts the world. The gospel is preached to every creature. The offer is real. The choice is man’s.
Predestination: The Destiny of the Believer
So, what then of predestination? It is not about who gets to believe—it is about what happens to those who do. Romans 8:29 says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Predestination is the destiny of the believer, not the selection of the believer. It is the promise that those who respond in faith will be shaped into the likeness of Christ and secured in Him forever.
This is the beauty of God’s plan. The natural man is blind. He cannot receive spiritual truth. But God, in love, initiates salvation. He convicts the heart. He draws the sinner. He makes the gospel understandable. And He invites all to respond in faith.
The Final Truth: A Universal Invitation, A Personal Response
The gospel is not a secret code for the chosen few. It is a light shining in darkness. It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Romans 1:16). The invitation is universal. The provision is complete. The response is personal.
God does not choose who may believe—He chooses what happens to those who do. And He calls all to believe.
The natural man is blind. But the grace of God opens eyes. The gospel is preached. The Spirit convicts. The Father draws. And the soul that responds in faith is saved. God’s invitation is universal—but it is up to man to choose through faith.
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