Ministry Resources

A Calvinist recently told me that “Mankind now is spiritually dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1) and must be made alive or born again. Being dead we can’t even believe the gospel until regenerated. Sinful men can’t believe the gospel (1 Corinthians 2:14)”

1 Corinthians 2:14 - “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.”

This misapplies wonderful verses of assurance to any who know the Lord in Salvation. These verses speak of the BENEFITS in Salvation not some BARRIER to it!

When I was lost, I could read the words of the Bible, but they held no deeper meaning to me. Now, I'm Saved and the Holy Spirit of God communes with my now-living spirit. The Bible now contains an inexhaustible storehouse of treasures for me. Scripture is filled with new manna for each day, inexplicably fit for my needs–even before I know what the day may bring!

Consider the rest of 1 Corinthians Chapter 2 to place verse 14 into a proper grammatical context. The passage describes the differences in what the natural senses of a person can know (i.e. the original equipment of the lost) and what the Saved person can know through the Spirit.

For instance, verse 9 details what our physical senses and mind might grasp: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

However, verse 10 highlights the effects of Salvation! “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

This exposes an error in the theological framework of Calvinism. Case in point, similarly another Calvinist asked me, “How can a dead person accept a gift?” This question intends to show that God must “force” us into Salvation (against our will). In fact, one person even said, “God doesn't ask our permission to save us.”

Remember that Ephesians 2:8 & 9 says - “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

With that in mind, please consider the simple diagram above. Man is a triune being created in the image of a triune God. We know that the spiritual side of mankind is dead without Salvation. We know that the soul is alive (but will die eternally in hell without Salvation). We know that the body is alive (but will die physically at some future point).

Back to the question, where is faith exercised? Certainly not the spirit, it is dead without Salvation. Certainly not the body. Not only is it unclear how a “body” might exhibit faith, but furthermore it would seem that “not of works” would apply here. If by nothing more than the process of elimination, we see that faith may only exist in the realm of the soul. The soul is most definitely “alive” and therefore able to receive God's free gift of Salvation. The very idea that one “must be Saved before one can be Saved” is the worst kind of chicken-and-egg misdirection.

Hebrews 2:3 (notice the word “neglect” which indicates choice) - “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”

Therefore, choose Him! Romans 10:10 says “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”