Spiritual Discernment

It means that the truth can be heard with the ears but not received with the heart.

What Does It Mean That the Natural Man Cannot Understand the Gospel?

“The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”— 1 Corinthians 2:14

Some people think that when we say sinners are “dead in sin,” we mean they are incapable of understanding the words of the gospel. That is not quite right. In fact, that is not what we mean at all.

"Dead in sin" does not mean intellectually unaware. It means the sinner cannot savor spiritual truth, take delight in it, or rejoice in it.

The sinner can understand the words, the facts, and even the implications of the gospel. He can read a Bible tract, listen to a sermon, or hear a friend explain the good news about Jesus. But he cannot understand or see the beauty, truth, and excellence of Christ in it. He does not grasp why Jesus is good news. He does not treasure what is being offered.

As Jesus said, "Seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand" (Matthew 13:13). Paul explains that the problem is not lack of information but lack of spiritual discernment. The gospel seems like foolishness to the natural man because he does not have the Holy Spirit.

That phrase, "spiritually discerned," is crucial. It means that the truth can be heard with the ears but not received with the heart. The gospel does not just require comprehension. It requires spiritual sight, the ability to see Christ as desirable, trustworthy, and worthy of all. That is something no one has by nature. It is something only the Holy Spirit provides.

The sinner’s condition is unlike a man who wants to believe but cannot. It is more like someone who hates the offer and wants nothing to do with it. "You refuse to come to Me, that you may have life" (John 5:40). Why? "Because the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19).

That is why no one comes to Christ unless the Father draws them (John 6:44). As Scripture says, "The Lord opened {Lydia's} heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul" (Acts 16:14). Faith is not a natural response. It is something God must grant (John 6:65; Philippians 1:29; 2 Timothy 2:25).

This is what it means to be dead in sin. Not brain-dead. Not being unable to read or hear. But spiritually hardened, without affection for the things of God. That is why Paul says that even though the unbeliever knows God, "he suppresses the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18). He does not lack information. He lacks love for the truth. He knows that God exists and that He is holy, but he resents that holiness. He knows what God commands but does not see it as good or life-giving.

In other words, his problem is not cognitive. It is moral and spiritual.

That is why we pray for unbelievers. That is why we ask the Spirit to open hearts. That is why we believe that salvation, from start to finish, is by grace. Because unless God gives new eyes, no one will ever see Jesus as their greatest need and treasure.

Article from Monergism

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Key Verses on Discernment

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." This verse highlights the importance of relying on God’s guidance rather than human judgment for discernment.

Philippians 1:9-10 Paul prays that believers’ love may abound in knowledge and insight so they can discern what is best and remain pure and blameless, linking discernment to moral excellence and spiritual growth.

1 Corinthians 2:14-15 "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness... The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things." This underscores that true spiritual discernment comes through the Holy Spirit.

James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." Prayer for wisdom is essential for discernment.

1 John 4:1 – "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." This teaches believers to evaluate spiritual messages critically.

Proverbs 2:6 – "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." Wisdom from God is foundational for discerning truth.

Philippians 4:6-7 – Encourages presenting requests to God through prayer and thanksgiving, allowing His peace to guard hearts and minds, which aids in making discerning decisions.

Matthew 7:7 & Luke 11:9 – "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you." Persistent seeking of God’s guidance is the key to spiritual discernment.

1 Chronicles 16:11 – "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." Constant focus on God helps believers discern His will.

As I woke up today,

I sought God’s will,

and He said to me, "My child . . .

lie there and be still."

So I stayed in my bed,

wondering about the day,

and He said to me,

"My child . . .

"I will lead you the way.

As I pulled off my covers

so my day could start,

He said to me,

"My child . . .

let me have all your heart.

I didn’t know just what

with the day I was to do,

and He said to me,

"My child . . .let Me influence you."

As I woke up today,

God's will for me I sought,

and He said to me, "My child . . .

give me your every thought!"

~~~~~~~~

By Deborah Ann Belka