What do Calvinists mean by "inability" (to believe)

[Skala]

Calvinism teaches "Total Depravity" which contains the idea that fallen man is "unable" to believe the gospel.

Objectors often argue that if man is unable to do something, then God is unjust for holding him accountable for not doing it.

So what is going on, exactly?

To know what Calvinists mean, you have to know what they believe about man's nature.

Calvinists believe that beings always act in accordance with their nature. For example, God is holy, thus everything God does is consistent with that nature. It is impossible for him to act un-holy. He cannot sin, for example. He cannot cease being God. To do any of things is inconsistent with His nature.

We are made in God's image.

We follow the same rules as God. We act consistent with our natures.

For example, currently, Christians act like Christians for the most part. This is because we have the Spirit in us producing fruit.

We don't do this perfectly yet, because we are not perfectly like Christ. We still have the old man and we are constantly at battle against it. However, one day we will be perfect, after resurrection and on the new earth. Then, we will be glorified and made with new bodies, and will be just like Jesus, and our natures will be perfectly Christlike. We won't be able to sin. We will worship God perfectly. There will be no corruption. That is because we will be acting consistent with our natures.

Now to shift the attention back to fallen, unregenerate man. (ie a person who has not been born again, who does not have the Spirit indwelling). They, too, act consistent with their nature.

The bible describes fallen, unregenerate man as follows: they are haters of God, hostile to Christ, they find the gospel foolishness, and they can't understand spiritual things, and they can't do anything pleasing to God, they live to serve the desires of their flesh, they are spiritually dead, they don't have ears to hear or eyes to see, they can't do good any more than a leopard can change its own spots or the Ethiopian change the color of his skin.

On and on I could go. (the Bible has a lot to say about fallen man's attitude towards God!)

So, when such a person encounters the gospel message, what does he do? Does he act in a way consistent with his nature? Or does he suddenly break free from the bonds of his own nature/self and do something inconsistent with his nature?

Calvinists say that he acts consistently with his nature. He rejects the gospel freely and willingly, because he wants to reject it. Because its his nature to do so.

Notice, Calvinists aren't saying that the man wants to believe, but some unknown force is preventing him from doing so. Instead, they are saying he doesn't want to believe the gospel in the first place.

Thus, he is unable to believe the gospel.

So in Calvinism, a man's inability is precisely because of and predicated on his unwillingness.

Why do we call this an "inability", and not simply use the word "unwillingness"? Wouldn't that make it easier on ourselves (Calvinists) and stop many debates before they even start, and stop at least some of the strawmen and criticisms and objections from anti-Calvinists?

Probably.

But we think "inability" is an important distinction. Because it gets to the heart of the issue, and that is "nature". Man's "nature" is an important topic in Calvinism. Why? Because the doctrine of Regeneration deals with this very issue.

We say that man gets a new nature! God changes our hearts and makes us alive in Christ. We are new creatures.

When God regenerates us, we are now willing to do what previously we were unwilling to do. When we are born again (regenerated), we still act consistent with our (new) nature. What is consistent with the nature of a person who is spirituality alive and has a heart of flesh (rather than stone), whose eyes are open and ears are able to hear? Why, to believe the gospel of course! To repent of sins. To put faith in Jesus.

These are all the activities of a person who is spiritually alive.

 

[JesusFreak78]

Calvinism teaches "Total Depravity" which contains the idea that fallen man is "unable" to believe the gospel.

Objectors often argue that if man is unable to do something, then God is unjust for holding him accountable for not doing it.

So what is going on, exactly?

To know what Calvinists mean, you have to know what they believe about man's nature.

Calvinists believe that beings always act in accordance with their nature. For example, God is holy, thus everything God does is consistent with that nature. It is impossible for him to act un-holy. He cannot sin, for example. He cannot cease being God. To do any of things is inconsistent with His nature.

We are made in God's image.

We follow the same rules as God. We act consistent with our natures.

For example, currently, Christians act like Christians for the most part. This is because we have the Spirit in us producing fruit.

We don't do this perfectly yet, because we are not perfectly like Christ. We still have the old man and we are constantly at battle against it. However, one day we will be perfect, after resurrection and on the new earth. Then, we will be glorified and made with new bodies, and will be just like Jesus, and our natures will be perfectly Christlike. We won't be able to sin. We will worship God perfectly. There will be no corruption. That is because we will be acting consistent with our natures.

Now to shift the attention back to fallen, unregenerate man. (ie a person who has not been born again, who does not have the Spirit indwelling). They, too, act consistent with their nature.

The bible describes fallen, unregenerate man as follows: they are haters of God, hostile to Christ, they find the gospel foolishness, and they can't understand spiritual things, and they can't do anything pleasing to God, they live to serve the desires of their flesh, they are spiritually dead, they don't have ears to hear or eyes to see, they can't do good any more than a leopard can change its own spots or the Ethiopian change the color of his skin.

On and on I could go. (the Bible has a lot to say about fallen man's attitude towards God!)

So, when such a person encounters the gospel message, what does he do? Does he act in a way consistent with his nature? Or does he suddenly break free from the bonds of his own nature/self and do something inconsistent with his nature?

Calvinists say that he acts consistently with his nature. He rejects the gospel freely and willingly, because he wants to reject it. Because its his nature to do so.

Notice, Calvinists aren't saying that the man wants to believe, but some unknown force is preventing him from doing so. Instead, they are saying he doesn't want to believe the gospel in the first place.

Thus, he is unable to believe the gospel.

So in Calvinism, a man's inability is precisely because of and predicated on his unwillingness.

Why do we call this an "inability", and not simply use the word "unwillingness"? Wouldn't that make it easier on ourselves (Calvinists) and stop many debates before they even start, and stop at least some of the strawmen and criticisms and objections from anti-Calvinists?

Probably.

But we think "inability" is an important distinction. Because it gets to the heart of the issue, and that is "nature". Man's "nature" is an important topic in Calvinism. Why? Because the doctrine of Regeneration deals with this very issue.

We say that man gets a new nature! God changes our hearts and makes us alive in Christ. We are new creatures.

When God regenerates us, we are now willing to do what previously we were unwilling to do. When we are born again (regenerated), we still act consistent with our (new) nature. What is consistent with the nature of a person who is spirituality alive and has a heart of flesh (rather than stone), whose eyes are open and ears are able to hear? Why, to believe the gospel of course! To repent of sins. To put faith in Jesus.

These are all the activities of a person who is spiritually alive.

Great post.

Here are some Bible verses that people can look up:
Romans 1:28-30
Romans 8:7, Colossians 1:20-22
1 Corinthians 1:18
1 Corinthians 2:14
Hebrews 11:6
John 3:19, Ephesians 2:3
Romans 11:7-8, Ephesians 2:1-5
Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Romans 3:12

 

[Brother Chris]

Great post and commentary Skala. Man's inability to believe is not physical inability, but it's a moral inability. They can not believe, because they will not believe. Because they freely and deliberately reject the gospel, for that reason, God can hold them accountable.

This idea of "free choice" and "free will" is a myth. Man, left to himself and his nature, will ALWAYS reject the gospel. They will never come to Christ, because they WILL NOT come to Christ. That's why no one comes to Christ, unless the Father draws them.

 

[Brother Chris]

<Staff Edit>
Yes, they do not want to believe, they have no desire, they don't care. When I say "moral inability" it means they are not able to do the right thing, not because they're not smart enough or aren't physically capable of doing it, but because of their sin and unbelief. For example:

Bob is upset at Tom for something Tom did. I tell Bob, "you should forgive Tom." Bob says, "I can't forgive him." Then I say, "What do you mean you can't? You have a mouth, you know how to speak. Walk on over to him and tell him that you forgive him." Then Bob says, "No, I will not forgive him."

See the connection? Bob is unable to forgive, because he will not forgive. The same is with salvation. People can't come to Christ, because they will not come to him.

 

[Brother Chris]

<Staff Edit>

Bob can not forgive, because he WILL NOT forgive. He doesn't want to forgive. Regardless of what Tom did, Bob is unable to forgive. This was just an example for moral inability.

People can not come to Christ, because for whatever reason, they WILL NOT come to Him. They don't want to. They hate Him, they hate His law, and everything about Him.

 

[Albion]

People can not come to Christ, because for whatever reason, they WILL NOT come to Him. They don't want to. They hate Him, they hate His law, and everything about Him.

In other words, they cannot come to him because they cannot understand him. That's a good illustration of why it takes God to grant to Men the ability to know him.

 

[Brother Chris]

In other words, they cannot come to him because they cannot understand him. That's a good illustration of why it takes God to grant to Men the ability to know him.

Sometimes that is the case, but primarily they don't come to Christ because of sin, the world, satan, self, pride and unbelief.

 

[bottomofsandal]

In other words, they cannot come to him because they cannot understand him. That's a good illustration of why it takes God to grant to Men the ability to know him.

This resonates with me because the same-old same-old expressions just fall to the ground empty, but this is fresh.

The switch inside of man that allows understanding must be activated. All the explanations, illustrations, sermons, etc. will have absolutely zero impact unless man begins to understand God. To the unsaved, God is foreign, almost like an alien to their intelligence.

 

[bling]

Calvinism teaches "Total Depravity" which contains the idea that fallen man is "unable" to believe the gospel.

Objectors often argue that if man is unable to do something, then God is unjust for holding him accountable for not doing it.

So what is going on, exactly?

To know what Calvinists mean, you have to know what they believe about man's nature.

Calvinists believe that beings always act in accordance with their nature. For example, God is holy, thus everything God does is consistent with that nature. It is impossible for him to act un-holy. He cannot sin, for example. He cannot cease being God. To do any of things is inconsistent with His nature.

We are made in God's image.

We follow the same rules as God. We act consistent with our natures.

For example, currently, Christians act like Christians for the most part. This is because we have the Spirit in us producing fruit.

We don't do this perfectly yet, because we are not perfectly like Christ. We still have the old man and we are constantly at battle against it. However, one day we will be perfect, after resurrection and on the new earth. Then, we will be glorified and made with new bodies, and will be just like Jesus, and our natures will be perfectly Christlike. We won't be able to sin. We will worship God perfectly. There will be no corruption. That is because we will be acting consistent with our natures.

Now to shift the attention back to fallen, unregenerate man. (ie a person who has not been born again, who does not have the Spirit indwelling). They, too, act consistent with their nature.

The bible describes fallen, unregenerate man as follows: they are haters of God, hostile to Christ, they find the gospel foolishness, and they can't understand spiritual things, and they can't do anything pleasing to God, they live to serve the desires of their flesh, they are spiritually dead, they don't have ears to hear or eyes to see, they can't do good any more than a leopard can change its own spots or the Ethiopian change the color of his skin.

On and on I could go. (the Bible has a lot to say about fallen man's attitude towards God!)

So, when such a person encounters the gospel message, what does he do? Does he act in a way consistent with his nature? Or does he suddenly break free from the bonds of his own nature/self and do something inconsistent with his nature?

Calvinists say that he acts consistently with his nature. He rejects the gospel freely and willingly, because he wants to reject it. Because its his nature to do so.

Notice, Calvinists aren't saying that the man wants to believe, but some unknown force is preventing him from doing so. Instead, they are saying he doesn't want to believe the gospel in the first place.

Thus, he is unable to believe the gospel.

So in Calvinism, a man's inability is precisely because of and predicated on his unwillingness.

Why do we call this an "inability", and not simply use the word "unwillingness"? Wouldn't that make it easier on ourselves (Calvinists) and stop many debates before they even start, and stop at least some of the strawmen and criticisms and objections from anti-Calvinists?

Probably.

But we think "inability" is an important distinction. Because it gets to the heart of the issue, and that is "nature". Man's "nature" is an important topic in Calvinism. Why? Because the doctrine of Regeneration deals with this very issue.

We say that man gets a new nature! God changes our hearts and makes us alive in Christ. We are new creatures.

When God regenerates us, we are now willing to do what previously we were unwilling to do. When we are born again (regenerated), we still act consistent with our (new) nature. What is consistent with the nature of a person who is spirituality alive and has a heart of flesh (rather than stone), whose eyes are open and ears are able to hear? Why, to believe the gospel of course! To repent of sins. To put faith in Jesus.

These are all the activities of a person who is spiritually alive.

The first issue I see is with Adam and Eve since they sinned with the nature God gave them, so did they have this “sinful” nature?

If Adam and Eve had the ability to believe and rebelled against God why would others have to be created with an inability to rebel against God?

Biologist will talk about animals behaving consistent with their nature, but man was created in the image of God and God has free will, so does man have free will?

You stated the main objection: “…then God is unjust for holding him accountable for not doing it”, but did not show how God is not being unjust in not provide all mature adults with this very limited one small ability?

 

[Job8]

This idea of "free choice" and "free will" is a myth.

Since the term *free will* is found in the Bible it cannot be a myth. Please get a hold of Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (KJV) and look up "free will". But some people are in denial because admitting that God has actually given men the ability to chose Christ is not something they want to hear. However, if free will did not exist, then the entire nation of Israel would have been saved when Messiah came to save them.

Man, left to himself and his nature, will ALWAYS reject the gospel.

If you begin with a false premise, you end up with a false conclusion. Who says that "man is left to himself"? The Gospel itself is called "THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION". Therefore the Gospel has supernatural power to penetrate hearts and minds. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit is presently in the world to convict and to convince sinners, and since He is God, God Almighty speaks to hearts and minds through the Gospel. That too is supernatural power.

They will never come to Christ, because they WILL NOT come to Christ.

That does apply to SOME. But those who come to Christ come willingly under the power of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit.

That's why no one comes to Christ, unless the Father draws them.

Why do you exclude the Son and the Holy Spirit? The Son draws ALL MEN to Himself. The Spirit draws ALL MEN to Christ. The Father invites ALL MEN to come to Christ. God commands ALL MEN EVERYWHERE to repent. All of the above statements can be supported with many Scriptures.

We are commanded to proclaim the true Gospel, not a distortion of the Gospel as you have presented.

 

[Job8]

Thus, he is unable to believe the gospel.

This actually contradicts Scripture. If sinners were unable to believe the Gospel, then Christ would not have commanded that the Gospel be preached to EVERY CREATURE. Notice carefully that the Lord says nothing about sinners being unable to believe th Gospel in Mark 16:15,16:
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Your presumption that regeneration precedes faith is utterly false, and not consistent with what Scripture says, which is THE GOSPEL---->FAITH + REPENTANCE--->REGENERATION. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (the Gospel), therefore by grace are ye saved THROUGH faith, not by grace are ye saved FOR faith.

 

[nobdysfool]

Pelagianism is alive and well....unfortunately

 

[JesusFreak78]

Since the term *free will* is found in the Bible it cannot be a myth. Please get a hold of Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (KJV) and look up "free will". But some people are in denial because admitting that God has actually given men the ability to chose Christ is not something they want to hear. However, if free will did not exist, then the entire nation of Israel would have been saved when Messiah came to save them.

Man does have free will, but man's free will is defined to his nature. As explained before, man refuses to seek Christ unless he is regenerated first. (Romans 3:11). Also God is the one Who grants people to believe (John 6:65, Acts 13:48, Philippians 1:29)

If you begin with a false premise, you end up with a false conclusion. Who says that "man is left to himself"? The Gospel itself is called "THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION". Therefore the Gospel has supernatural power to penetrate hearts and minds. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit is presently in the world to convict and to convince sinners, and since He is God, God Almighty speaks to hearts and minds through the Gospel. That too is supernatural power.

You are correct, the gospel is "the power of God unto salvation".

That does apply to SOME. But those who come to Christ come willingly under the power of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit.

Sinners will only come willingly to Christ after they have been regenerated.

Why do you exclude the Son and the Holy Spirit? The Son draws ALL MEN to Himself. The Spirit draws ALL MEN to Christ. The Father invites ALL MEN to come to Christ. God commands ALL MEN EVERYWHERE to repent. All of the above statements can be supported with many Scriptures.

Why don't you provide the scriptures you believe support your view?

We are commanded to proclaim the true Gospel, not a distortion of the Gospel as you have presented.

I agree with the balded part. Also, just because we have different views of the gospel, it's quiet harsh to accuse someone to distort the gospel. Instead of accusing each other, let's discuss theology.

 

[JesusFreak78]

This actually contradicts Scripture. If sinners were unable to believe the Gospel, then Christ would not have commanded that the Gospel be preached to EVERY CREATURE. Notice carefully that the Lord says nothing about sinners being unable to believe th Gospel in Mark 16:15,16:
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

We are told to preach the gospel to every creature, since God hasn't told us who the elect are.

 

[Job8]

We are told to preach the gospel to every creature, since God hasn't told us who the elect are.

Neither has He told us that it is a waste of time since none will believe, which is what this thread is all about.

 

[EmSw]

Man does have free will, but man's free will is defined to his nature. As explained before, man refuses to seek Christ unless he is regenerated first. (Romans 3:11). Also God is the one Who grants people to believe (John 6:65, Acts 13:48, Philippians 1:29)

How did Adam and Eve sin without a sinful nature? How did they go against their very nature?

How is it, unregenerate man can obey God's command not to sin? not to covet his neighbor's wife? not to steal? Doesn't his 'nature' prevent this? Unregenerate man has the free will not to murder, of which, his nature should be attuned to murder.

 

[JesusFreak78]

Neither has He told us that it is a waste of time since none will believe, which is what this thread is all about.

Why would it be a waste of time? Telling someone about the gospel is never a wasted time, regardless of if they will believe or not.

 

[JesusFreak78]

How did Adam and Eve sin without a sinful nature? How did they go against their very nature?

Adam and Eve sinned because the serpent deceived them. Adam and Eve was created without sin, which doesn't mean they was incapable of sinning.

How is it, unregenerate man can obey God's command not to sin? not to covet his neighbor's wife? not to steal? Doesn't his 'nature' prevent this? Unregenerate man has the free will not to murder, of which, his nature should be attuned to murder.

We are all sinners. That's why we are all in need of a Savior (Jesus Christ).

 

[Job8]

Man does have free will, but man's free will is defined to his nature. As explained before, man refuses to seek Christ unless he is regenerated first. (Romans 3:11). Also God is the one Who grants people to believe (John 6:65, Acts 13:48, Philippians 1:29)

According to your theory, God caused Israel -- to whom He specifically sent John the Baptist and Christ -- to reject Christ and not believe on Him. Do you see the absurdity of your position? The very people with whom Christ was pleading had already been prevented (according to you) from being saved and were chosen for Hell. You certainly have a distorted view of the Gospel.

 

[JesusFreak78]

According to your theory, God caused Israel -- to whom He specifically sent John the Baptist and Christ -- to reject Christ and not believe on Him. Do you see the absurdity of your position? The very people with whom Christ was pleading had already been prevented (according to you) from being saved and were chosen for Hell. You certainly have a distorted view of the Gospel.

Not all of Israel is Israel (Romans 9:6). What Christ come to earth to fulfill, was perfectly fulfilled in His perfect will.