Why do people reject Christ?

[Ben12]

amen

2 cor 4:3-6

matt 16:17 when did peter meat the Father? van...

Peter met the son while fishing. Father?

Good question; what is your answer.

 

[A Brother In Christ]

when talking to the Son who is equal to the Father
one can see the Father in equal character... not face to face

 

[Ben12]

when talking to the Son who is equal to the Father
one can see the Father in equal character... not face to face

I agree. It was a maturing for Peter as he walked with Jesus and the Father was revealed to Him in that walk. But I always love the thought of Paul who like many today are riding their religious horse until God’s Glory finally hits them. What a difference in ministry; I have always believed that Paul had deeper walk then the others. Also another thought when Judas was removed the disciples tried to replace Him; but no God had his chosen vessel. Also to keep in harmony the spiritual number twelve which always speaks of divine government was completed by Saul who became Paul.

 

[GLJCA]

I have cited serveral verses that address the rejection of Christ, do you have any comments on those verses or do you agree with me that pride undergirds the reasons so far addressed in scripture?

Men reject Christ because they are in bondage to their sinful nature. Lost man's will is not and never has been free. It is in bondage to his sinful nature while he is in a lost condition. Only in Christ is man's will free to choose sin or righteousness.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Christ made us free from the bondage of our sinful nature. I have cited serveral verses that address the rejection of Christ, do you have any comments on those verses or do you agree with me that pride undergirds the reasons so far addressed in scripture?

Here is what Paul told the Roman Christians, but this can not be applied to lost people.

Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Paul is pretty plain here that before we were saved we were servants to sin. We could do nothing but sin because our hearts were deceitful and desperately wicked.
Jer 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

We were enemies to Christ before God saved us.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

GLJCA

 

[Van]

Hi Ben12:

Sounds like an unregenerate, carnal person; dead in trespasses and sin; sure there is pride we are talking about carnal people that do not even comprehend that Jesus is the Christ; what else do they have but their creeds and religion. Just like Paul who was a Pharisee of Pharisees until God’s glory open his eyes.

You are quite right to observe that just because the bible provides reasons from Christ's rejection does not exclude the possiblity they are the result of our corruption and depravity due to the fall.
But lets take these premises one at a time, lets look at the reasons actually given in scripture rather than dismiss them because RT doctrine overwrites them. Let's actually study what scripture says. Who knows it may be profitable .

 

[Van]

Hi BIC, you asked a question, when did Peter meet the Father, but gave no purpose for the question. I agree that no one has "seen" the Father but Jesus provides the perfect image of the Father.

If you idea was that no one could hear and learn from the Father until Jesus provided the perfect witness of the Father, I disagree.

 

[Ben12]

Hi Ben12:
You are quite right to observe that just because the bible provides reasons from Christ's rejection does not exclude the possiblity they are the result of our corruption and depravity due to the fall.
But lets take these premises one at a time, lets look at the reasons actually given in scripture rather than dismiss them because RT doctrine overwrites them. Let's actually study what scripture says. Who knows it may be profitable .

That is fine; but what does the “RT “ stand for?

 

[A Brother In Christ]

Hi BIC, you asked a question, when did Peter meet the Father, but gave no purpose for the question. I agree that no one has "seen" the Father but Jesus provides the perfect image of the Father.

If you idea was that no one could hear and learn from the Father until Jesus provided the perfect witness of the Father, I disagree.

john 14:9.... he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father

yet scripture agree with what I have said

 

[Van]

And yes BIC, what you have said has nothing to do with why people reject Christ.

Hi Ben12, RT is short for "Reformed Theology" and the doctrines of Total Spiritual Inability (T) Unconditional Election (U), Limited Atonement (L) and Irresistible Grace (I).

In Luke 10:16 we learn that the one who rejects Christ's disciples rejects Christ. And the one who rejects Christ, rejects the Father, and therefore has not heard and learned from the Father. Now in verse 21 we see that the Father has "hidden" the gospel from "wise and intelligent" but revealed the gospel to "infants." People who think of themselves as wise and intelligent have no knowledge of the gospel, but people who think of themselves as infants, children of God learning to be a chip off the ol block, have knowledge of the gospel. Pride, folks, pride undergirds the scriptural reasons for rejecting the gospel.

Now in John 12:40 we learn an important truth. God blinded folks to fulfill scripture so that they would not believe, because in their natural unregenerate state they could see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and God would accept their faith and heal them. Hence the reason now why folks reject Christ is not spiritual inability, but pride.

Note in verses 42 and 43 that although some believed to a degree, their pride would not allow them to confess the Lord before men. Ring a bell with Paul's teaching in Romans 10:9-10?

 

[nobdysfool]

That is fine; but what does the “RT “ stand for?

That's Van's little hobby horse. He believes his mission here is to refute Reformed Theology. I notice that in his definition, he didn't give you the last letter in the acrostic "TULIP" which is the 5 points of the Canons of Dort, a Reformed response to the Remonstrance, which was a revolt against the teachings of John Calvin by the followers of Jacob Arminius. The "P" is Perseverance of the Saints, which is a position that Van has claimed to hold as truth, while he rejects the other 4 points, although quite ineffectively.

Do yourself a favor, and Google the TULIP, the Remonstrance, and check out sites like apuritansmind.com,. and monergism.com. You'll get a much more balanced view than What Van offers here.

 

[Van]

Jesus says, John 5:40, that people do not come to Christ, not because they are unable as RT teaches, but because they are unwilling and hence able. But why would people be unwilling to submit to Christ. One possibility is pride, human pride. Prideful people exalt themselves by building themselves up and tearing others down. So when we see folks rejecting Christ in scripture, do we see them tearing Christ down? Lets look at a few of the rejections recorded in the text.

Matthew 13:53 to 58 records the second visit of Jesus to his hometown, Mark 3:13 records his first visit perhaps a year or two earlier, where they said Jesus did His miracles by the power of the devil. But on this visit, at first, since Jesus had become well know as a teacher and a miracleworker, they were astonished. Now this word astonished does not suggest they were amazed, but rather concerned, as indicated by their first question, where did Jesus get this power? If they said, from God, they would have been humbling themselves and building Jesus up. But, since they took the opposite tact, they reveal their pride, their unwillingness (John 5:40) to submit to Jesus.

First, they disparage Him as only a Carpender's son, not a well born, rich or power person. Next they suggest he is just a man, just like them, no different, for His mother is here and his family, just like theirs. Then they ask the rhtorical question, where did Jesus get all these things, implying just like the rest of us, he is no different, no better, not someone we should accept as the Messiah, sent by God. Jesus did not do many miracles because their pride had pretty much shut down their willingness to believe, hence because of their unbelief.

Pride hides in a smokescreen, such as false humility, and changes its name, such as I acted the way I did because of peer pressure - which is just saying my pride required that I do whatever to be accepted in the eyes of men. Take a look at the next rejection, Matthew 14:1-12. Herod wanted to do something but was afraid of what others would think, but then when he was trapped by the scheme of Herodias, in the presence of his birthday party guests, his pride made him willing to kill Christ's messenger, to look good before his peers.

Another disguise used by pride is devotion to self. If we are devoted to ourselves, then we must give that up to be more devoted to Christ. We must be willing to suffer for Christ, and if changing diapers is just too much, what does that say?

In Luke 10:16 we learn that the one who rejects Christ's disciples rejects Christ. And the one who rejects Christ, rejects the Father, and therefore has not heard and learned from the Father. Now in verse 21 we see that the Father has "hidden" the gospel from "wise and intelligent" but revealed the gospel to "infants." People who think of themselves as wise and intelligent have no knowledge of the gospel, but people who think of themselves as infants, children of God learning to be a chip off the ol block, have knowledge of the gospel. Pride, folks, pride undergirds the scriptural reasons for rejecting the gospel.

Now in John 12:40 we learn an important truth. God blinded folks to fulfill scripture so that they would not believe, because in their natural unregenerate state they could see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and God would accept their faith and heal them. Hence the reason now why folks reject Christ is not spiritual inability, but pride.

Note in verses 42 and 43 that although some believed to a degree, their pride would not allow them to confess the Lord before men. Ring a bell with Paul's teaching in Romans 10:9-10?

 

[Ben12]

Jesus says, John 5:40, that people do not come to Christ, not because they are unable as RT teaches, but because they are unwilling and hence able. But why would people be unwilling to submit to Christ. One possibility is pride, human pride. Prideful people exalt themselves by building themselves up and tearing others down. So when we see folks rejecting Christ in scripture, do we see them tearing Christ down? Lets look at a few of the rejections recorded in the text.

Matthew 13:53 to 58 records the second visit of Jesus to his hometown, Mark 3:13 records his first visit perhaps a year or two earlier, where they said Jesus did His miracles by the power of the devil. But on this visit, at first, since Jesus had become well know as a teacher and a miracleworker, they were astonished. Now this word astonished does not suggest they were amazed, but rather concerned, as indicated by their first question, where did Jesus get this power? If they said, from God, they would have been humbling themselves and building Jesus up. But, since they took the opposite tact, they reveal their pride, their unwillingness (John 5:40) to submit to Jesus.

First, they disparage Him as only a Carpender's son, not a well born, rich or power person. Next they suggest he is just a man, just like them, no different, for His mother is here and his family, just like theirs. Then they ask the rhtorical question, where did Jesus get all these things, implying just like the rest of us, he is no different, no better, not someone we should accept as the Messiah, sent by God. Jesus did not do many miracles because their pride had pretty much shut down their willingness to believe, hence because of their unbelief.

Pride hides in a smokescreen, such as false humility, and changes its name, such as I acted the way I did because of peer pressure - which is just saying my pride required that I do whatever to be accepted in the eyes of men. Take a look at the next rejection, Matthew 14:1-12. Herod wanted to do something but was afraid of what others would think, but then when he was trapped by the scheme of Herodias, in the presence of his birthday party guests, his pride made him willing to kill Christ's messenger, to look good before his peers.

Another disguise used by pride is devotion to self. If we are devoted to ourselves, then we must give that up to be more devoted to Christ. We must be willing to suffer for Christ, and if changing diapers is just too much, what does that say?

In Luke 10:16 we learn that the one who rejects Christ's disciples rejects Christ. And the one who rejects Christ, rejects the Father, and therefore has not heard and learned from the Father. Now in verse 21 we see that the Father has "hidden" the gospel from "wise and intelligent" but revealed the gospel to "infants." People who think of themselves as wise and intelligent have no knowledge of the gospel, but people who think of themselves as infants, children of God learning to be a chip off the ol block, have knowledge of the gospel. Pride, folks, pride undergirds the scriptural reasons for rejecting the gospel.

Now in John 12:40 we learn an important truth. God blinded folks to fulfill scripture so that they would not believe, because in their natural unregenerate state they could see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and God would accept their faith and heal them. Hence the reason now why folks reject Christ is not spiritual inability, but pride.

Note in verses 42 and 43 that although some believed to a degree, their pride would not allow them to confess the Lord before men. Ring a bell with Paul's teaching in Romans 10:9-10?

The unregenerate man is a slave to sin. He is a slave to Satan. He is a slave of his own carnal mind and deceitfully wicked heart. He is a slave of his own vile passions. How can a man who is a slave and a captive of the devil be a "free moral agent"? Impossible! Adam sold us out. Adam gave us no choice in bringing his progeny under the workings of iniquity. When Adam went into sin, he did not consult with any one of us as to our desire concerning anything he did. None of us had any power or any choice in the condition in which we entered this world. We were not sinners by choice, as we have erroneously been told. We are "born in sin, and shapened in iniquity," with the carnal nature in us from the moment we leave the womb. Being "dead in trespasses and sins," dead to God, dead to truth, dead to purity, dead to reality, the Adamic race was no longer capable of making a choice or decision for salvation. How truly the apostle wrote in Eph. 2:2-3, "And you were dead in trespasses and sins: wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience; among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."

The message is clear - we were not sinners by choice nor human pride. We were sinners by nature! We were born into this condition, simply because the first man, Adam, put us all into slavery to sin. We had nothing to say about it. We did not in any way will it, consent to it, or choose it, for we were born into it. And we were not born free moral agents. We were born slaves!
There is no fact more self-evident than the fact of the total depravity of man, or his total inability to deliver himself from bondage to sin, and this is rooted in the fact that his human spirit is dead from birth. Total depravity means that man in his natural state is incapable of doing anything or desiring anything pleasing to God. Until our spirit is quickened by HIS SPIRIT we are slaves of the flesh and the devil and are enemies to God. When man insists that he still has a "spark" of divine good resident in his heart the Bible says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9). When man contends that he is a free moral agent and can accept or reject the Lord by his own volition, the Word of God contradicts him, declaring, "There is none righteous, no not one! There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God" (Rom. 3:10-11).

Man is totally depraved in the sense that everything about his nature is in rebellion against God. Man is loyal to the god of darkness and loves darkness rather than The Light. His will is, therefore, not at all "free." It is a slave to the flesh. Total depravity means that man, of his own free will," will never make a decision for Christ. Our blessed Lord bluntly says, "Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life"(Jn. 5:40). Why does our Lord say this? Because the will of the unregenerate man is bound by the bands of sin and death to the god of the spiritually dead. Total depravity means that the natural man is completely incapable of discerning Truth. In fact, unregenerate man thinks of the things of God as being ridiculous! "The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him. Neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (I Cor. 2:14). Man cannot see or know the things which relate to the Kingdom of God, without being regenerated first by the Holy Spirit. A dead spirit perceives only the things of man and Satan. Hence the words of Jesus to Nicodemus: "Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God" (Jn. 3:3). Unborn children do not see the light. Dead men do not see the light.

Unregenerate men cannot comprehend even that they should come to the Light. They are the unborn dead who know only darkness. They are totally depraved, wholly incapable of thinking, perceiving, or doing anything pleasing to God, until God see fit to give them life and understanding. Faith follows the giving of Life. The giving of Life is by the will of God. Notice the order: "God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath made us alive together with Christ (by grace are ye saved)" (Eph. 2:4-5). Man is not saved by some mythical act of his own free will. He is saved by grace, the divine enablement of God who first gives him Life and then imparts faith in his heart as a free gift. Paul continues: "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the Gift of God. It is not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9).

Observe! Saving faith is the gift of God, not an exercise of man's free will or pride! " Man must believe, certainly, but it is not the old deceitful and desperately wicked heart, nor the old carnal mind which believes, but the faith graciously imparted by God as a gift is the agency of man's believing. God has decreed that the works of the flesh shall have no part in the "so great salvation" which He Himself provides. It is His work through the Gift of Life. He regenerated us when we were dead in sins. Life is His Gift. Faith is His Gift. We are saved by a faith which "is not of ourselves." We believed by the faith which GOD gives, not by our own free will! Until a man has been quickened by the Holy Spirit the word is: "Why do ye not understand My speech? Even because ye cannot hear My word! Ye are of your father the devil" (Jn. 8:43-44). But once God quickens us by the Gift of Life and the Gift of Faith the word is: "It is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).

 

[nobdysfool]

Let him who has ears hear the Word of the Lord!

 

[Van]

Hi Ben12, you are simply restating the false doctrine of RT called Total Spiritual Inability. Original Sin caused mankind to be corrupted and separated from God, with no ability to establish a right relationship with God, hence dead in our sins. Note in Matthew 13:20-22 we read of unregenerate folks who receive the gospel with joy, thus your assertion that we in an unregenerate state are incapable of making a decision for Christ is false.

We are not sinners by choice, but in our sinful state, separated from God we can seek God and receive His gospel with joy. The Law of Moses can lead us to Christ.

Your reference to Romans 3 again rips a phrase out of context and misses Paul's message, no one seeks God by the works of the Law for by the Law no flesh is justified, but apart from the Law we can seek God by faith. Read the chapter.

Now in John 12:40 we learn an important truth. God blinded folks to fulfill scripture so that they would not believe, because in their natural unregenerate state they could see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and God would accept their faith and heal them. Hence the reason now why folks reject Christ is not spiritual inability, but pride.

Note in verses 42 and 43 that although some believed to a degree, their pride would not allow them to confess the Lord before men.

Next you restate the false doctrine that God supernatually alters our core character and causes us to seek God irresistibly. This too flys in the face of many scriptures, such as John 12, where God had to harden unregenerate men in order to prevent them from believing. Scripture says the exact opposite of what you have posted.

 

[nobdysfool]

Hi Ben12, you are simply restating the false doctrine of RT called Total Spiritual Inability. Original Sin caused mankind to be corrupted and separated from God, with no ability to establish a right relationship with God, hence dead in our sins. Note in Matthew 13:20-22 we read of unregenerate folks who receive the gospel with joy, thus your assertion that we in an unregenerate state are incapable of making a decision for Christ is false.

We are not sinners by choice, but in our sinful state, separated from God we can seek God and receive His gospel with joy. The Law of Moses can lead us to Christ.

Your reference to Romans 3 again rips a phrase out of context and misses Paul's message, no one seeks God by the works of the Law for by the Law no flesh is justified, but apart from the Law we can seek God by faith. Read the chapter.

Now in John 12:40 we learn an important truth. God blinded folks to fulfill scripture so that they would not believe, because in their natural unregenerate state they could see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and God would accept their faith and heal them. Hence the reason now why folks reject Christ is not spiritual inability, but pride.

Note in verses 42 and 43 that although some believed to a degree, their pride would not allow them to confess the Lord before men.

Next you restate the false doctrine that God supernatually alters our core character and causes us to seek God irresistibly. This too flys in the face of many scriptures, such as John 12, where God had to harden unregenerate men in order to prevent them from believing. Scripture says the exact opposite of what you have posted.

No, Van, scripture states the exact opposite of what YOU have posted.

 

[A Brother In Christ]

Hi Ben12, you are simply restating the false doctrine of RT called Total Spiritual Inability. Original Sin caused mankind to be corrupted and separated from God, with no ability to establish a right relationship with God, hence dead in our sins. Note in Matthew 13:20-22 we read of unregenerate folks who receive the gospel with joy, thus your assertion that we in an unregenerate state are incapable of making a decision for Christ is false.

jn 3:19 and this is the judgement, that light[this is JC according to jn 1:4] is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light; because their deeds were evil.

man needs 1 cor 4:3-6 help from the HS other wise we stll mildly hate Jesus

one is born from above or they are not
matt 18:12, john 10:26-28, 2 tim 1:9

We are not sinners by choice, but in our sinful state, separated from God we can seek God and receive His gospel with joy. The Law of Moses can lead us to Christ.

how can a ungererated being who hates the light search for God since this is the HS work 1 cor 2:8-12

the spirit shows the way...

without the HS they are reading yet do not understand..... 2 peter 2:12, 1 tim 1:7, act 28:26

Your reference to Romans 3 again rips a phrase out of context and misses Paul's message, no one seeks God by the works of the Law for by the Law no flesh is justified, but apart from the Law we can seek God by faith. Read the chapter.

faith is a gift from God.... eph 2:8 faith and grace is a gift

Now in John 12:40 we learn an important truth. God blinded folks to fulfill scripture so that they would not believe, because in their natural unregenerate state they could see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and God would accept their faith and heal them. Hence the reason now why folks reject Christ is not spiritual inability, but pride.

and not his but the devils children .. 1 jn 3:10

Note in verses 42 and 43 that although some believed to a degree, their pride would not allow them to confess the Lord before men.

Next you restate the false doctrine that God supernatually alters our core character and causes us to seek God irresistibly. This too flys in the face of many scriptures, such as John 12, where God had to harden unregenerate men in order to prevent them from believing. Scripture says the exact opposite of what you have posted.

right or wrong you need to read some verses over

 

[Van]

Hi BIC, yes some men love darkness, like the first soil in the parable of the four soils, Matthew 13:1-23.

1 Corinthians 4:3-6 addresses the fact that Paul cautions the believers not to add to scripture, and then believing they have this special gift are better than others who stick to what scripture teaches.

We agree, a person is either born again from above by the will of God, or they are not.

how can a ungererated being who hates the light search for God since this is the HS work 1 cor 2:8-12

A person who hates the light will not search for the light. But all unregenerates do not hate the light, see Matthew 13:1-23.

1 Corinthians 2:8-12 says the mystery that Paul speaks of is Jesus Christ, and that if the rulers had understood this mystery, they would not have crucified Jesus Christ, for He is the Messiah. All the blessings of Jesus Christ were prepared for those who love God. And Paul knows this how? Because of God's gift to him of the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit knows the depths of God, and has revealed the mystery of Jesus Christ to Paul. Paul is inspired!

This passage indicates the work of the Holy Spirit in the NT authors, such as Paul, was inspire them, such that Paul could reveal spiritual things with words, Paul could write the New Testament. But since that foundation has been laid, others can read and understand and spread the gospel as teachers of the word. So revealing Jesus is now also the work of born again believers acting as Ambassadors of Christ with the ministry of reconciliation.

For example, Paul says the Law of Moses can act as a tutor and lead us to Christ. Thus unregenerates can understand that they are sinners, who have violated God's law, and that they need to be saved from the just punishment for those sins, and this realization leads the unregenerates to Christ.

BIC you indicated 2 Peter 2:12 supports the idea that unless a person is regenerate they cannot understand God's word. But the verse does not address that issue. It says false teachers are "like" animals raised for slaughter, it does not say they are animals raised for slaughter. In fact if you read on to verse 15, you see that they understood the right way for they left the right way, foresaking the right way. BIC your premise is unbiblical.

Faith is a gift from God for God's grace in revealing Himself to us is a gift, Jesus came to be a witness, and is the perfect image of God. But when we put our faith in Jesus, the conviction is ours, and it is that rooted heart-felt conviction that God credits as righteousness.

We are saved by grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8-9.

John 12:40 teaches that the unregenerate can in their natural fallen state, understand the receive the gospel such that they will be healed. Game over folks. The RT doctrine of Total Spiritual Inability is unbiblical.

 

[biblthmp]

I base my theology for this solidly on Jeremiah 17:9-10, and 2 Cor. 4:4. The heart of man is desperately wicked.

Satan has spiritually blinded unbelievers into believing that they are alright.

Like Romans 11:10 says that God has sovereignly blinded the Jews, for a short season.

back to Jeremiah 17:10, only God can see through that blinding, and see the condition of one's heart.

He reveals it back to those, who ask Him, their heart condition. But be forewarned, the revelation of the depth of one's own depravity can be shocking and depressing.

God forewarned the prophet Isaiah that this would happen in Isaiah 6:9-10.

 

[A Brother In Christ]

jn 3:19 and this is the judgement, that light[this is JC according to jn 1:4] is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light; because their deeds were evil.

man needs 1 cor 4:3-6 help from the HS other wise we stll mildly hate Jesus

one is born from above or they are not
matt 18:12, john 10:26-28, 2 tim 1:9

how can a ungererated being who hates the light search for God since this is the HS work 1 cor 2:8-12

the spirit shows the way...

without the HS they are reading yet do not understand..... 2 peter 2:12, 1 tim 1:7, act 28:26
faith is a gift from God.... eph 2:8 faith and grace is a giftand not his but the devils children .. 1 jn 3:10

right or wrong you need to read some verses over

Hi BIC, yes some men love darkness, like the first soil in the parable of the four soils, Matthew 13:1-23.

john 3:19 all men love darkness rather than light[JC john 1:4 ]....

1 Corinthians 4:3-6 addresses the fact that Paul cautions the believers not to add to scripture, and then believing they have this special gift are better than others who stick to what scripture teaches.

? what are you reading

2 cor 4:3 Since our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this age hath blinded the minds of then which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
example act 13:46-48

5 For we preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servant for Jesus sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We agree, a person is either born again from above by the will of God, or they are not.

A person who hates the light will not search for the light. But all unregenerates do not hate the light, see Matthew 13:1-23.

1 Corinthians 2:8-12 says the mystery that Paul speaks of is Jesus Christ, and that if the rulers had understood this mystery, they would not have crucified Jesus Christ, for He is the Messiah. All the blessings of Jesus Christ were prepared for those who love God.

How does one love God???

#1 James 1:12.. enduring temptation by loving God
#2 John 13:35 .. love other believers
#3 2 tim 4:8 ... loving his appearing

do all christians do this ... no

And Paul knows this how? Because of God's gift to him of the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit knows the depths of God, and has revealed the mystery of Jesus Christ to Paul. Paul is inspired!

eph 3:16-18

This passage indicates the work of the Holy Spirit in the NT authors, such as Paul, was inspire them, such that Paul could reveal spiritual things with words, Paul could write the New Testament. But since that foundation has been laid, others can read and understand and spread the gospel as teachers of the word. So revealing Jesus is now also the work of born again believers acting as Ambassadors of Christ with the ministry of reconciliation.

For example, Paul says the Law of Moses can act as a tutor and lead us to Christ. Thus unregenerates can understand that they are sinners, who have violated God's law, and that they need to be saved from the just punishment for those sins, and this realization leads the unregenerates to Christ.

BIC you indicated 2 Peter 2:12 supports the idea that unless a person is regenerate they cannot understand God's word. But the verse does not address that issue. It says false teachers are "like" animals raised for slaughter, it does not say they are animals raised for slaughter. In fact if you read on to verse 15, you see that they understood the right way for they left the right way, foresaking the right way. BIC your premise is unbiblical.

Faith is a gift from God for God's grace in revealing Himself to us is a gift, Jesus came to be a witness, and is the perfect image of God. But when we put our faith in Jesus, the conviction is ours, and it is that rooted heart-felt conviction that God credits as righteousness.

We are saved by grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8-9.

John 12:40 teaches that the unregenerate can in their natural fallen state, understand the receive the gospel such that they will be healed. Game over folks. The RT doctrine of Total Spiritual Inability is unbiblical.

If God does not call them I would like to see an unregenerated believe without God helping them... 2 cor 4:3-6 .... not possible requires two works of HS , one work of the Father,

 

[TruthMiner]

There are several theories as to why people reject Christ. RT teaches that because they were not part of the preselected elect, they are unable to accept Christ due to the corruption and depravity resulting from the fall of Adam. This theory is a man-centered theory, for if we do not present the gospel effectively, it is not our fault, we do not need to strive to be more like Christ, since they were doomed from all eternity to reject the gospel and nothing we can do will alter that predestined outcome. This theory obsolves us of any responsiblity for failing to diligently serve Christ.

So if we set this theory aside, lets consider if another reason or reasons might exist for people rejecting Christ.

Jesus says, John 5:40, that people do not come to Christ, not because they are unable as RT teaches, but because they are unwilling and hence able. But why would people be unwilling to submit to Christ. One possibility is pride, human pride. Prideful people exalt themselves by building themselves up and tearing others down. So when we see folks rejecting Christ in scripture, do we see them tearing Christ down? Lets look at a few of the rejections recorded in the text.

Matthew 13:53 to 58 records the second visit of Jesus to his hometown, Mark 3:13 records his first visit perhaps a year or two earlier, where they said Jesus did His miracles by the power of the devil. But on this visit, at first, since Jesus had become well know as a teacher and a miracleworker, they were astonished. Now this word astonished does not suggest they were amazed, but rather concerned, as indicated by their first question, where did Jesus get this power? If they said, from God, they would have been humbling themselves and building Jesus up. But, since they took the opposite tact, they reveal their pride, their unwillingness (John 5:40) to submit to Jesus.

First, they disparage Him as only a Carpender's son, not a well born, rich or power person. Next they suggest he is just a man, just like them, no different, for His mother is here and his family, just like theirs. Then they ask the rhtorical question, where did Jesus get all these things, implying just like the rest of us, he is no different, no better, not someone we should accept as the Messiah, sent by God. Jesus did not do many miracles because their pride had pretty much shut down their willingness to believe, hence because of their unbelief.

Pride hides in a smokescreen, such as false humility, and changes its name, such as I acted the way I did because of peer pressure - which is just saying my pride required that I do whatever to be accepted in the eyes of men. Take a look at the next rejection, Matthew 14:1-12. Herod wanted to do something but was afraid of what others would think, but then when he was trapped by the scheme of Herodias, in the presence of his birthday party guests, his pride made him willing to kill Christ's messenger, to look good before his peers.

Another disguise used by pride is devotion to self. If we are devoted to ourselves, then we must give that up to be more devoted to Christ. We must be willing to suffer for Christ, and if changing diapers is just too much, what does that say?

If we study the rejections recorded in scripture, we find underlying them all are three reasons for rejection, (1) pride, (2) pride, and (3) pride. Why three? Because pride hides in a smokescreen of rationalization.

People reject Christ for the very same reason you sin.