Does man naturally have ability to Seek God ?

[rogerg]

So some wanted to continue in sin, instead of repent.

Don't follow your point?

In Jn.6, Jesus said something difficult (not impossible) to understand about his nature. They questioned his authority, so he said,

It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Jn.6:45

in other words, If they really loved God, they would be drawn to Jesus.

No, it says the opposite of that. Only those drawn by God are taught by God. Unless drawn, they cannot hear, nor can they learn.

[Jhn 6:44-45 KJV]
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

 

[jerry63935]

 

[journeymanisnothing]

Again, man naturally doesnt seek after the True God, nor understands Rom 3:11

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Paul is wuoting the Psalms. Of course fools say there is no God, but it's apparent from Rom.3:13-19 that Paul isn't referring to anyones grandchildren.

 

[journeymanisnothing]

Don't follow your point?

The point is no one who desires to continue in sin will understand Christ.

No, it says the opposite of that. Only those drawn by God are taught by God. Unless drawn, they cannot hear, nor can they learn.

[Jhn 6:44-45 KJV]
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

He's saying if they heard and learned about God, they would go to him (Jesus) because they said,

how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? vs.42

He is't saying God puts a spiritual magnate on some people. He's saying if people truly love God, they'll love him. Why? Because he is the same as his Father. It's no different from saying if you hate Jesus, you hate God.

And after he said this, they were infuriated. Why is that hard to understand?

 

[Dorothy Mae]

Why do you call them "Christians"?

Because they are.

 

[Dorothy Mae]

Don't think so. Right after the flood when there were only 8 people alive and Noah offered a sacrifice, God said:
Gen 8:21 And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.

From adolescence, not babyhood nor childhood. journeyman is right.

But what did Paul mean by "Knew God?"
Rom 1:19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse

We call this natural revelation. If this was enough, why did God pick out one nation and send them prophets and all kinds of miracles? Psa147:19 He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel.

Because He wanted a whole nation that understood matters of the Kingdom so a people would be ready to receive the son of God and take the good news to the world.

 

[Dorothy Mae]

I've read Romans 1 a thousand times.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Show me where the word "believe" is there. It tells me that men had some knowledge that God exists, but they suppressed that knowledge and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. This is where all the false religions come from.

You do realize that they chose to suppress the truth instead of believe it right?

 

[brightfame52]

Paul is wuoting the Psalms. Of course fools say there is no God, but it's apparent from Rom.3:13-19 that Paul isn't referring to anyones grandchildren.

I know what Paul is quoting. And that is why its a Truth, men naturally dont seek after God, it was true in the OT and in the NT times, it never changes with the natural man ! Again Rom 3:11

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

 

[rogerg]

The point is no one who desires to continue in sin will understand Christ.

Really? Well, if you meant "sin" in the sense of an carnal sin of the flesh, you should ask if anyone had bothered to tell that to King David who was God's prophet and who nevertheless sinned repeatedly in the flesh yet knew and understood Christ intimately. Same thing with Saul/Paul, his sin was worse - it was his mission to destroy Christianity. Even after salvation Paul referred to himself after as the "chief of sinners".
However, the sin which neither committed, nor does anyone who is saved ever commit, is the sin of not having an all-encompassing and total trust in Christ's offering for the forgiveness of sin and of Him as Saviour.
I think the difficulty you have is that you can't fathom the size or depth of the forgiveness given to those
whom God has chosen for forgiveness: He forgives them to the uttermost before they understand or seek Christ.
Their understanding of Christ comes about from/by/after that they are forgiven.

He's saying if they heard and learned about God, they would go to him (Jesus) because they said,

how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? vs.42

He is't saying God puts a spiritual magnate on some people. He's saying if people truly love God, they'll love him. Why? Because he is the same as his Father. It's no different from saying if you hate Jesus, you hate God.

And after he said this, they were infuriated. Why is that hard to understand?

It's not hard to understand what you've said, it's impossible to understand because you either don't understand or you've misrepresented those verses. Where in them do you find "learned about God"? It simply is not there. Instead, they say learned "OF God", meaning that they must learn FROM/BY God; that is, that God must first teach them - that is the only way it can happen. The point is that they CANNOT learn OF God unless having been drawn BY God: they must be drawn BY God to be saved. That God does not draw everyone is evidenced by the fact that not everyone becomes saved. The "all" of v45 is of the "draw him" of v44 -- it is not for everyone ever born, if that's what you meant. He precisely tells us - using your phrase -- that He "puts a spiritual magnate on some people". How can someone love either Jesus or God if they don't know Jesus or God and only God's teaching of them can make that happen.
Those who were infuriated, were so because then as now, natural man cannot bear to hear that salvation is not within their power or choice to achieve, but only God's to give to whomsoever He may choose to. So then, why is it that you are unable to understand that?

 

[Whatever]

You do realize that they chose to suppress the truth instead of believe it right?

Joh_3:20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

 

[brightfame52]

Joh_3:20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

Amen, unless his deeds are reproved, meaning lest he is regenerated by the Spirit and the Spirit brings him to conviction. The word reprove is the same word John used in Jn 16:8

And when he is come, he[The Spirit of Truth] will reprove G1651 the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

This reproving is part of the regenerating process of the Spirit towards the world of the elect. Thats why they one by one will come to the light !

Jn 3:20

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. G1651

 

[Whatever]

When God draws us, He has imparted life, motion, activity, thats the New Man, Spiritually.

Yes, the exact perfect example is Lazarus who had been dead 4 days. How did he hear Jesus say "come forth?"

Lazarus heard Jesus' voice because life itself went out with the command.

 

[Whatever]

Because He wanted a whole nation that understood matters of the Kingdom so a people would be ready to receive the son of God and take the good news to the world.

That whole nation (Israel) taking the good news to the world didn't work out very well did it?

 

[Hopeful]

Because they are.

Your description of a Christian as one who..."do not receive the things of the Spirit of God and call them foolishness. You cannot imagine how many times Christians mock the truth when it does not suit their theology. They are foolishness to them."... really makes no sense.
Christians obey God at the cost of their lives.

 

[Whatever]

You do realize that they chose to suppress the truth instead of believe it right?

Yes, they chose according to their nature.
Eph 2:3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

What is the remedy?
Eph 2:5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

 

[Dorothy Mae]

Joh_3:20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

All choices spoke make.

 

[Dorothy Mae]

Your description of a Christian as one who..."do not receive the things of the Spirit of God and call them foolishness.

When did I describe Christian’s as that??

You cannot imagine how many times Christians mock the truth when it does not suit their theology.

You too.

They are foolishness to them."... really makes no sense.
Christians obey God at the cost of their lives.

You are joking right? Many won’t obey God at the cost of their good opinion of themselves or if their opinions in general.

 

[journeymanisnothing]

I know what Paul is quoting. And that is why its a Truth, men naturally dont seek after God, it was true in the OT and in the NT times, it never changes with the natural man ! Again Rom 3:11

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Yes and,

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Rom.2:4

So people who claim salvation isn't offered to every individual on Earth, despise Christs sacrifice, and longsuffering

 

[Dorothy Mae]

Yes and,

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Rom.2:4

So people who claim salvation isn't offered to every individual on Earth, despise Christs sacrifice, and longsuffering

They also deeply insult the character of God insisting He cruelty rejects some for salvation condemning them to hell before they were born.

 

[Dorothy Mae]

Yes, they chose according to their nature.
Eph 2:3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

What is the remedy?
Eph 2:5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

When did that nature start? From babyhood? Do those words describe what babies do?

No, choices become habits. Habits become character. Character then becomes the nature we (and others) live with. Those whose nature or character is to fulfill the desires of the body and mind have made themselves into such people. They weren’t born that way.