Does man naturally have ability to Seek God ?

[brightfame52]

Men in our unregenerate natural state, dont seek after the True God, in fact we are alienated from the True God Eph 4:18

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Also we are a slave to sin, meaning unbelief Rom 6:17

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

John 8:34

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. [all of us by nature are sinners] and that eliminates having a freewill to decide to seek after the True God.

Man also in this fallen condition loves the darkness rather than the Light, which God is light Jn 3:19

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

That tells us about our natural affections, what we Love ! But also not only does man love darkness, we also hate the Light and will not come to it. See will not come to it. Thats a will issue !

Jn 3:20

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved 21

 

[brightfame52]

The scripture gives the truth about the natural state of man, it states unequivocally that none, in nature who understands with the heart and seeks after the True God, observe the witness of scripture from the OT and NT Ps 14:2-3


2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

NT Testimony Rom 3:11-12

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

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

This is what God sees of all men naturally when He looks down from heaven.

Yet some people say that Gods foreknowledge means He looks down from heaven and choses people in election because He sees they will accept Him ! That concept is not scriptural ! Doesnt matter what people teach , no natural unregenerate man seeks after God !

Thus the necessity of the New Birth !

 

[1stCenturyLady]

No man naturally can believe on Christ nor even believe in the True God, for what saith the scripture Lk 10:21-22

21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

Now to call upon the name of Jesus for Salvation as per Rom 10, the person must know who the Son is to believe Him Rom 10:14

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

There can be no true calling upon Christ without Faith and the knowledge of who He is and what He accomplished and for whom. Yet Jesus reveals that naturally "no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father"

So who Christ is in His True Glorious Person must be revealed to a man as it was to Peter here Matt 16:16-17

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

See Peter was Blessed, he didnt know who Jesus Christ really was by natural man ability but by Divine revelation.

Just by looking at nature every man should be able to know there is a God. The Native Americans call Him the Great Spirit. And every religion has a God/god. Romans 1 says only a fool says there is no God. Finding the true God has to be told to man through His Word.

You mentioned John 8:34. Does Calvinism teach we are all still sinners even after being cleansed by Christ?

 

[brightfame52]

1st cen lady

Just by looking at nature every man should be able to know there is a God.

Sure but thats a far cry from Knowing the True God which comes through a special spiritual revelation through Christ Jn 17:3

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Only those who Christ gives eternal life to comes into the Knowledge of the True God, creation doesnt cut it !

You mentioned John 8:34. Does Calvinism teach we are all still sinners even after being cleansed by Christ?

Not relevant. What was the context in which I mentioned that verse ? Lets discuss that.

 

[brightfame52]

Another reason why men naturally do not and cannot seek after the True God, nor come to Christ who is the True God incarnate, is because we lack or are without strength spiritually Rom 5:6

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

It means we were destitute of power, sluggish in doing right , without vigor and its resources

This scripture also reveals how unreasonable it is to suppose that man in his natural state could've cooperated with God in the matter of salvation of the Soul ! We were without strength/ability in the matter.F