572 The Spiritual Man
Let us realize, then, that except a man receive God’s new life and
serve Him therein, every bit of service for God is but the work of the
flesh. His intention to serve and even to suffer for Him is vain.
Before he is regenerated, his will, even though it may be inclined
towards good and God, is futile. For it is not what fallen man intends
to do for God but how He Himself wishes man to do for Him that
really counts in God’s eyes. Man may devise and initiate countless
notable works for God; nonetheless, if they do not originate with
God they are nothing more than will-worship.
This is true with respect to salvation. When man lives carnally
even his desire to be saved is not acceptable to God. We read in the
Gospel of John that “to all who received him, who believed in his
name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born,
not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of
God” (1.12-13). Man is not regenerated because he wills it so. He
must be born of God. Nowadays Christians entertain the incorrect
concept that if anyone wishes to be saved and seeks the way of life
he undoubtedly will be a good disciple of Christ, for nothing can be
better than this desire. God nonetheless affirms that in this matter of
regeneration as well as in all other matters related to Him, the will of
man is totally nonefficacious.
Many children of God cannot understand why John 1 asserts the
will of man to be noneffective whereas Revelation concludes by
saying, “Let him who desires take the water of life without price”
(22.17), as though man himself is entirely responsible for his
salvation. And does not the Lord Jesus Himself give as explanation
for the Jews not being saved the following declaration: “You refuse
to come to me that you may have life” (John 5.40)? Here again, the
responsibility for perdition apparently rests on man’s will. Can the
Bible be contradicting itself? Is there any special meaning behind
these apparent inconsistencies? A comprehension of this matter will
help us to appreciate what God requires of us in our Christian life.