For years I worked in the medical field that specializes in eyes. People needing surgery for cataracts, laser surgery for blurry vision, or those wanting to have the procedure that eliminates most of the need for glasses or contact lenses were a part of my everyday life.
After their procedures most everyone would exclaim, “I cannot believe how well I can see!”
Many people come to counseling blinded by worldly wisdom and sin. As a counselor my obligation is to open up the Scriptures for the counselee and help them to see the truth about their situation in light of the cross.
There are people who know what the Word of God says; they know some of the Ten Commandments, and they have at some point in life heard people talk about right and wrong and following the “golden rule” but they have no idea how to do what is right. Most have no idea that how they are living is completely wrong from a biblical perspective so they need to be taught.
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NASB)
A person who is unregenerate has no idea how to understand or apply the Bible because its precious truths are not open to them! Scripture says they are spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1a, 5a) and cannot understand the spiritual truths of the Bible because dead people cannot comprehend! Where there is no life there is no ability, and Scripture makes it clear that this is the reason so many people struggle in understanding the Bible and applying its truths to their lives. This is why many people cannot change.
To the unbeliever the Bible carries one consistent message: “Repent of your sins, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” (Acts 2:38, Romans 10:9,13)
When a person is regenerate they have been enabled by the Holy Spirit to understand the Scriptures but many have an erroneous understanding of how to interpret them or how to act on them.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 1 Corinthians 2:12, 13 (
NASB)
Believers have been enabled by God to see and understand things that are intended for His children alone. The Bible contains messages about daily living for those who believe by faith in God and the atoning death of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world.
They must first believe that the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God. I think this answers the “Why” question that so many people have posed when someone who professes to be a Christian reveals no lasting change in their life.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 1 Timothy 3:16, 17 (NASB)
The Biblical solution to spiritual ignorance is to teach a person the truth. God’s Word driven into the heart by the Holy Spirit does not fail to impact the life of the disciple of Christ. Allow me to repeat, the Word of God does not fail to change the life of the person who reads it, meditates upon its truths, and makes them a part of their daily life. When no change in life is evident there is a reason, and it is not a failure on the part of God or the Bible. When there is a failure to change the question of regeneration must be considered. Asking such a question is not judging or condemning, it may be a very loving act on your part.