Behind the Acts of Receiving and Rejecting the Gospel

Many illustrate salvation as a gift that a person can either receive or reject it. There is no question in receiving and rejecting the gift. However, behind the act of receiving and rejecting is God's act that must be put in consideration.

Why do some people receive the gospel and others not? The Bible clearly states why there are people who will received and others not.  Here are some passages from the Bible that explains why some receive and others not. Let us go to the second half of the question, which is those who reject the gospel.

a.      The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned (1Cor 2:14)

b.      And you were dead in trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1)

c.      None is righteous no not one, no one understand; no one seeks for God. (Rom 3:10-11)

d.      And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. (2Cor 4:3)

e.      A diseased tree bear good fruit (Matt 7:18)

f.       No one knows the Son except the Father and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him (Matt 11:27)

It is obvious that there is something that makes a person rejects the gospel. That something is the very nature of man. The problem is not the rejection per se, rather, the nature of man prior to his salvation is the very root of the problem. If this is the case, how can a person receive the Gospel of salvation in this kind of spiritual condition? Can he still receive the Gospel of salvation on his own? Is it necessary for God to do something before a person is able to receive the Gospel? If not, who will be saved? How can Lydia receive the word of God through Paul if God will not open her heart (Acts 16:14)? How can someone will come to Jesus if the Father will not grant them to come to Jesus (John 6:37, 44, 65)? How can someone know the Father if the Son does not choose to reveal to that person (Matt 11:27)? How can they see if the blindfold still covers the mind (2Cor 4:4)? If we cannot receive the gospel on our own, it is in God's decision whether He will grant that person to come to Jesus; it is Jesus' decision to reveal the Father to that person; it is God's decision whether He will remove the veil that covers the mind, will open the heart, and give us His spirit in order to accept the things from the Spirit. It is His decision not ours.