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John 1:11-13 "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Matthew 11:27 "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him."

John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

John 6:39 "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."

John 6:44 "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."

1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Todd, the simple answer is that "at that time" his brothers had not been quickened or made spiritually alive. As with ALL of humanity, left in our unregenerate, fallen condition there is no ability to believe. As Christ told Nicodemus in John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

John 3:4 "Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"

John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

John 3:7 "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."

John 3:8 "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

The word "listeth" in the Greek is thelō and defined as:

1. to will, have in mind, intend
2. to be resolved or determined, to purpose
3. to desire, to wish
4. to love
5. to like to do a thing, be fond of doing
6. to take delight in, have pleasure

Going back to John 1:11-13 and in light of the verses cited, the new birth, the ability to believe and salvation is of God. 

Isaiah 46:10 "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:"

It is all about God's timing.

June 12 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report