Those Without the Spirit Cannot Please God

          This is the third part in a series on "free will."

          Yesterday, we showed that man can do nothing to save himself,
     but must be "born of God," or regenerated by God, Himself (John 1:12-13).

          Today's passage indicates an inability of sinful man to do anything to
     please God.  Only those who have the Holy Spirit are able to please Him.


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                                                  5 "Those who live according to the
                                                    sinful nature have their minds set on what
                                                    that nature desires; but those who live in
                                                    accordance with the Spirit have their minds
                                                    set on what the Spirit desires.

                                                  6 The mind of sinful man is death,
                                                     but the mind controlled by the Spirit
                                                     is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is
                                                     hostile to God.  It does not submit to
                                                     God's law, nor can it do so.

                                                  8 Those controlled by the sinful nature
                                                     cannot please God."
                                                                                Romans 8:5-8


          TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE

          There are two types of persons referred to in this passage:
     Those without the Holy Spirit, sinful man, and those who have the Holy Spirit.

          Those who have the Holy Spirit (have been "born again") are at peace with God,
     and live a life pleasing to Him.

          Those without the Holy Spirit (sinful man who has not been "born again") have
     no desire to please God.  In fact, they are unable to do anything to please Him.
          Yes, sinful man may do "good deeds," such as helping a neighbor in need or
     donating to charity, but God considers these works to be as "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6).

          Compared to a perfectly holy and righteous God, these good deeds mean nothing
     to God if the person is not in a right relationship with Him.
          Certainly, repenting and believing in God would please Him, but those without
     the Spirit are unable to do so.  They are hostile toward God.


          MUST BE BORN AGAIN

                                                Jesus said to Nicodemus:

                                                "You must be born again (to see the kingdom of God).
                                                  The wind blows wherever it pleases.
                                                  You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it
                                                   comes from or where it is going.

                                                   So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
                                                                                John 3:7b-8


          Jesus said that a person must be born again, and this by the Holy Spirit, not by
     anything the person does.


          The new birth is described in Ezekiel 11:19-20.


                                                    God said (about the faithful of Israel),

                                                    "I will give them an undivided heart
                                                      and put a new spirit in them; I will
                                                      remove from them their heart of stone
                                                      and give them a heart of flesh.

                                                      Then they will follow my decrees
                                                       and be careful to keep my laws.

                                                       They will be my people,
                                                       and I will be their God."

          The Holy Spirit causes them to trust in God and obey Him.
     They become His people and He becomes their God.  Those who have
     the Holy Spirit live for God, while those who don't have it will be
     punished for their disobedience (Ezekiel 11:21).


          GOD CAUSES THE NEW BIRTH


                                                       "Praise be to the God and Father of our
                                                        Lord Jesus Christ!
                                                        According to His great mercy, He has
                                                        caused us to be born again to a living
                                                        hope through the resurrection of
                                                        Jesus Christ from the dead,
                   
                                                        to an inheritance that is imperishable,
                                                        undefiled, and unfading,
                                                        kept in heaven for you,
                                                        who by God's power are being guarded
                                                        through faith for a salvation ready to
                                                        be revealed in the last time."
                                                                                 1 Peter 1:3-5


          God causes the new birth, not a decision to accept Christ.
     Remember, a person without the Holy Spirit is unable to do anything to please God,
     such as trust in Him for salvation.

          The power of God the Holy Spirit keeps us saved, not any free will decision a person
     makes.


                                                       "In Him (Jesus) you also,
                                                         when you heard the word of truth,
                                                         the gospel of your salvation,
                                                         and believed in Him,
                                                         were sealed with the promised
                                                         Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee
                                                         of our inheritance until we acquire
                                                         possession of it,
                                                         to the praise of His glory."
                                                                                Ephesians 1:13-14