The Natural Man's Resistance to God in Scripture
The concept of humanity's resistance to God is a recurring theme in Scripture, often described as an inherent opposition stemming from human nature. The apostle Paul states that "the natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned" [1, 2]. This "natural man" is characterized as being governed by an "animal soul" rather than the Spirit of God, leading to a state where human reason and heart are estranged from divine life [10].
This resistance is not merely passive ignorance but an active hostility. Romans 8:7 (NASB) declares that "the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so" [7]. This hostility manifests in various forms of rebellion against God, His laws, and His appointed authorities [3]. Biblical examples of such rebellion include the Israelites in the wilderness, who "rebelled against me in the wilderness" despite God's miraculous provision, provoking Him through their transgressions, ingratitude, unbelief, and idolatry [12]. Their refusal to trust God and their constant turning away from Him demonstrated a heart that did not desire to obey [13].
The Bible uses strong imagery to describe this resistance, such as "stretching out one's hand against God," signifying open acts of hostility and enmity [15]. This rebellion can also be seen in the hardening of hearts against God, His Gospel, and His truth [11, 14]. Such hardness can be natural, due to the corruption of nature, or acquired through persistent sin, eventually becoming habitual [11, 14]. The wrath of man, according to James 1:20, does not produce the righteousness of God [5].
Even resistance to human authority can be seen as resistance to God's ordinance, as Romans 13:2 states, "he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment" [6]. The names of biblical figures sometimes reflect this theme, such as Jeroboam, meaning "he that opposes the people," or Meribbaal, meaning "he that resists Baal; rebellion" [4, 9]. The concept of "Ellasar," meaning "revolting from God," further illustrates this pervasive idea [8].
Sources
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 2:14 (BSB) — The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
- 1 Corinthians “1 Corinthians 2:14 (NASB) — 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.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Rebellion Against God — Forbidden -- Nu 14:9; Jos 22:19. Provokes God -- Nu 16:30; Ne 9:26. Provokes Christ -- Ex 23:20,21; 1Co 10:9. Vexes the Holy Spirit -- Isa 63:10. Exhibited in Unbelief. -- De 9:23; Ps 106:24,25. Rejecting his government. -- 1Sa 8:7; 15:23. Revolting from him. -- Isa 1:5; 31:6. Despising his law. -- Ne 9:26. Despising his counsels. -- Ps 107:11. Distrusting his power. -- Eze 17:15. Murmuring against him. -- Nu 20:3,10. Refusing to hearken to him. -- De 9:23; Eze 20:8; Zec 7:11. Departing from him. -- Isa 59:13. Rebellion against governors appoi”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jeroboam — he that opposes the people”
- James “James 1:20 (YLT) — for the wrath of a man the righteousness of God doth not work;”
- Romans “Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. -- Romans 13:2”
- Romans “Romans 8:7 (NASB) — because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Ellasar — revolting from God”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Meribbaal — he that resists Baal; rebellion”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:14: natural man--literally, "a man of animal soul." As contrasted with the spiritual man, he is governed by the animal soul, which overbears his spirit, which latter is without the Spirit of God (Jde 1:19). So the animal (English Version, "natural") body, or body led by the lower animal nature (including both the mere human fallen reason and heart), is contrasted with the Spirit-quickened body (Co1 15:44-46). The carnal man (the man led by bodily appetites, and also by a self-exalting spirit, estranged from the divine life) is closely akin; so too t”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 95:8: Harden not your hearts,.... Against Christ, against his Gospel, against all the light and evidence of it. There is a natural hardness of the heart, owing to the corruption of nature; and an habitual hardness, acquired by a constant continuance and long custom in sinning; and there is a judicial hardness, which God gives men up unto. There is a hardness of heart, which sometimes attends God's own people, through the deceitfulness of sin gaining upon them; of which, when sensible, they complain, and do well to guard against. Respect seems to be had here to the hardness ”
- Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 20:13: But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness,.... Where they were wholly at the mercy of God, entirely dependent upon him; and miracles were wrought every day for the sustaining and preservation of, them from famine, wild beasts, and enemies; yet they rebelled against the Lord; provoked him bitterly by their manifold transgressions, their ingratitude, unbelief, and idolatry; and this not a few of them only, but the whole body of the people, the house of Israel, the whole family, and that for the space of forty years, Psa 95:9; they walked not in m”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 3:9: 3:9-10 Despite seeing the miracles God had performed on their behalf, the people of Israel tested God’s patience by refusing to trust him in the wilderness (Num 14:11, 22). The essence of their rebellion was that their hearts always turned away from God—they did not desire to obey him. The result was that God was angry with them.”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 3:8: Harden not you hearts,.... There is a natural hardness of the heart; the heart of man is like a stone, destitute of spiritual life, motion, and activity; it is senseless, stupid, impenitent, stubborn, and inflexible, on which no impressions can be made, but by powerful grace: and there is an acquired, habitual, and voluntary hardness of heart, to which men arrive by various steps; as entertaining pleasing thoughts of sin; an actual commission of it, with frequency, till it becomes customary, and so habitual; an extenuation or justification of it, and so they become ha”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 15:24: For he stretched out his hand against God,.... Being an hater of him, an enemy to him, yea, enmity itself against him; an enemy in his mind, which appears by his wicked works, which are so many acts of hostility against God; all sins are against God, his nature, his will, his law, and all his remonstrances, exhortations, cautions, and instructions; but some are more daring and impudent than others, or are committed in a more open, bold, and audacious manner, as were those committed by the inhabitants of Sodom, and those who are similar to them; especially such as strike”