[D-fendr]

There was a time in my life when scripture sounded like the drone of preacher’s meaningless platitudes.

Then, there came a time when Jesus’s words took on a meaning I understood.

I did not change my species from nonhuman with no free will to human with free will.

“He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”

Makes perfect sense to me. No Tulip interpreter required.

[HarleyD]

There was a time in my life when scripture sounded like the drone of preacher’s meaningless platitudes. Then, there came a time when Jesus’s words took on a meaning I understood.

I would suggest there are times when we wish to fit a round peg into a square hole. The question one has to answer is whether they are going to be true to what the text actually states.

“He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.” - Makes perfect sense to me. No Tulip interpreter required.

Yes, I'm sure it does. Typical answer like the many countless commentaries I have looked at through the years; no real thought as to what the verse is actually stating. Usually I get the answer you have given.

Trouble is I looked in the wrong commentaries. The true answer is that one cannot hear the word of God unless it is granted to them by God. Peter is a great example.

Mat 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Mat 16:17 And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Mar 4:12 so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN."

Doesn't sound much like God wants everyone to come to Him when, in fact, He didn't want them to hear and understand. Not everyone who hears the word of God are sons of God.

At the risk of sounding a tad arrogant, it amazes me that, after people are explained the right way to interpret the scripture, people will continuously try to find every excuse to not admit the fact that God is the source of our hearing, our repenting, our believing. Even when confronted with obvious scripture. My Bible School teacher is like this, wonderful Christian that he is, in that he simply glosses over these verses saying he doesn't understand them.

Fortunately, I believe that God is the source of knowledge as well.