The Preparation of the Heart: Divine Drawing and the Natural Man

[Anthony Pritchard]

The Preparation of the Heart​

Divine Drawing and the Natural Man​

This article examines the biblical evidence concerning the natural man, divine drawing, and the preparation of the heart, allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture. It is not intended to defend or refute any theological system, but simply to consider the testimony of the Scriptures on the subject.

One of the most frequently cited verses in support of the doctrine that regeneration must precede faith is 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.”

From this verse, some conclude that an unregenerate sinner is incapable of believing the gospel and therefore must first be regenerated before he can exercise faith.

However, this conclusion assumes something the verse itself does not say.

The passage describes the condition of the natural man apart from the work of God. It does not address the prior activity of God in drawing, convicting, enlightening, and preparing the heart to receive the truth.

The issue is not whether the natural man is incapable in himself. Scripture plainly teaches that he is. The issue is whether God works upon the sinner before salvation. The Scriptures answer with a resounding yes.

The Drawing of the Father

Jesus declared:

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” (John 6:44)

The inability is clear. No man can come unless the Father draws him.

Yet this drawing is itself divine activity directed toward the lost. The verse does not describe regeneration preceding faith. Rather, it describes the Father’s work drawing sinners toward Christ.

Likewise, Jesus said:

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)

The Lord’s death unleashed a universal proclamation and drawing ministry toward mankind.

The sinner is not left alone in darkness. God takes the initiative.

The Convicting Work of the Spirit

Jesus also revealed the ministry of the Holy Spirit toward the world:

“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” (John 16:8)

Notice that the Spirit reproves the world. This is not a ministry directed only toward those already saved. The Spirit convicts, convinces, and bears witness to the truth before conversion occurs.

The natural man may not receive spiritual things in his fallen condition, but neither is he left untouched by the Spirit of God.

The Opening of Lydia’s Heart

The conversion of Lydia provides a beautiful example:

“Whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” (Acts 16:14)

The Lord opened her heart.

The Lord acted first.

Yet the passage does not say she had already been regenerated before hearing and believing. Rather, God prepared her heart so that she attended to and received the gospel message preached by Paul.

The Lord’s opening of the heart precedes and enables her response.

The Principle of Human Willingness

Jesus stated:

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17)

Notice the order.

The willingness comes first. Understanding follows.

Our Lord did not say, “If any man has first been regenerated, he shall know.”

He said:

“If any man will do his will.”

A willing heart receives further light.

God reveals truth to those who respond to the light already given.

This principle appears throughout Scripture. Light received and obeyed is followed by greater light.

Knowing the Author

This truth harmonizes perfectly with Paul’s statement:

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

No one argues that fallen man can arrive at spiritual truth independently.

Salvation is entirely of grace. Illumination is entirely of God.

Yet Paul nowhere states that God cannot work upon the sinner before conversion.

Indeed, the whole testimony of Scripture reveals that He does.

The Father draws.
The Son calls.
The Spirit convicts.
The Lord opens hearts.
Truth is presented.
Conscience is awakened.
The heart is prepared.

The Error of Ignoring Divine Preparation

There is an argument that often treats the sinner as though he remains entirely untouched by divine influence until the moment of regeneration.

Yet Scripture repeatedly presents God’s active dealings with lost men before their conversion.

The question is not whether fallen man can save himself.

He cannot.

The question is whether God draws and prepares sinners before they believe.

The biblical answer is that He does.

The Father’s drawing, the Spirit’s conviction, the opening of the heart, and the granting of further light to the willing all testify to God’s preparatory work.

Therefore 1 Corinthians 2:14 cannot be used as proof that regeneration must precede faith.

The verse teaches the inability of the natural man. It does not deny the drawing of the Father. It does not deny the convicting work of the Spirit. It does not deny the opening of the heart. It does not deny the preparation of the sinner through divine grace.

Rather, the whole counsel of God reveals a God who actively seeks, draws, convicts, enlightens, and prepares hearts to receive the gospel of His Son.

As Lydia’s experience demonstrates, the Lord opens the heart so that the sinner may attend to the truth.

And as Christ Himself teaches:

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God...” (John 7:17)

The preparation of the heart is the work of God. Faith is the sinner’s response to that gracious work. Neither stands apart from the other.

The natural man cannot come to Christ unaided, but Scripture nowhere teaches that God leaves him unaided until after he believes. Rather, the Father draws, the Spirit convicts, the Lord opens the heart, and through that gracious preparation men are enabled to receive the truth of the gospel.

~ Tony

© A.K. Pritchard 2026 - Free to use with proper attribution.

 

[Van]

SNIP

One of the most frequently cited verses in support of the doctrine that regeneration must precede faith is 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.”

From this verse, some conclude that an unregenerate sinner is incapable of believing the gospel and therefore must first be regenerated before he can exercise faith.

However, this conclusion assumes something the verse itself does not say.

The passage describes the condition of the natural man apart from the work of God. It does not address the prior activity of God in drawing, convicting, enlightening, and preparing the heart to receive the truth.

The issue is not whether the natural man is incapable in himself. Scripture plainly teaches that he is.

SNIP

No one argues that fallen man can arrive at spiritual truth independently.

Salvation is entirely of grace. Illumination is entirely of God.

The opening post made several assertions, but my response just addresses the claim that the natural man has no innate ability to understand any spiritual truth unless "enabled" by the grace of God. This is unsupported in scripture and is false doctrine.

We agree that the natural person, unregenerate, lost and a made sinner cannot understand "the things" of the Spirit of God.

Does the verse say "all the things, or some of the things? The reader knows the verse does NOT say either. So we are left to carefully consider the immediate context to see if the scope of the statement is provided.

And what is the answer? The natural person, a "man of flesh" cannot understand spiritual solid food, because a person must be regenerated and has matured past being a new born believer.

But what about spiritual milk, the fundamentals of the gospel. Here we see that Paul speaks to new born believers using spiritual milk, which he also does to unregenerate "men of flesh. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3.

Secondly, note that some of the attributes of God, spiritual milk so to speak, have been made known to natural people, not by "enabling grace" but simply by observing in their natural state what He has made.

Thirdly, note that scripture presents many examples of natural, unregenerate people seeking God.
For example, see Matthew 23:13 where natural unregenerate people are actually in the process of "entering the kingdom" but are prevented from going in. Thus they could understand spiritual milk, but could also be led astray by false doctrine such as the traditions of men making God's word to no effect. One must see that God's word had an effect until corrupted!

 

[Anthony Pritchard]

No one argues that fallen man can arrive at spiritual truth independently.

The opening post made several assertions, but my response just addresses the claim that the natural man has no innate ability to understand any spiritual truth unless "enabled" by the grace of God. This is unsupported in scripture and is false doctrine.

We agree that the natural person, unregenerate, lost and a made sinner cannot understand "the things" of the Spirit of God.

Does the verse say "all the things, or some of the things? The reader knows the verse does NOT say either. So we are left to carefully consider the immediate context to see if the scope of the statement is provided.

And what is the answer? The natural person, a "man of flesh" cannot understand spiritual solid food, because a person must be regenerated and has matured past being a new born believer.

But what about spiritual milk, the fundamentals of the gospel. Here we see that Paul speaks to new born believers using spiritual milk, which he also does to unregenerate "men of flesh. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3.

Secondly, note that some of the attributes of God, spiritual milk so to speak, have been made known to natural people, not by "enabling grace" but simply by observing in their natural state what He has made.

Thirdly, note that scripture presents many examples of natural, unregenerate people seeking God.
For example, see Matthew 23:13 where natural unregenerate people are actually in the process of "entering the kingdom" but are prevented from going in. Thus they could understand spiritual milk, but could also be led astray by false doctrine such as the traditions of men making God's word to no effect. One must see that God's word had an effect until corrupted!

Thank you, Van.

I think we agree on several important points.

We agree that the natural man cannot independently arrive at spiritual truth. We agree that understanding spiritual truth ultimately depends upon God's work rather than human ability.

Where my article is focused is not primarily upon defining the exact scope of "the things of the Spirit of God," whether spiritual milk, spiritual meat, or both. Rather, the question under consideration is whether 1 Corinthians 2:14 can legitimately be used as proof that regeneration must precede faith.

My contention is that the verse itself does not address the preparatory work of God upon the sinner. It describes the inability of the natural man apart from God's work, but it does not discuss the Father's drawing (John 6:44), Christ drawing men unto Himself (John 12:32), the Spirit's conviction of the world (John 16:8), or the Lord opening Lydia's heart (Acts 16:14).

Even if one were to grant your argument concerning spiritual milk and spiritual meat, the central question would remain: Does Scripture depict God as actively working upon the hearts of lost men before conversion?

The passages cited in the article suggest that He does.

Thus my conclusion remains that 1 Corinthians 2:14, by itself, cannot establish that regeneration must precede faith.

 

[Van]

Does Scripture depict God as actively working upon the hearts of lost men before conversion?

The passages cited in the article suggest that He does.

Thus my conclusion remains that 1 Corinthians 2:14, by itself, cannot establish that regeneration must precede faith.

If I may, let me drill down on these to points.

Scripture precludes regeneration before faith. Regeneration occurs when an unregenerate individual is spiritually relocated from the domain of darkness (in Adam) and into the domain or kingdom of Christ. Note Ephesians 2:5, we are made alive (from our unregenerate spiritually dead state) together with Christ. Thus only after we are placed in union, do we undergo the washing of regeneration. However, backing up, why did God choose to set us apart into Christ's spiritual body? 2 Thessalonians 2:13 God chose us for salvation through "faith in the truth." Therefore our faith, when and if credited as righteousness by God, comes sequentially before God setting us apart in Christ and causing us to be born anew by the washing of regeneration.

The second point, God actively working upon the hearts of lost people before election for salvation must be clarified. Does this mean providing spiritual milk to be understood by the lost? Yes. But it does not mean, in my opinion, God uses "enabling grace" (Prevenient or Irresistible) to overcome a non existent inability to understand spiritual milk.

 

[Anthony Pritchard]

If I may, let me drill down on these to points.

Scripture precludes regeneration before faith. Regeneration occurs when an unregenerate individual is spiritually relocated from the domain of darkness (in Adam) and into the domain or kingdom of Christ. Note Ephesians 2:5, we are made alive (from our unregenerate spiritually dead state) together with Christ. Thus only after we are placed in union, do we undergo the washing of regeneration. However, backing up, why did God choose to set us apart into Christ's spiritual body? 2 Thessalonians 2:13 God chose us for salvation through "faith in the truth." Therefore our faith, when and if credited as righteousness by God, comes sequentially before God setting us apart in Christ and causing us to be born anew by the washing of regeneration.

The second point, God actively working upon the hearts of lost people before election for salvation must be clarified. Does this mean providing spiritual milk to be understood by the lost? Yes. But it does not mean, in my opinion, God uses "enabling grace" (Prevenient or Irresistible) to overcome a non existent inability to understand spiritual milk.

Thank you for the response. I agree that regeneration does not precede faith. My point in the article, however, is more limited. The question is whether Scripture depicts God as actively working upon the hearts of lost men before conversion.

The passages cited show that He does. Lydia's heart was opened by the Lord to attend to the things spoken by Paul. Men are drawn by the Father. The Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. God commands all men everywhere to repent while at the same time exercising longsuffering toward them.

Therefore, when 1 Corinthians 2:14 is read alongside these passages, it cannot by itself establish that the lost man is left entirely without divine influence prior to faith.

Whether one wishes to call that activity drawing, conviction, preparation, enlightenment, or something else is a secondary question. Scripture says "draw," both of the Father's work and of the Son's work. The primary question is simply whether Scripture portrays God as actively dealing with the hearts of lost men before conversion. It does.

 

[Mike B]

Does Scripture depict God as actively working upon the hearts of lost men before conversion?

Have not done the research, however I can say with 100% certainty that this
statement is true.

Before I understood salvation and gave my life to Christ, the conviction of the Holy Spirit
absolutely tore me up for about a week. Not sure how else to phrase that.

 

[Van]

Thank you for the response. I agree that regeneration does not precede faith. My point in the article, however, is more limited. The question is whether Scripture depicts God as actively working upon the hearts of lost men before conversion.

The passages cited show that He does. Lydia's heart was opened by the Lord to attend to the things spoken by Paul. Men are drawn by the Father. The Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. God commands all men everywhere to repent while at the same time exercising longsuffering toward them.

Therefore, when 1 Corinthians 2:14 is read alongside these passages, it cannot by itself establish that the lost man is left entirely without divine influence prior to faith.

Whether one wishes to call that activity drawing, conviction, preparation, enlightenment, or something else is a secondary question. Scripture says "draw," both of the Father's work and of the Son's work. The primary question is simply whether Scripture portrays God as actively dealing with the hearts of lost men before conversion. It does.

It appears we have reached a point of disagreement.

Here is my view:

​

The second point, God actively working upon the hearts of lost people before election for salvation must be clarified. Does this mean providing spiritual milk to be understood by the lost? Yes. But it does not mean, in my opinion, God uses "enabling grace" (Prevenient or Irresistible) to overcome a non existent inability to understand spiritual milk.​

I take it you believe in "enabling grace" calling it "drawing, conviction, preparation, enlightenment, or something else."

Let us take the terms one at a time:

1) To draw when used metaphorically means to attract, as for example, if someone sacrifices for you, you are attracted to them. Christ dying for all mankind, draws or attracts all mankind to Him. Nothing supernatural, such as "enabling grace" is suggested by the term "draw." John 12:32

2) To convict when used to make people aware of their sins, does not suggest supernatural enablement, but since scripture is the work product of the Holy Spirit inspiring men, then providing God's word, special revelation, convicts the world of sin. Recall Paul, thinking things were fine, until he considered coveting, and then all was lost!

3) We find "preparation" at Ephesians 6:15:

​

​

and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; ​

​

Here we have the concept listed among the armor, and seems to refer to having been prepared to effectively witness to the lost, having a firm "footing" or foundation derived from discipleship and study. Again, no supernatural enablement is suggested by the verse.​

​

4) Enlightenment, as with "opening" a person's eyes, ears or heart, refers to a person receiving spiritual instruction in an understandable way. Again, one Pastor might preach on a verse, which makes little or no sense, and then sometime later, you listen to another Pastor who explains it in a way that makes perfect sense. Your heart was opened, not by supernatural enablement, but by a presentation that meshes with your understanding and experience.; Again, no supernatural enablement is being taught.​

 

[Kai]

Hi @Anthony Pritchard, @Van, and @Mike B. Great discussion so far.

When discussing the topic of what some would call pre-faith regeneration, how are we to understand some passages that seem to imply the ability to set the heart on the ways of the Lord is left up to the sinner?

For example:

2 Chronicles 19:3
Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.

Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

And likewise, we are told what happened to King Rehoboam when he did not:

2 Chronicles 12:14
And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.

Of course, we also can't ignore the verses that speak of God's role in changing the human heart.

For example:

Jeremiah 31:33
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Acts 16:14
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

When attempting to fit all of these together in a coherent theological system, should it be understood that Lydia's heart was opened because she had already prepared her heart to seek the Lord? Or did she prepare her heart, worship God, and eventually have their heart opened to the Gospel, all as a response to being predestined to salvation before the foundation of the world?

 

[Van]

Hi @Anthony Pritchard, @Van, and @Mike B. Great discussion so far.

When discussing the topic of what some would call pre-faith regeneration, how are we to understand some passages that seem to imply the ability to set the heart on the ways of the Lord is left up to the sinner?

For example:



And likewise, we are told what happened to King Rehoboam when he did not:


Of course, we also can't ignore the verses that speak of God's role in changing the human heart.

For example:



When attempting to fit all of these together in a coherent theological system, should it be understood that Lydia's heart was opened because she had already prepared her heart to seek the Lord? Or did she prepare her heart, worship God, and eventually have their heart opened to the Gospel, all as a response to being predestined to salvation before the foundation of the world?

Hi Kai, thanks for your studied contribution,

I already addressed my contr-view on Acts 16:14, see Post #7, paragraph numbered 4.

Jeremiah 31:33 NASB
“For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD: “I will put My law within them and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

This is an OT prophecy of the coming New Covenant in His Blood. How is knowledge or conviction concerning God's law placed within those born anew. They are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, who acts as a Paraclete or Helper who helps guide us in the "Law of Liberty." Therefore the verse has no application toward the question of whether the hearts of the lost need to be supernaturally enabled to understand spiritual milk, prior to being born anew. My view is NO.

 

[Van]

My eyes were opened.

I had never thought very highly of firemen or firefighters. My brother-in-law was a Tucson fire captain, who drove the fire engine and commanded his team as conditions dictated.

I have visited several fire stations, and had formed the picture of firefighters, perhaps a tad overweight, sitting around playing cards and drinking coffee.

One day, my months old grandson starting have convulsions or uncontrolled writhing, and I was scared down to my socks. I called 911, and they told me to open the garage door and stand out front.

Pretty soon, I hear the sirens and then see the big red fire engine followed by the red ambulance.
They, the big and powerful and concerned firefighters ask me where the baby is and I say up stairs in the back. They crash past me and I hear them storming up the stairs.

I am almost in tears, and rush up the stairs. I see a big firefighter coming back toward me, holding my grandson. He looks at me as he rushes by and says, your baby is going to be fine, we will take good care of him.

Now I know about first responders, and I too, hold them in very high regard. My eyes were opened by experience.

 

[Deacon]

Coming from a background of working in cardiology, the word 'heart' tends to ring my bell.
The Hebrew word for heart (lev), resembles the heart along side of the Aorta,

לֵב​

I've been studying the book of Jeremiah recently.
Early this morning I was in chapter 4 and encountered the word "heart" a few times, enough that I did a word search in the book (55 times in 49 passages in the ESV).
The number counts in various versions may be different because sometimes another word might be used instead of 'heart'; it's a word with many different meanings.
Going through each verse is a devotional in itself!

As a young man I memorized Jeremiah 17:9-10 (Scofield AV 1967)
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?
I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the conscience, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

Another verse I memorized that same summer was Proverbs 3:5
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5–6, Scofield AV 1967)

Do you think the Lord was prepping me to work with the heart? lol

Rob

 

[Anthony Pritchard]

As a young man I memorized Jeremiah 17:9-10 (Scofield AV 1967)
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?
I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the conscience, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

Another verse I memorized that same summer was Proverbs 3:5
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5–6, Scofield AV 1967)

Do you think the Lord was prepping me to work with the heart? lol

Jeremiah 17:9 is one of the reasons I hold the view expressed in the article. If the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, then the preparation of the heart cannot be man's work. Likewise, if we are not to lean upon our own understanding, then the answer cannot be found in ourselves.

The preparation of the heart is God's work, not man's.

That is precisely why Scripture speaks of the Father drawing, the Son drawing, the Spirit convicting, and the Lord opening Lydia's heart. God actively deals with the hearts of men. The question is not whether the sinner prepares himself, but whether God prepares the heart before conversion. I believe Scripture repeatedly answers that question in the affirmative.

 

[Deacon]

One of the first books I read as a believer was Pilgrim's Progress.
It was through that book that I was convinced that God was in control of my life from the start, even if I didn't know it.

My high school was quite progressive, we were given the full semester's assignments on the first day and allowed to do them as we wanted.
Which generally meant no work for the first few weeks (the movie, 'Breakfast Club' was crafted from our HS. which was on Shermer Road).
I read Pilgrims Progress in "Study Hall." - one of the most important books I read in HS, other than the Bible.

Anyway, the main character, 'Christian' was filled with terror about the upcoming judgment and tormented by anxiety. That, along with carrying an unbearably heavy burden.
Christian’s heart was weighed down by his sin, guilt, fear, and unworthiness.
This was the work of the Spirit prior to his salvation.

The Spirit works in many different ways.
He opens our eyes our ears, our hearts
He convicts us, and orchestrates events around us.
So much more.

Rob

 

[Van]

Pilgrim's Progress is a very thoughtful book. I might quibble with some of its suggested theology, but just as Deacon said, it is one of our most important books other than our Bible.

If I were to try and write "crib notes" I would change the title to Prospect's Progress, as it describes via several fictional situations, our progress from our initial encounter with the gospel, through making our commitment to Christ, and then along the bumpy path toward spiritual maturity.

One verse jumps out at me, Matthew 23:13, where someone, a Prospect, has encountered at least some of the gospel, and is formulating his understanding and commitment to its requirements. Scripture says the "Prospect" is "entering" the kingdom, which I believe indicates he is formulating his faith, and so far he is on the right track. But then he encounters "experts" who present as truth what is off the mark. The person seeking the true doctrine grabs hold of falsehood such that his faith is not credited as righteousness by God, preventing him from going into the kingdom.