Scripture teaches man is both unable [lacking power/impotent] to see and unwilling [does not desire/nor choose] to see.
Why, when Calvinists make statements like this, do they almost always fail to reference this supposed scripture? Don't you think your argument would be far more convincing if you showed evidence? Saying that the scriptures teach a man is unable and unwilling to see does not make it so. Show this scripture.
‘Seeing’ in the spiritual sense equates to ‘believing in Christ unto salvation.’
I would say "seeing" is more synonymous with understanding than believing. When someone understands something they say, "I can see that", or "I see that now". When someone believes they say, "I believe" or "I think that is true".
‘Seeing’ in the literal sense equates to the normal sight with which most are graciously born.
Agreed.
Jesus uses earthly examples to teach spiritual/heavenly truths.
Agreed. But the reason he used earthly examples is so that men could understand them.
He healed the man born physically blind. Due to Jesus’ supernatural regenerative power the blind man was now able to literally and spiritually ‘see’ – i.e. ‘believe’ Jesus was the Christ.
Yes, he could now physically see, but we do not know if this man was spiritually blind, you are assuming that.
The power to ‘see’ both literally and spiritually was all due to the miraculous power of the God-man Jesus, not the man born blind.
Again, you are assuming the man did not have the ability to believe. Show where the scriptures say that. The scriptures clearly say he was physically blind from birth, they say nothing about his spiritual abilities.
The Pharisees were born with physical sight, yet they were spiritually blind as to Jesus’ identity.
Many of the Pharisees believed on Jesus, Nicodemus believed on Jesus.
The Pharisees were unwilling to see/believe that Jesus was the Christ despite the overwhelming testimony of His miracles, teachings, lifestyle, as well as fulfilled prophecies.
Again, some Pharisees believed, but secretly. That is why Nicodemus came at night.
Their unwillingness to believe was their fault. The root of their unbelief was in their wicked sin nature.
Yes, their unwillingness was their fault, but they had the ability to be willing. The will cannot be defined without freedom of choice. If you have no freedom of choice then you have no will. Your will is doing what you choose to do.
Without the regenerative power of God to reverse their spiritual blindness, they were doomed to remain in their sinful state.
Well, all men are born in darkness, they are born in ignorance. No man is born knowing the gospel. It is teaching the gospel that enlightens a man and enables him to believe.
The conclusions we are draw from this actual example are manifold:
1. All men are born spiritually blind due to their evil fleshly sin nature.
That is the question. I disagree and believe all men can choose to do good or evil. Cain was unregenerate, yet God said he had the ability to do good or evil.
Gen 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and
if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
There is no "if" in your view, you believe unregenerated man is born unable to do good. But God implied Cain could do both good or evil, and that if he chose to do good he would be accepted. God had not passed over him.
2. Spiritual blindness is tantamount to physical blindness.
Not necessarily.
3. No man physically blind can see light.
That's actually not true, but I know what you are trying to say.
4. No man spiritually blind can see the Light of the World.
It depends on what is meant by "blind". A man in a dark room is blind, but turn on the light and he can see. A man is born without knowledge of Jesus, so it is impossible for him to believe. But tell him the gospel (turn on the light) and he can believe.
And this is how scriptures show men are blind, not that they are unable to see, but that they sit in darkness.
Mat 4:16 The people
which sat in darkness saw great light; and to
them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
The reason men are blind is because they sit in darkness. It is like being in a dark room. You cannot see without light. But turn on the light and a man can see. And this is how scripture describes man's blindness, as sitting in darkness.
Psa 119:105 NUN.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path.
As Paul implied in Romans 10:14, no man can believe what he has not heard. It is like a man sitting in darkness, he cannot see. But tell a man the gospel, and this is just like turning on the light in the room, and now the man can see.
5. Only God has the power to reverse this spiritual blindness.
Well, only God has the true light. A man cannot possibly believe in Jesus unless God reveals this truth to him.
6. All men love spiritual darkness refusing to accept the eternal truth that spiritual blindness is tantamount to that of physical blindness.
I disagree, Jesus did not say ALL men love darkness, some men came to the light.
Jhn 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Jesus did not say all men love darkness and will not come to the light. He implied that at least some men desire truth and come to the light.
Your posts are too long, I need to cut this in half.
