John Calvin Commentary John 8:23

"And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world." — John 8:23 (ASV)

You are from beneath, I am from above. Since they did not deserve his teaching, he wished only to strike them with brief reproofs. For in this passage, he declares that they do not receive his doctrine because they have an utter dislike of the kingdom of God.

By the terms world and beneath, he includes all that human beings naturally possess, and thus points out the conflict that exists between his Gospel and the ingenuity and sagacity of the human mind. For the Gospel is heavenly wisdom, but our mind grovels on the earth.

Therefore, no one will ever be qualified to become a disciple of Christ until Christ has formed him by his Spirit. This is why faith is so seldom found in the world: because all humanity is naturally opposed and averse to Christ, except for those whom he elevates by the special grace of his Holy Spirit.