GP11. Truly seek Truth and Jesus will be found

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DO WE REALLY SEEK GOD OR DOES GOD FIRST SEEK US?

Rom 3:10-11 states that no one is righteous and seeks after God. 

Even in the case of Deut 4:29, God had first chosen Israel to be His and shown Himself to be their God. Israel did not seek God. The verse is actually a reminder that once God is revealed, we can look forward to a deeper relationship by truly seeking Him with all our heart and soul.

In the earlier pages, we read about how man's sinful nature is hostile and rebellious towards God, described in Rom 5:10 as enemies of God. The only way a sinner will ever approach God is when God first draws the sinner unto Himself. John 6:44 tells us of this amazing aspect of God's mercy and the revelation of Christ as the way to the Father.

We can see God's work by the positive changes that take place in a defiant sinner's life. Slowly but surely, his hardened heart gives way to a recognition of his sinfulness against God that initiates a true seeking of God's forgiveness in Godly sorrow and not just human remorse. David embodied this as written in Ps 51:17 describing "a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart" leading to a genuine repentance and for sinners in the Church Age of grace, to a rebirth in Christ (Rom 10:9). This simplified explanation of events is the result of "washing of regeneration" in Titus 3:5.

In this way, no one can boast in his works and claim that he made the first approach to God (Eph 2:8-9, Rom 11:6).

HOW CAN A MAN BE BORN AGAIN?

Jesus instructed Nicodemus, a high ranking Jewish teacher of Old Testament law about spiritual re-birth. Up to that point, Jesus had not gone to the Cross and so the concept of being born again in Christ was not yet revealed until Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4, 2:38).

Let us first understand what "born of water" (John 3:5) mean. This refers to God spiritually cleansing the sinner. It does NOT refer to water baptism or any act or tradition of man where water is used. Jesus emphasized the difference between man's work and God's work in John 3:6 stating "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

Essentially, God 'washes' a sinner for spiritual re-birth. Eze 36:25 speaks of Israel where God "will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean;" and who "will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols." Obviously, God does not physically sprinkle water but it refers to a spiritual cleansing.

This understanding is explained again in Titus 3:5 as the 'washing' work of God who saved us according to His mercy "through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,"

David understood this when he prayed in Ps 51:2 "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin." From these verses, we can see that God mercifully begins, works through and completes the cleansing of a sinner.

If you are genuinely seeking the truth just as Nicodemus did, it is a good indicator that God already has His eye on you. There is nothing you can do to be born again but the one important thing you can do is to "Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near." Isa 55:6.

Lovingly and sincerely, we encourage you to seek God with all your heart and He will be found (Jer 29:13). When God reveals Himself to you, He will reveal Himself through the Person of Jesus Christ. There is the doctrine of election but that is a subject for a separate discussion. God will lead you to your day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2) to be baptized and born again into Christ. You will be a new creation and will be one with God.

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