No one seeks for God and no one can earn God's forgiveness by their own good works. There are so called "seeker" Churches who claim that they cater to those who are seeking God. But as our friend Larry Wright used to say; "Why would anyone want to start a Church for people who don't exist?" The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Rome; "...There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God. (Romans 3:10-11)
Like those who are physically dead who are unresponsive, those who are spiritually dead have no ability to respond to the spiritual truths of the gospel. They are not just in critical condition, they are totally corrupt and incapable of seeking God; And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked... (Ephesians 2:1)
Furthermore, those who are spiritually dead cannot earn their righteousness before God. Their so called good works including, baptism, confirmation, Church membership, or any other good thing, does not satisfy God's penalty for sin. The penalty for sin is death, and not just physical death, but also spiritual death. The penalty is eternal separation from God in a literal hell.
We don't seek for God and we can't justify ourselves before Him by our good works. This would be a tragic truth for everyone except for these two words; But God; But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ! What we could not do in our spiritually dead condition, God did through our faith in His finished work, the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We can take no credit for our salvation from the penalty of sin, but thankfully, we receive all the eternal blessings; "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-1) With our God all things are possible, even our complete forgiveness and salvation from the penalty of sin. But God...Maranatha!
