Seeking in Vain

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

Earlier today, I was involved in a discussion centering around what is the meaning of seeking the kingdom of God. After offering my answer, someone replied to me with the following statement (in italics). I have to say that I believe many assumptions were made by this person and no scripture was offered either. I feel that what this person said provides a valuable opportunity to discuss some subjects that were touched on. I will try to interject what I believe the scripture says about what they concluded. I hope it edifies and encourages you.

"Yes...but "seeking" in the sense of making a concerted effort to live according to the Word of God is not only a commandment, but necessary for an example of God's kingdom and to attract nonbelievers to Him."

This is a vague comment. What does it mean to make a "concerted effort to live according to the Word of God"? To use the word "effort" implies acting in the energy of our flesh. Furthermore, what parts of the Word of God, the Bible, are we to make an effort to live by? The Mosaic Law? The Sermon on the Mount? And who determines whether or not we are making enough effort or what the penalties and rewards are for those efforts? All this person is saying is that we must live under the Law or some form of it. But, the Bible is clear that we are not under the law (Galatians 3:25) and that the purpose of the law is to stir up sin (Colossians 2:20-23). The law is for the unbeliever (1 Timothy 1:9-11). The law leads us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). The law cannot make us righteous (Romans 3:20). If we are under law we have fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4). Jesus Christ is the end of the law (Romans 10:4). Jesus Christ fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17). Non believers are not attracted by our concerted effort to live according to the Word, they are attracted by our love for one another. "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35)." And love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10).

"Grace does indeed cover us, ...but we must also strive to bring our sinful behaviors into alignment with His commandments and examples demonstrated in the Bible...if no outward display of Godliness was necessary on our part, then all behavior would be permissible and exempt from judgement...and we know that this is not true."

Well actually, all behavior is "permissible and exempt from judgment." "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12)." The reason everything is permissible is that we are not under the law. However, what is missed in all this is the assumption that if we do not exhibit a concerted effort to live under laws designed to change our behavior we will just go out and sin. However, when we are loving our neighbor, with the love we are receiving from God, we will not be sinning against them. That is why the Bible says to "not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13)." I agree that as believers we should avoid sin and that we should see it diminish in our lives. However, what is the origin of all that? The Bible says that is the grace of God that "teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age (Titus 2:12)." Notice it is not law, it is not striving to bring our behavior in line with God's commandments and it is not making a concerted effort to live according to the Word of God that teaches us to say "no" to sinful behavior. It is the grace of God reminding us of God's love for us and our discovery that sin cannot give to us what only God can provide!

"Once saved, always saved"...is a dangerous lie that has pervaded many denominations...you can absolutely fall from His protection and grace. We should rest in the knowing that He is a patient, loving God and that we are forgiven IF we come to Him with purity of heart and intention when we ask for forgiveness of our sins, but we must also with all that we have...keep ourselves in check and reflect daily to assure that we are living in such a way that is pleasing in His sight."

The dangerous lie is to believe you can lose your salvation! To say we can lose salvation is to admit that a person does not know what salvation is. If we are honest, the only thing that can separate us from God is our sins. But, what has God said about our sins? He remembers them no more (Hebrews 10:17). He says that He is no longer counting our sins against us (2 Corinthians 5:19). He even calls us blessed because He does not consider our sins (Romans 4:8). Salvation is the restoration of the life of God, lost in Adam, made available as a gift to all who believe in Jesus Christ because of His resurrection. And because His sacrifice at the cross purchased eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12), no sin will cause that life to leave! That is why it is an eternal life. And if we could lose our salvation why did Jesus say, "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand (John 10:29)"? Why does John say that "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13)"? To say that we can lose eternal life means that it is not eternal, but temporal. It means that salvation is based on our human effort and not on the finished work of Jesus Christ. Also, the Bible says that it's impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). God is pleased with us because we have faith in Jesus Christ. If He was not pleased with us we could lose our salvation and we know that is not true.

In conclusion, I want you to read what I wrote that led to the response I received. I pray it will bless you and give you some clarification on the subject.

"Christians don't "seek" the Kingdom of God, in the sense Jesus meant it in Matthew 6:33. When Jesus said, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well," He was speaking to spiritually dead Jews who believed they were seeking God's Kingdom and were righteous through their attempts at obeying the Mosaic Law and because they were God's "chosen" people. Jesus was trying to show them their sinfulness to lead them to Himself. When we say this passage applies to Christians I believe we are in danger of deceiving ourselves back into a legalistic lifestyle of performance as we try to obtain through self-effort that which we already have through faith. To seek means "to try to obtain." Kingdom means "the domain over which the spiritual sovereignty of God or Christ extends, whether in heaven or on earth." Therefore, to seek the Kingdom of God can mean "to try to obtain the domain over which the spiritual sovereignty of God or Christ extends." This does not apply to Christians.

The Kingdom of God is already within a believer. "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you (1 Corinthians 3:16)?" If the Kingdom of God is where He is and where His sovereignty extends, then we have already found it. The passage from Matthew also says that seeking His Kingdom will result in receiving His righteousness. Again, as Christians, we are already righteous in God's eyes. "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30)." We are righteous, holy, and redeemed because of our faith in Jesus Christ. It is not something we must continue to seek. If it were then we must establish how to seek it. And by doing that we are right back under the law. If God's righteousness was something we could achieve through "seeking" then we would not have needed Jesus Christ to come to this world. "I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing (Galatians 2:21)!" We have already found His Kingdom and received His righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. Let us rest in that truth. Be blessed."