-Examining Scripture concerning Calvinism on “None Seek God”
This information will be an examination of Scripture concerning Calvinism on the topic of "none seek God", and giving a Biblical answer to this misunderstanding. There are many today who are seeking for God and have not come to know Him yet. There are millions (if not billions) around the world "right now" seeking after God and are not spiritually born again yet, such as Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Oneness Pentecostals, Muslims, and many other types of beliefs. They do not know the Biblical God, Jesus, or Gospel yet, but they are seeking after God, to that there is no doubt. Anyone who says that these various groups are not seeking after God are either self willed or not informed. So what do Calvinists say concerning this? They say those groups are in false religions and are not truly seeking God, but are seeking after false gods and truth, or something in reference to them not being of the truth. The fact is that these people are "seeking" after God, whether or not they have come to know the God of the Bible is another issue, but that they are seeking after spiritual matters shows that there are people who are seeking after God.
What does the Bible say concerning man seeking after God?
The Scriptures teach us that people were instructed to “seek after God”, and if people are instructed to seek after God, than the possibility of being able to seek God without first being “born again or regenerated” shows the Calvinist doctrines on “none seek God” is not accurate. See, in Calvinism the belief is that only those who have become “born again or regenerated” can seek after God. What is interesting on that note is that “no one was born again” in the sense that Jesus spoke of in John 3 before the work of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Below will be example of the Scripture showing that men or women were instructed to seek after God, and that there were people who did seek after God.
“But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29)
“But as for me, I would seek God, And I would place my cause before God;” (Job 5:8)
“One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.” (Psalms 27:4)
“Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified!”” (Psalms 40:16)
“The humble have seen it and are glad; You who seek God, let your heart revive.” (Psalms 69:32)
“6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)
These Scriptures are clearly obvious that God calls people to seek Him, and that people did seek after Him. Therefore those who say, “none seek God”, are in error because the Bible clearly shows that people did seek after God.
What did Jesus teach about seeking after God?
It is interesting to read through out the Gospels what Jesus taught on those who came to Him, and their reasons for seeking after Him. Many people were seeking after Him for various reasons, but the fact is that they were seeking Him which shows again that people can seek after God without being born again yet. Below will be some Scriptures showing what Jesus taught concerning seeking God and spiritual things.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
(Matthew 6:33)
“7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:7-11)
It is clear that Jesus taught people to seek after God, to seek spiritual matters in their life. The people that Jesus was speaking to were not yet “born again”, for the work of the cross had not be accomplished, the Holy Spirit not yet given, and there was no new creation. So if “none can seek God” as what Calvinism teaches, than what Jesus was teaching these people if they could not do it? The doctrinal truth is that these people had “the ability” to seek after God.
Looking at what Paul said in Romans 2 on people seeking God
Many Calvinists point out Romans 3:10-18 as a proof text to show that no one can seek after God without being born again, but Paul “before” Romans 3 makes some interesting comments in Romans 2.
“5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.” (Romans 2:5-11)
Paul states those who rebelled against God, knowing that He has “revealed” Himself to mankind will have wrath and judgment, “because of their stubbornness and unrepentant heart.” It was on them, they had a choice, and they chose against the Lord. Paul says there are those “doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life”, thus showing that these people could seek after God. Paul gives a contrast of those who seek after God and those who reject God, and that this is for anyone, for there is “no partiality with God.” Clearly this in context shows Paul was not rejecting people seeking God, (i.e. Romans 3:10-18) but that those who seek God are responding to what God has revealed to them. (Romans 1:18-32)
This information is here to give a Biblical answer to those who teach that man cannot seek God without first being born again. If you have questions or comments concerning this please let us know because we would love to help. God bless you.
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“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.'” -John 3:3
In order for this to work, Jesus would have by necessity stated “unless one sees the kingdom of God, he cannot be born again.” The entire concept of being born again, of regeneration, is that there is nothing we can do to be saved, even seeing our need of being saved. Only Christ can choose us. We have no power to be, no nature for being, and awareness of our need to be saved from sin. We are slaves to sin. Salvation is a supernatural work of God alone. Not a cooperative work of God and the guilty sinner. We have nothing to offer God but our sin, and no desire to submit unless He changes our heart first.
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Biblical position concerning Romans 3:11.In the proceeding verses the Apostle Paul is proving that all are under sin, including the Jews. He is arguing that being born a Jew does not make you righteous before God. Then the Apostle Paul quotes a verse referring to specific Jews who existed during the life of Isaiah. That passage shows us that at that time the Jews had sinned against God and were not seeking God, this was used as evidence that being Jewish does not make you righteous. It is also quoted in psalms concerning the gentile nations at the time the psalm was written. The scripture is not a blanket statement about all people at all times, it simply is being used to prove that both Jew and Gentile are capable of sin.
Biblical position concerning Romans 3:11.In the proceeding verses the Apostle Paul is proving that all are under sin, including the Jews. He is arguing that being born a Jew does not make you righteous before God. Then the Apostle Paul quotes a verse referring to specific Jews who existed during the life of Isaiah. That passage shows us that at that time the Jews had sinned against God and were not seeking God, this was used as evidence that being Jewish does not make you righteous. It is also quoted in psalms concerning the gentile nations at the time the psalm was written. The scripture is not a blanket statement about all people at all times, it simply is being used to prove that both Jew and Gentile are capable of sin.
Ephesians 2 and Colossians 2 is only speaking about those who have been buried with Christ.
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Now “WHO” is dead? Those who have been buried in baptism! Those who have denied themselves picked up there cross and followed Christ.
So “who” is quickened from the dead? Those who are buried with Christ.
Now when we go to Ephesians 1:20 we see the context Ephesians 1&2;
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
So the context of Ephesians 1&2 is the resurrection of Christ and those who are buried with Christ
Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
This passage shows us that in the same way Christ was quickened so we also are quickened.
Verse 2 refers to the sin that we once walked in before we were buried and resurrected. The sins that we were dead in/with are the sins we once walked in.
You say then what does “dead in sins” mean
ἐν
en
Thayer Definition:
1) in, by, with etc.
If a sinner literally dies we say he died in/with his sins, likewise when a sinner dies spiritually he is dead in his sins until God brings life
if we are born spiritually dead in sin as the bible teaches how could we seek god on our own? how can a dead person raise themselves from the dead? God must first change them before
they have the ability to make the choice to have faith in Christ. God is sovietgn over all things including salvation. as Romans 8 says he will have mercy on whom he has mercy and harden who he wants to harden. God uses whomever he chooses to accomplish his glory whether it be through wrath like the pharoh or grace through Christ. I agree with the first comment there is way more scripture to b diacussed.To say god is not ultimately in control of salvation is to deny his sorviergn will. As far as people in other religions whether you look at that thier seeking a god (which isn’t seeking the god) or their asking god through other sources they cannot seek through any source without god first changing thier hear. in Romans it says non are righteous and none seek after god. none seek to do good.without god working through someone they cannot so good on thier own.
This article is from our previous ministry, Apologetics for Christians, which is now “Rooted In Christ” found at http://www.rootedinchrist.org. This article is http://www.rootedinchrist.org/1/NoneSeekGod.html
There is much more in this article other than Psalms, and the point is people do seek God, but not of their own guidance. However the main point is clear, God calls out to people to seek Him, thus our responsibility. If you wish to discuss this further contact us with our new email at info@rootedinchrist.org.
One more thing. This is a Biblical response to this issue, which you did not even address. Very biased? I would say in an affirmative, no, very thought out and prayerfully examined.
Kelly Powers
The point of that Psalm you’re quoting is to show that no one in their fallen state seeks God out of their own initiative. It is God who seeks them out first and opens their eyes, then they start seeking God.
This isnt a biblical response to Calvinism this is your response and a very biased response too.