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There are many self-help books on the market today. They
usually teach habits, life styles, or religious rituals originating
from mystic religions and the philosophies of men. As Christians,
our primary objective in this life is to seek God - not to seek
self-empowerment through esoteric rituals.
Perhaps the most recognizable Scripture concerning seeking God
is Matt. 6:25-34 wherein Jesus teaches His disciples not to worry
about the physical necessities of this life. Jesus says: "But
seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the
day is its own trouble" (Matt. 6:33-34).
In Paul's epistle to the Romans, He states the condition of the
heathen community (Rom. 1:18-32). Things have not changed - heathen
"religions" remain the same today. Paul's brief sketch
of the liberal heathen society in Rome serves as a thumb nail sketch
of the liberal, immoral society we live in today. The Romans:
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understood God's invisible attributes through things created
but they did not glorify God (vs. 20-21); therefore they became
fools and practiced idolatry (vs. 23)
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hence God gave them up to uncleanness in lusts to dishonor
their bodies among themselves through homosexuality and all
unrighteousness (vs. 24-31); knowing the righteous judgement
of God (vs. 32)
Christians do not seek gratification of the flesh through esoteric
religious practices and the philosophies of men. We seek God and
His righteousness. Therefore, we are obedient to God through faith.
Paul states the theme of Romans at the beginning and end of the
epistle: Obedience to the faith (Rom. 1:5; 16:26). Those who seek
God live by faith necessitating obedience to God. Paul expressly
explains this fact in the first eleven chapters of the epistle and
then explains the general application of it in the remaining chapters.
Those living by faith attain to righteousness (Rom. 9:30) and hence
are a remnant according to the election of grace (Rom. 11:5-6).
Note that those who have faith in God (Rom. 5:1-2) enter into Christ
through baptism (Rom. 6:3). Paul says: "Or do you not know
that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized
into His death" (Rom. 6:3). We have died to the law of sin
and death to live according to the law of the Spirit (Rom. 8:1-17).
Therefore, we voluntarily make ourselves slaves of righteousness
- no longer being slaves of sin (Rom. 6:15-23).
Now the reason for investigating the process of seeking God, faith,
and entrance into Christ is to show forth the blessings in Christ.
These are blessings unobtainable outside of Christ through esoteric
religious rituals and philosophies of men. In Christ God meets every
human and spiritual need. A few of the blessings in Christ are:
Redemption (Rom. 3:24); No condemnation (Rom. 8:1); Love of Christ
(Rom. 8:39); Sanctification (1 Cor. 1:2); Made alive (1 Cor. 15:22);
Triumph (2 Cor. 2:14); Liberty (Gal. 2:4); All spiritual blessings
(Eph. 1:3); Grace (2 Tim. 1:9); Salvation (2 Tim. 2:10).
This is the point: Those who seek God live obediently to the faith
wherein they enter into Christ and receive God's blessings. Therefore,
one seeking God receives help from God and is not left alone with
self-help. By seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
we have ability to live according to the words of Jesus: "do
not worry about tomorrow."
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