Jason constantinoff
on June 19, 2026
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WHO FOUND WHO?
I recall a particular occasion when I heard an overly zealous preacher say the following:
"You say, 'I'm saved, I found Jesus!' No, bless God, you didn't find Jesus; Jesus FOUND YOU!"
To that, of course, everyone shouted, "Amen," because Baptists will say "Amen" to anything, if you yell loud enough. I'm not real sure that in my years of being saved, I've actually heard over half a dozen camp meeting preachers who knew enough Bible to even teach a youth group. If it sounds good, then they'll run with it, whether it lines up with the Book or not.
Now, what about his remark? Was he RIGHT? Sure, it's true to say that Jesus finds sinners, and the best text for it is Luke 19:10: "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." But is that all there is to it, or does the sinner do some seeking and finding as well? Let's see . . .
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Mat. 6:33)
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" (Mat. 7:7)
"That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things." (Acts 15:17)
"That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:" (Acts 17:27)
"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:" (Rom. 2:7)
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Heb. 11:6)
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Mat. 5:6)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:13)
We could quote many more verses, but surely that's clear enough. Salvation is not a one-way thing where a Calvinist Christ finds the helpless sinner and then lassos him and hauls him in with the sinner not seeking help at all. No, as the above scripture shows, the lost man realizes his lost condition and begins seeking help. At the same time, Christ is also seeking to help him, much like rescue workers would be seeking a missing man while he too is seeking to be found and rescued. The rescue work of salvation is 100% the work of Christ, but the sinner must know his lost condition and be seeking help, else he will disregard all rescue attempts. Christ is seeking to find him, and he is seeking to be found. Both are seeking, but only one is the Saviour.
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Ron Panebaker
A thorough treatise of this important subject. I am a retired Baptist pastor with a doctorate degree. I am critical of those who are pastors and are ill-prepared for the ministry, but feel they are called of the Lord to it. I am also critical of those who think that good preaching is when the congre... View More
June 19, 2026