Damned Seekers

Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. - John 8:21

    This singular verdict of the Judge of all the earth carries with it the death sentence for all those who remain in unbelief and rebellion against God. Our Lord spake this unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and had not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. All men will indeed seek the Lord, but not everyone will seek him while he may be found.

    Although those to whom he spake would one day seek Him, they would yet die without Him. He left them with no ifs,buts, or maybes. They were left absolutely and eternally to themselves, in their sins, without a single ray of hope. The judgment of God upon the impenitent is irreversible and precise. This statement of our Lord to the Pharisees reveals two great and vital Gospel truths.

    The only place safe from condemnation before God is in the Lord Jesus Christ. They would not have died in their sins had they been with the Lord Jesus Christ. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (Jn 14:3). Almighty God’s wrath was exhausted in the vicarious death of Christ for his chosen ones. God’s elect will not die in their sins; they will live in his righteousness!

    Salvation is not in the hands of sinners. No man shall ever seek the Lord for the right reason unless Christ has already sought the man. Man will trust in his own righteousness, seeking the Lord for preservation in it, and perish embracing it.

    The execution of God’s judgment upon sinful man is just and righteous in respect to, not only God’s law, but in proportion to the person and work of Christ in the fulfillment of it. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins (Jn 8:24).