What does 'Who seeks who first?' mean in Christian theology?
Answered in 1 source
The phrase emphasizes that God initiates the relationship with humankind, as seen in Romans 3:11.
'Who seeks who first?' encapsulates the core belief in sovereign grace theology that affirms God’s initiative in the salvation process. Scripture reveals that humanity, by nature, does not seek God (Romans 3:11) and is often unresponsive to divine grace. Instead, it is God who seeks and saves the lost, as conveyed in the testimony of Isaiah, who boldly states, 'I was found of them that sought me not' (Romans 10:20). This underscores the gracious nature of God, illustrating that He reaches out to us first, enabling us to respond to His call, highlighting the distinction between His active grace and our passive state in sin.
Commentary