Drawing Near – Seeking

Introduction

Drawing near to God is both a divine invitation and a human response, a process that begins with God Himself. Scripture and theological study consistently affirm that God is not distant or indifferent, but actively draws and invites individuals toward Himself.

Jesus declared: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them…” (John 6:44)

“Here I am! I stand at the door (of your heart) and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat (have fellowship) with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Without overstating it, if you are visiting this website to explore the meaning of life and/or the claims of Christianity, there is a likelihood that God may be drawing you to Himself. God’s initiating grace can take many different forms, such as the subtle prompting of conscience, a longing for hope, meaning or purpose; or the quiet recognition of something greater beyond oneself.

Sometimes, God draws individuals in unexpected ways. Consider the following short video by Nicky Gumbel, the pioneer of The Alpha Course — a program offered worldwide that provides people with “An opportunity to explore the Christian faith“. Nicky Gumbel was a self-professed atheist who set out to prove Christianity was untrue. The video recounts both his unusual path to Christianity and the profound impact it had on his life.

The Spiritual Journey

A spiritual journey, in the context of this website, will mean the process through which a person moves from unbelief toward faith in Jesus Christ. Naturally, every person’s journey is unique — based on their experiences, circumstances and existing worldview.

For some, faith develops gradually over time; for others, it begins suddenly through a powerful event, crisis, or realization. Recognizing that no two spiritual journeys are identical, the following “milestones” offer a broad framework for how many individuals come to faith in Christ.

Longing and/or Questioning

While not always the case, many spiritual journeys begin with a search for something — common starting points include a search for meaning, purpose, peace, truth, hope, belonging, forgiveness, or answers to pressing questions.

Other times, experiences such as suffering, loss, dissatisfaction, or a lingering sense that “something is missing” can prompt a person to become receptive to the possibility of something greater, beyond their current reality.

Hearing

Along the way, the individual encounters the gospel message through a friend, a church service, a Christian book or pamphlet, or by reading Scripture. They learn that God loves them and demonstrated that love by giving His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who willingly sacrificed Himself to redeem humanity from sin.

Conviction

As the message is received and takes root, conviction begins to grow. The person acknowledges that, like all humanity, their sins have separated them from God. The person accepts that they cannot save themselves through good deeds, morality, or “religion”. As conviction deepens, the person understands their need to confess, repent, and place their trust in Jesus Christ.

Response

The individual responds in faith by turning to Jesus, placing their trust in Him as Saviour and Lord. Through prayer, they express their belief that He died for their sins and rose again, offering forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and the hope of eternal life. This response is more than intellectual acceptance; it involves trust, repentance, and a willingness to allow God to guide and transform their life.

In that moment, the person enters into a restored relationship with God. Scripture describes this as being spiritually “born again,” receiving God’s forgiveness, and becoming a child of God through faith in Christ. The burden of guilt and separation from God is replaced with the assurance of His grace, mercy, and acceptance.

New Life

Though the person is still imperfect and will continue to face struggles and temptations, they are no longer spiritually alone. God’s Spirit begins working within them to guide, strengthen, convict, and transform them. Over time, their character, desires, and priorities begin to change as they grow in love, humility, holiness, and trust in God.

Transformation is often gradual rather than instantaneous, involving both seasons of spiritual breakthrough and times of challenge, perseverance, and continued dependence on God’s grace. What perhaps began as a search for truth unfolds into a lifelong journey of faith, renewal, and the immeasurable blessings of God.

references

Newbigin, L. (1989). The gospel in a pluralist society. Eerdmans.Summary: Newbigin emphasizes that Christian faith is formed through hearing the gospel, encountering a Christian community, and experiencing a transformed understanding of reality through the story of Christ.

McGrath, A. E. (2012). Christianity: An introduction (3rd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.Summary: McGrath explains Christian conversion as involving intellectual understanding, personal commitment, and participation in the life of faith, highlighting that belief involves both conviction and relationship.

Fowler, J. W. (1981). Stages of faith: The psychology of human development and the quest for meaning. Harper & Row.Summary: Fowler describes faith development as a lifelong process in which individuals grow through stages of understanding, meaning-making, and commitment. His work focuses on how faith matures rather than only how it begins.

The Gospel Message

The following is an overview of the gospel message supported by Biblical reference. For those unfamiliar with the basic concepts of sin, faith and salvation, consider clicking on “The Gospel in a Nutshell” before proceeding.

The Gospel in a Nutshell

1. Creation
God created the universe and humanity as inherently good, bearing His image and designed to live in loving relationship with Him, with one another, and with the created order.

2. Fall
Through the sin of Adam, sin entered the world, corrupting every aspect of human life and creation. As a result, all people are born with a sinful nature that inclines them toward sin. Consequently, all stand separated from God, and the result of sin is both physical and spiritual death.

3. Redemption
Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus Christ paid the penalty for sin and secured redemption (salvation) for all who repent and place their faith in Him. Through Him, sinners are forgiven, reconciled to God, deemed God’s children, given a new nature in this life, and promised eternal life.

4. Restoration
At Christ’s return, creation will be fully renewed; evil, sin, and death will be abolished forever. Those who have been reconciled to God will dwell with Him for eternity in the fullness of His kingdom.

The Gospel Message – In Detail

A) All Have Sinned

“When (the first man) Adam, sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” Romans 5:12 (NLT)

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23

The Bible teaches that all mankind is affected by the dual nature of sin.

“Original“ sin is the inherited condition of separation from God caused by Adam’s disobedience in Eden.

“Personal“ sin refers to the specific voluntary and deliberate thoughts, words, or actions that an individual commits in violation of God’s moral law.

B) The Consequences of Sin

“For the wages (result) of sin is death…” Romans 6:23

“But your iniquities (sins) have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2

Sin carries the consequence of both physical and spiritual death. Physical death was not humanity’s original destiny, but entered the human experience through Adam’s disobedience [1-3].

Sin also brings spiritual death — a condition of immediate and profound alienation from God that disrupts the fellowship for which humanity was created. The separation impacts both this present life and one’s eternal destiny.

In reference to heaven, the Bible declares, “Nothing evil will be permitted in it — no one immoral or dishonest — but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” Revelation 21:27

Jesus speaking: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

references

Genesis 2:16–17; Genesis 3:17–19. Summary: These passages describe God’s warning that disobedience would bring death and later connect humanity’s mortality and return to dust with Adam’s sin. They form the biblical foundation for the understanding that physical death entered human experience after the Fall.

Romans 5:12–19. Summary: The apostle Paul explains that sin entered the world through one man, Adam, and that death came through sin. He contrasts Adam’s disobedience with Christ’s obedience, presenting Jesus as the source of grace, justification, and life.

Erickson, M. J. (2013). Christian theology (3rd ed.). Baker Academic.Summary: Erickson explains the traditional Christian doctrine that death is not viewed as part of God’s original intention for humanity but as a consequence of sin, while noting the role of Christ’s resurrection in restoring hope beyond death.

C) God’s Gift of Salvation

“God demonstrated his love by having Christ die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8

“When you were dead in your sins…, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14

“Salvation” is God’s work of rescuing sinners from the guilt, power, and eternal consequences of sin. By His sacrificial death on the cross, Christ bore the penalty for sin, making possible the forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, new spiritual life, and the promise of eternal life.

D) Salvation Comes through Faith

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified (made right), and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Biblical belief (saving faith) is more than intellectual acknowledgment of the historical facts about Jesus. It is personal trust and hope in Him alone for forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and eternal life, based on what Jesus accomplished through His sacrificial death and resurrection.

Furthermore, the Bible consistently declares that salvation is received by grace through faith, not earned by human effort: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“For it is by grace (unmerited favor) you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works (good deeds), so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

E) God’s Promise to Forgive

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

Jesus speaking: “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” John 6:37

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18

God’s promise of salvation extends to all who “call” on His name. No person is beyond God’s grace, and no sin is too great for His forgiveness. To call on His name means more than mere speech; it reflects repentance and faith in God’s saving grace. God’s promise gives assurance that all who sincerely and humbly seek Him will be received [1,2].

references

Grudem, W. (2020). Systematic theology: An introduction to biblical doctrine (2nd ed.). Zondervan Academic.Summary: Grudem explains that God’s saving grace is offered freely through faith in Christ and that salvation depends not on human merit but on God’s gracious initiative and forgiveness.

Packer, J. I. (1993). Evangelism and the sovereignty of God. InterVarsity Press.Summary: Packer discusses the relationship between God’s gracious call and human response, emphasizing that the gospel invitation is genuinely extended while salvation is ultimately rooted in God’s grace.

F) Peace with God

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now He has reconciled (restored to fellowship) you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation” Colossians 1:21-22

When a person trusts in Jesus Christ, they are justified — declared righteous before God. This justification brings peace with God, ending the separation caused by sin. It is not merely an emotional feeling of calm, but the assurance of being reconciled to God and accepted by Him. Through Jesus, believers can live with confidence, knowing they are loved, forgiven, and secure in their relationship with God.

G) Victory Over Sin Through the Power of the Holy Spirit

“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” Romans 8:1–2

“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16

Scripture teaches that sin no longer has a stronghold over believers as it once did. Through the Holy Spirit, Christians are given power to resist and “put to death” sinful desires; sin is no longer their master, and they are no longer compelled to obey it.

This does not mean sin is fully removed, or that believers never struggle; rather, the Christian life involves an ongoing battle in which the Spirit enables a new pattern of obedience and growth in holiness. Those led by the Spirit are identified as God’s children, living under a new identity and direction, even as the struggle against sin continues.

Accepting Jesus

As mentioned previously, drawing near to God is both a divine invitation and a human response.

A little further down on this page is an example of “The Sinner’s Prayer“, sometimes called “The Prayer of Repentance,” — a short, personal prayer in which an individual acknowledges their sin, expresses repentance, and places their faith in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation.

The prayer is not a “magic” formula or remedy in itself. It is simply a means of expressing a heartfelt acknowledgment of one’s need for salvation and a request for God’s mercy rather than judgment. More important than the specific words used in the prayer is the attitude of one’s heart. In the Biblical parable of “The Pharisee and the Tax Collector“, Jesus praised the “despised” tax collector who cried out simply, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” In response to the man’s contrite heart, Jesus declared, “he went home justified before God.” (Luke 18:9-14)

Furthermore, the sinner’s prayer is not a “vow” to never sin again, as God is fully aware that we are flawed and imperfect.

“For he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:14)

“We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses…” (Hebrews 4:15)

Jesus is the only one who lived a perfect, sinless life. The prayer, however, should express a desire to live a life pleasing to God. After salvation, when we do invariably sin, God promises and provides forgiveness when we repent:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Finally, the prayer is not a promise to “reform” ourselves. Human effort alone will never be enough to live a life pleasing to God.

The Apostle Paul speaking: “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (Romans 7:18)

The Bible teaches, however, that God sanctifies and transforms the heart, mind and will of believers through His Holy Spirit:

“…And that (referring to sinful) is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11)

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new creation (person). The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

A prayer of Salvation

Heavenly Father,

I come before You, recognizing that I have sinned in my life and that I have fallen short of Your will. I confess my sins to You and ask for Your forgiveness. (Optional – list any sins that may be weighing on your heart)

I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son, that He died on the cross for my sins, and that He rose again so that I may have new life. I accept His sacrifice as the payment for my sin.

Lord Jesus, please come into my life. I surrender my heart to You and choose to follow You as my Savior and Lord. Help me to turn away from my sin and to walk in Your ways.

Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, renew my heart, and make me a new creation. Thank You for Your grace, Your mercy, and the promise of eternal life. From this day forward, I commit my life to You.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

New Life in Christ

The Bible declares that when a person places their trust in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrificial death on the cross, all their past sins are forgiven, they are adopted as a child of God, and are made righteous in His sight. Furthermore, they receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, a new nature free from the stronghold of sin, and the promise of eternal life.

“You were dead because of your sins… Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13–14, NLT)

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision… but born of God.” (John 1:12-13)

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1: 3-4)

The Indwelling Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit serves as the divine agent of personal transformation, renewing the mind, character, and daily conduct while also bringing inner comfort, peace, and wisdom. His work includes:

The Assurance of Salvation: An internal conviction that anchors a believer in God’s love and confirms their identity as a child of God (1).
The “Fruit of the Spirit”: A natural transformation in character characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (2).
Inner Comfort and Peace: A deep sense of calm and stability, even in chaotic or stressful situations (3).
Guidance and Wisdom: Illumination to understand spiritual truths, direction for making life decisions, and help in navigating challenges (4).
Spiritual Power & Boldness: Strength to overcome sinful habits and the courage to share the gospel and stand for truth (5).

references

1. The Holy Spirit bears witness that believers are God’s children and assures them of their salvation (Romans 8:15–16; Romans 8:38–39; 1 John 5:13). The Spirit is also described as God’s seal and guarantee of the believer’s inheritance (Ephesians 1:13–14).

2. The fruit of the Spirit is explicitly listed as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). This transformation reflects the Spirit’s ongoing work in conforming believers to Christ’s character (2 Corinthians 3:18).

3. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be a Comforter or Helper (John 14:16–17, 26). The Spirit produces peace in believers (Romans 8:6), and God’s peace guards hearts and minds in Christ (Philippians 4:6–7).

4. The Holy Spirit guides believers into truth (John 16:13), teaches and reminds them of Christ’s words (John 14:26), grants spiritual understanding (1 Corinthians 2:12–14), and provides wisdom for godly living (Ephesians 1:17–18).

5. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to overcome the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16–17) and gives power to be Christ’s witnesses (Acts 1:8). The Spirit also grants boldness to proclaim the gospel and stand for truth (Acts 4:31; 2 Timothy 1:7).

Spiritual Growth

Spiritual growth and transformation are part of a lifelong journey that begins at salvation and continues throughout a believer’s life. Neither can be achieved through human effort alone; rather, they occur by allowing God’s Word and Spirit to influence one’s heart, mind, and actions.

“Spiritual growth and transformation occur by allowing God’s Word and Spirit to influence one’s heart, mind, and actions.“

Please visit the page “Drawing Near-Growing” to explore biblical and practical wisdom for nurturing faith and developing a strong spiritual foundation. The resources will benefit both those still exploring Christianity and those who have already placed their faith in Christ.

Continuing the Journey

It is not uncommon for an individual beginning a journey of faith to take time before responding to the gospel message. Through the continued reading of Scripture, hearing the experiences of others, attending a church service or function, or exploring Christian resources, the understanding of God’s love and the message of Jesus can grow. God often works patiently in our hearts, using each encounter with the gospel to reveal truth, answer questions, and draw us closer to Himself.

Throughout our years of church ministry, my wife Irene and I have had the joy of witnessing many individuals journey toward faith and a deeper understanding of God’s love. We have seen firsthand how doubts, reservations, and initial fears have given way to hope, inner peace, and enduring joy.

We have also witnessed God transform lives across a vast array of backgrounds, cultures, and generations. Our sincere hope is that you, too, will experience the transformative love and grace of God in your life.

Mike & Irene Rietta

Link: Drawing Near-Growing