Samuel Owen
New Member
Although I agree with this answer, and have discussed it with mature believers. This is not a good answer for an un-believing person, asking this same question. It produces some very hostile resuts. :tonofbricks:
-
Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
Those That Never Heard The Gospel
- Thread starter Enow
- Start date
Although I agree with this answer, and have discussed it with mature believers. This is not a good answer for an un-believing person, asking this same question. It produces some very hostile resuts. :tonofbricks:
Even solid calvinists preach the gospel. We don't delineate each minute detail of theology. We don't know who are the elect. We reach out to the lost. The rest is in God's hands.
Still, I don't find any fault in the lost knowing that they are sinners from birth and in need of a Saviour to enter God's heaven.
Cheers,
Jim
Still, I don't find any fault in the lost knowing that they are sinners from birth and in need of a Saviour to enter God's heaven.
Cheers,
Jim
Since my words were not heard very well, maybe God will cause this to be heard.
As God promised all those that seek, shall find, He will get the Gospel message to them. Who knows how many times the Spirit of the Lord whisked a believer away someplace to preach the Gospel? He certainly whisked Philip away after preaching the gospel to the eunuch.
Acts 8: 38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
My answer to those that look down on God because He condemns those in far away places for never hearing the Gospel, that God knows whom is seeking Him and whom are not. No one can say that He never found a way to send a believer there. He is able.
For believers, we are to be witnesses of the Good News as He leads us. I am not saying we do not have to preach the Gospel. I do not know how some of you are reading that. I am merely saying that God is at work to save those that are seeking Him, and those that would have received the Gospel, God would definitely have them hear it for His Word will not return void in that all those that seek, shall find.
As God promised all those that seek, shall find, He will get the Gospel message to them. Who knows how many times the Spirit of the Lord whisked a believer away someplace to preach the Gospel? He certainly whisked Philip away after preaching the gospel to the eunuch.
Acts 8: 38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
My answer to those that look down on God because He condemns those in far away places for never hearing the Gospel, that God knows whom is seeking Him and whom are not. No one can say that He never found a way to send a believer there. He is able.
For believers, we are to be witnesses of the Good News as He leads us. I am not saying we do not have to preach the Gospel. I do not know how some of you are reading that. I am merely saying that God is at work to save those that are seeking Him, and those that would have received the Gospel, God would definitely have them hear it for His Word will not return void in that all those that seek, shall find.
Tom Butler
New Member
It would also appear that God also sends believers to some who are not seeking him.
Paul quotes Isaiah:
(Rom 10:20 NIV) And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."
(Rom 9:25-26 NIV) As he says in Hosea: "I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one," {26} and, "It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.'"
Tom Butler
New Member
I agree. That's why I contend that those who have never heard the gospel will acknowledge that God is just to condemn them.
But Webdog has a point when he cites John 3:18, which clearly says says they are under condemnation because they did not believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God.
It is true that they did not believe on him, but this is not the same as rejecting him, for they did not know of him.
This is why I lean toward their condemnation based on their transgression of their own moral code.
There is no evidence that anyone single person has ever died without hearing the gospel. This is an assumption and of late it seems to be an idea used to justify more than one way to heaven.
There is plenty of evidence that plenty of people have died without hearing the gospel. The gospel didn't instantaneously spread throughout the entire planet to all peoples when Jesus ascended on high. It slowly spread through men who were lead by the Spirit of God to preach in various lands. People have died without hearing the gospel, but the Lord knoweth them that are His and His will shall not be confounded. What He purposes He brings to pass.
Tom Butler
New Member
I think we can safely say that the separating of Paul and Barnabas to go on mission is based on the assumption that some have never heard the gospel. And it was the Holy Spirit who told the congregation to send them. I think the HS had more than an assumption to work with.
I think we should make it clear that one cannot come to eternal glory without hearing and accepting the gospel. What I think is on topic here is the presumption that we're the only way God has to share the Gospel. God can use whatever He wishes to share the Gospel with someone.
Thinkingstuff
Active Member
Those people who never heard the Gospel aren't elect and we shouldn't worry about them anyway. After all they have the law in their hearts. So if they break the Law with out hearing the Gospel message then how can they be elect? There is only one mediator betewen God and man; Jesus Christ. There is no other way but through Jesus. He is the gate and only a theif tries to come into the sheep pen by another way other than the Gate of which Jesus says "I am the Gate". But these will be cast out. So since there is no other way than by faith which is gained by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Then they are lost. :smilewinkgrin:
Agreed, as was the case with Saul on the road to Damascus, and the eternal Gospel being proclaimed via an angel (Rev. 14:6). I have also read personal testimonies of former Muslims in countries hostile towards God. One in particular will always stand out. A strict muslim woman was dealing with a tragedy. One day while walking down the road, she said out loud "Please, help me Jesus". She was astonished by the words that came out of her mouth since she despised Christians and Jews. She then decided to look into who this Jesus was...and through that experience, came to Christ. I won't pretend to understand how she said those words, but I see nothing in Scripture that would refute the Holy Spirit putting that simple phrase into her mind drawing her to Christ.
Thinkingstuff
Active Member
Sorry, I don't read Arabic. But obviously the Holy Spirit can move on her. Here is an interesting note. I was watching either A&E or the History Channel about what Palestinian kids believed and Jewish Israeli kids believed. The muslim Palastinian kids were asked what they believed about Jesus and they said "didn't he die for our sins?" An adult had to correct them. So the gospel is out there and even if people don't know the source its getting to them. Definately the Holy Spirit is at work!
Last edited by a moderator:
Did Noah and his family have the gospel? Were they not saved by the gospel?
Did not all people groups throughout the world come from Noah's family?
Wouldn't it be very likely that there were always a few found in each people group who preached the gospel down through the generations?
Is the coming of Christ some 2000 years ago the beginning of the gospel?
:jesus:
Did not all people groups throughout the world come from Noah's family?
Wouldn't it be very likely that there were always a few found in each people group who preached the gospel down through the generations?
Is the coming of Christ some 2000 years ago the beginning of the gospel?
:jesus:
BobRyan
Well-Known Member
Indeed that goes well with John 12:32 "I will draw ALL mnakind upto me"
In Romans 10 the voice of the one calling so that all hear - is the voice of Christ in nature itself.
So - yes they have access to God - but it does not mean they are all saved anymore than the fact that everyone in church hears the gospel - would mean that all church members are saved.
in Christ,
Bob
BobRyan
Well-Known Member
True.
Heb 4:1-2 "the gospel was preached to US JUST as it was to THEM also".
True. The evolutionists are dead wrong.
[/quote]
Wouldn't it be very likely that there were always a few found in each people group who preached the gospel down through the generations?
Is the coming of Christ some 2000 years ago the beginning of the gospel?
:jesus:[/quote]
I don't think it can be denied that the Gospel message in literal verbal - spoken words eventually was clouded over by gross error in a great many tribes, clans and cultures.
Which is why Romans 2 makes the case about "doing instinctively the things of God's Word" rather than "explicitly being instructed by man".
in Christ,
Bob
Marcia
Active Member
I know what it says but it also does not say that only those who reject Christ are condemned.