Featured Harambe the Gorilla: A Serious Theological Lesson

Mr. Woody wrote the response cited below in reference to the point I was making: It is an undeniable fact that billions have never heard of Christ and therefore could not have been drawn to Him of whom they are totally ignorant:

Mr. Woody and his pastoral authorities all fall into line with the Rev. Dr. Billy Graham’s doctrinal stance on this very question.

If this is the standard majority view among professing Baptists, sound Bible expositors have their work cut out for them.

Not that this is a difficult subject to tackle, rather the difficulty lies in the ears and hearts of those many Baptists who have made up their minds without thoughtfully examining the clear biblical evidence which opposes this teaching.

The readers should note Mr. Woody neglects to cite scriptural authority to substantiate his doctrine.

His authority is the traditions of men.

1. “God, knowing the heart of man….”

Yes, God knows the heart of man. Here is what He says about it:

The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5).

the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth(Genesis 8:21).

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9).

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander (Matthew 15:19).

Man cannot change his stony, unbelieving heart to a believing, pliable heart of flesh. Only God has the power to create:

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26).

The Lord does not graciously and mercifully give a new heart to all men:

it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given (Matthew 13:11).

I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion (Romans 9:15).

2. “…knowing whether he will accept or not…”

This errant view of God’s grace denies several basic, fundamental biblical truths:

a) God has no need to learn anything about man. He already knows all things possible (omniscience) as well as all things which will certainly come to pass (foreknowledge). His determinative will of purpose is the basis of His foreknowledge. He only (fore) knows what He has decreed to come to pass. Nothing existed when God decreed the end of all things. Therefore, to say God knows whether an individual would choose Christ or not is ‘asinine’ because that individual does not exist until God decrees his existence. And coupled with that decree is the individual’s eternal destiny.

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world (Acts 15:18).

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:(Isaiah 46:10).

b) A central truth drawn from the fall of Adam is the fact that man will not obey God. He will not choose Christ, left to make the choice himself. Paul reiterates this truth in Romans 1-3.

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

c) By making man’s acceptance or rejection of Christ the cause of God’s saving that individual, you have rejected the very essence of salvation by grace and replaced it with salvation by a good work. For it is a good work to choose Christ. However, salvation is by God’s grace which exempts anything in man as the cause, otherwise grace is no more grace:

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work (Romans 11:5-6).

3. …..” will make a way for those who haven't heard who will accept. Whether a missionary, or some other means. He will provide a way for them to come to a saving knowledge.”

This is another grievous error which denigrates and insults the blood and name of Christ. In OT times only Israel was given knowledge of the way of salvation. All other nations, with the exception of a few Elect Gentiles, were reprobated, denied the Word of God:

He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord (Psalm 147:19-20).

Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways (Acts 14:16).

Since billions never heard the Gospel, they died lost, never having had the opportunity to hear and believe on Christ.

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12).

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10: 13-14).

Furthermore, Scripture issues a stern warning when another Gospel is preached.

Its preachers are cursed of God.

The Gospel of Nature is one such false Gospel.

Paul refutes the possibility of OT Gentiles (or anyone in NT times) coming to saving faith through alleged recognition and seeking of God through nature:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened (Romans 1:18-21).

Mr. Woody, you are a sincere man. I pray the Lord give you eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to believe what Christians have known and taught since the days of Christ. There is a false Christianity and a false Christ who our enemy would have us worship, if it be possible. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.