Check Back into Reality...

Last Monday was, for me, a check back into reality! While Dad and I were attending the Semper Reformanda Conference in Houston, I completely zoned out of everything else I was doing or had to do and focused all my attention upon what God was teaching me. It was as though my mind was in a constant state of reflection, and in many ways still is. But, it wasn’t to last :)


I woke up Monday morning, after all the excitement of getting to visit GfBC on Sunday, and realized I had a paper due Wednesday, discussion boards to write all week, a CLEP test on Thursday, and a test on Sunday. First things first, I logged onto Liberty Online and got my writing assignment for the week, fully intending to write while I was on the plane. Well, most of the trip home was spent reading books on family and church reformation and reflecting on what I had learned! I did manage to read the article I was to write my paper on, but that was it!


I woke up Tuesday morning ready to study Hamartiology (theology of sin), but my mind still very much side tracked! But, God is good, and I was able to write my paper Tuesday, make some edits on Wednesday, and submit it. However, my assignment presented such a heated debate amongst my fellow class mates that I just had to share it with you. Here is the question I was required to give my personal theological position on: “Those who have never heard: have they no hope?”


Okay, so some of you are asking what that means; let me explain =) This question is asking whether or not those in remote parts of the world who have never had an opportunity to hear the gospel are really condemned to hell. The author who wrote the article I was required to evaluate, supported his view in essence by asking the question, “How could a just and loving God condemn those who have never heard the gospel.” He defended that tribes in remote areas of the earth could come to salvation through God’s general revelation, or by believing in a god who has like attributes to our God. Thus, his end conclusion was that those who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ can indeed inherit eternal life.


As it turns out, I was the only student in my class who disagreed with the author’s point of view (Go figure). Talk about intimidating! Although, I kind of enjoy responding to negative criticism ;)


The author of this particular article used several passages of Scripture and a number of Old Testament characters to support his argument, as you will see me reference. I have added some to my original work just for the purpose of clarification, as you have not had the opportunity of reading the article. So, without further ado, here was my response:


While I understand the author’s sympathy for the lost, I cannot agree with his end conclusion for several reasons. First of all, it defeats the purpose of the great commission (Matthew 28:16-20). Second, if man can come to know God through His general revelation then what’s the use of giving a special revelation? Third, Jesus is the only way (John 14:6, Acts 4:8-12, Romans 3:21-22). Fourth, man has a sin nature inherited from the fall of Adam (Genesis 3, Romans 3:9-20). I think that in our fancy and earnest desire to hope that some of these people have not been lost; we forget that as a result of Adam’s sin (Genesis 3) every man is born into this world with a sin nature. Fifth, why would a just and loving God allow a sinner into His kingdom (Revelation 16:5-9)? Sixth, it implies that man can save himself (Romans 8:29-30, Romans 10:4). To believe that a person can come to salvation by recognizing that there is a supreme being above all creation, is to reject Christ’s work on the cross and claim that we can do it without Him! That is self-righteousness. That is man believing that he can come to God in and of His own ability. Seventh, there just isn’t any evidence in scripture to support such a view.


The author makes reference to Romans 10:11-18, stating that the “they” referred to in the passage are “heathens” or gentiles. However, a deeper evaluation of the text reveals that “they” does not refer to gentiles or heathens, but rather Jews. Furthermore, while Paul does use Psalm 19:4 in the passage mentioned above; instead of applying it to general revelation, Paul, here, applies it to special revelation.


Also, while it is true that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, the Father brings that person to repentance (Romans 8:29-30). The author states that since all members of the Trinity are equal, a person who believes in God can acquire salvation; this is a heretical statement! The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are equal in nature, distinct in person, and subordinate in duties; apart from Christ there is no salvation. Therefore, belief in the Father does not equal salvation, nor does belief in the Holy Spirit equal salvation. Acts 4:12 says, “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.” (Also see Philippians 2:9-11).


What about Melchizedek or Job? How could they have had the message of the promised seed preached to them at such an early time in history? Are they not living proof that man can come to God apart from knowing of the One True God? Let’s not forget that by this point in world history, more than 2,000 years following the creation of Adam, the message of the coming Messiah would have spread to all surrounding areas. Thus, it is not hard to believe that both these men had heard the message of the coming Messiah.


Still, in light of all this, so many of us come back to, “Why would a just and loving God condemn someone who never had an opportunity to hear? That’s just not fair!” First of all, it is because God is just, so He does not allow sinners into His kingdom. It would be unjust, and contrary to the nature and character of God, to allow someone into His kingdom who never came to Christ in repentance. Second, it’s not fair. Why? Not because God is being unfair, but because we have not reached these people with the gospel of Jesus Christ! God gave the job of evangelism to us (Matthew 28: 16-20). So, in reality, when we shake our finger at God and say that’s not fair, God probably looks at us and says, “You Know, in case you were wondering, I gave the job of evangelism to you.” It is our fault for not reaching these people with the gospel! Indeed, Christ died on the cross for every person on this earth, but it is that individual’s choice whether or not he accepts that free gift.


Accepting that there is a god who possess like attributes to the one true God, is not repentance of sin, nor is it accepting the gift of salvation. Indeed, God does pursue us (Jeremiah 31:3), and He utilizes His general revelation to show man that there is a God, but knowledge of God isn’t enough for salvation. Praise God for His special revelation which screams, “Salvation is in Christ!” Without Him, we could have no hope of eternal life.
Thus, I must conclude that there’s just no Biblical evidence to support the author’s stance. In fact, quite the opposite, there is only one way. Granted, this makes our job as ambassadors more difficult; nevertheless, we must do it.


However, the discussion that followed was even more interesting! Here are some of the questions the students asked in response to reading my paper:


Question #1:

“I find your points compelling but I do not agree with your conclusion. Is the statement, Jesus is the only way as cut and dry as we think? I don't think so. What happened to a follower of God (a Jew perhaps) who was alive when Jesus was on earth but died after Jesus without hearing of Jesus. Condemned to hell? I don't know. I am not as sure as you are.”

Answer:

Let me ask you a question in return to yours. Does it get anymore “cut and dry” than this: “I am THE way THE truth and THE life, NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME?” As Christians, we have one of two options when reading this verse. Either Christ was telling the truth and He is the ONLY way to salvation or He was a liar. There is no middle ground. Christ didn’t say, “I am the way, except for those poor people who haven’t gotten to hear. I’ll make an exception for them.” No!


As far as your question about the Jew or other follower of God, once Christ died and paid the sin debt, the old system of sacrificing and belief in the coming Messiah was broken. Therefore, yes, anyone who died without knowing Jesus would have been condemned. There is no exception to this!


In my mind this whole argument is over a very “me-centered” view of salvation, “I deserve to have the gospel preached to me. I deserve to have a chance to go to heaven. How dare God condemn me, an innocent man, to hell!” Nothing could be further from the truth! We are not innocent; WE DO NOT EVEN DESERVE TO HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO US. We deserve death and eternal separation from God because our sin offends God. All too often we see God simply for being a God of love, mercy, and forgiveness. Far be it from us to forget that our God is a God of wrath! Just read the account of the flood in the book of Genesis and tell me God isn’t a God of wrath. I’m sure there were plenty of people who never even heard about Noah building the ark. Nevertheless, every last one of them was destroyed, whether they had a chance to hear the way of escape or not. Why? Because our sin offends God and He could no longer abide it!


The enemy has deceived our culture into believing that we deserve to have a chance at hearing the gospel, that we deserve a chance to acquire eternal life. Let’s not let him persuade us that there are more ways to God than through the perfect, sinless, holy, glorious JESUS CHRIST! That is a fundamental of the faith that we cannot and must not give up. If we do, then we are saying that all roads lead to heaven; Allah, Buddha, you name it. We can’t give that room to the devil!

Question #2:

“Do you not believe that if a man in the uttermost parts of the earth dies without having the gospel preached to him, and stands before God, that God will not present him with the opportunity to choose to accept Christ’s sacrifice?”

Answer:

Let me give you a few passages of scripture to stew over =) “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Hebrews 9:27. We only get one shot at salvation, and it is during this life; after death comes judgment. The reference to man in the verse above means all of mankind. It leaves no room for those who have not heard. Also, Jesus commands us to preach the gospel in the “uttermost parts of the earth.” For those of us who have accepted Christ, it is our job to get the message out to the uttermost parts of the earth so these people can have a chance to hear and respond.


However, once this life is over, our chance to accept Christ’s gift of salvation is over as well. If all mankind had a second opportunity, I can guarantee that no one would be in hell, because no one, when they actually saw God, would deny His existence! Nor would they wish to be separated from Him. Therefore, if man received a second chance following death, every person on earth would be saved! There is no second chance. Consider, for example, the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. This parable shows that man only has one chance to accept salvation for himself, and one chance to teach his family the way to salvation. Therefore, I do not think that even someone who lives in the uttermost parts of the world, who dies without hearing the gospel, will get a second chance. Just as any other unbeliever who does not accept Christ, there will be no second chance. I’ve said it before, but I think it is worth mentioning again: the reason we have a problem accepting this is because society has convinced us that man has some good in him, that we are innocent. Let’s not forget that because of Adam’s sin, every person on earth is a wretched sinner. Even those living in ignorance to Christ are still sinners in need of a savior. But just as every other person on earth, they only have one chance.


Two more students asked me questions related to this topic, but they are so closely related to the previous two that I won’t post them. Nevertheless, I found it quite startling at the number of people who believe that there is more than one road to salvation (especially considering these are students at a conservative Christian university). The whole area of Soteriology is so twisted in much of the modern church today, that so-called “Christians” have come to believe that, in the words of Gill in Finding Nemo, “All drains lead to the ocean kid!” It doesn’t matter which one you take, just hop in and enjoy the ride, and we’ll see you on the other side. How deceived we’ve been! But that is exactly why so many will one day say, “...Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you: depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”


Josh