What about those who have not heard of Jesus?

I was surveying a man named Gil the other day who was a former member of the same church where I had attended for 10 years. My survey question is, “In your opinion, is there one way to heaven or many?” He pointed clearly that the Bible states the need to trust in Jesus for salvation, although as typically is the case, could not explain why the Bible says that. But before I could explain why, he added, “But for those who have never heard of Christ, God will have mercy on them and save them.”

What’s wrong with this?

Is that what the Bible says?

Luke 13:3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Does the Bible address the issue of those who have never heard of Christ?

Romans 1:18-20 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

If God saves all those who have not heard of Christ, then Jesus’ Great Commission is counter-productive. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,…” (Matthew 28:19). More people could be saved by not spreading the Gospel then by doing so. This means the Good News would not be as good as ignorance.

Does God have mercy on those who have not repented and trusted in Christ? I believe so: young children and mentally challenged adults who cannot reason out what Romans 1:18-20 is talking about. But for all others, Jesus is necessary for salvation. This is because all have broken God’s Laws (Romans 3:23) and have earned a death sentence (Romans 6:23). Jesus paid our penalty (1 Cor. 15:3) and those who repent (Luke 13:3) and trust in Him (Romans 10:9) will be forgiven of their sins.

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

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 Cor. 15:3 “…Christ died for our sins…”

Luke 13:3 “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Romans 10:9 “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

That’s just your opinion/interpretation

Christians need to know the Gospel

In this interview done by WORD FM, J. Warner Wallace of PleaseConvinceMe.com explains why when churches do not adequately explain the Gospel, the distinctiveness of true Christianity is lost.  

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To explain the Gospel in a way that clearly shows the necessity of Jesus for salvation, please get Why Jesus in the sidebar.

More teens becoming ‘fake’ Christians

See the full story from CNN here.

Story Highlights

• More teenagers embracing watered-down Christianity, author argues in new book.
• American teenagers are embracing “moralistic therapeutic deism.” Translation: It’s a watered-down faith that portrays God as a “divine therapist” whose chief goal is to boost people’s self-esteem.
• Most American teens who called themselves Christian were indifferent and inarticulate about their faith.
• “If teenagers lack an articulate faith, it may be because the faith we show them is too spineless to merit much in the way of conversation,” wrote Dean, a professor of youth and church culture at Princeton Theological Seminary.
• Who’s responsible for inspiring teens? Parents and pastors are, author says.

Part of the Solution?

Why Jesus, available in the sidebar as well as the resources on this website.

Have you read every holy book?

How can you claim the Bible is true when you haven’t read through every holy book in the world?  Maybe one of them is true?

Answer

What about genocide and slavery in the Bible?

Such as God ordaining:

1. Murder of Canaanites by the Jews
2. Slavery, especially sex slavery

Answer

1. Man is not the owner of life.  God is: He gives life and takes it away.  He therefore has the right to end life and indeed He does so for all lives, not just those in God-ordained wars.  Mans life has no ultimate purpose apart from God.  For those who do not believe in Him, whether they live 1 year and 100 is irrelivant – their end is all the same.  God ordered all the Canaanites be killed so He could raise up the Jews to be His messagengers to the world and bring forth the Messiah.  Allowing the Canaanites to live would contaminate the Jews with their pagan religions.  Since the Jews made treaties is some of the Canaanites instead of obeying God, that is exactly what happened.
2. For most Americans the word ‘slavery’ means one thing: kidnapping Africans and shipping them to America.  In Israel slavery was most commonly bonded indenture, where a person would voluntarily enter a household as a slave to paid off a debt or make a living.  A similar thing happens today in America: it’s called the military.  People enter the military voluntarily for a time of service and cannot change their mind later on to get out.  While there are examples of the Israelites marrying slaves in the bible, there are no examples of slave masters being permitted to sexually use slaves.  To do so, at a minimum, would be against the Mosaic Laws prohibitions concerning fornication and adultery.

Did Jesus bear our sins on the cross?

2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1 Peter 3:18 – “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”

Romans 3:23-26 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

Galatians 3:13-14 – “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Isaiah 53:4-6 – “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Isaiah 53:10 – “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”

Why only love Jesus and not the Father and Mother too?

Listening to a talk show the other day, a caller made this remark about the above bumper sticker: “I don’t see why some Christians only love Jesus and not the Father and Mother too.”

Answer:

1. Loving Jesus is loving the Father.

John 14:9-11  Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father ; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.  11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.”

2.  Scripture does not speak of “the Mother.”  I guess they were speaking of Mary the mother of Jesus.  But she is not God, not part of the Trinity, and there is no biblical reason to make Mary into something she is not.

Is Christianity a license to sin?

Luke 13:3  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

No repentance, no salvation.

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

What’s the Father’s will according to Christian doctrine? Two are:

1. The Greatest Commandment, Matthew 22:37 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
2. John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

It’s similar to personal relationships.  People who intentionally hurt you and don’t care don’t love you.  The point of Christianity is to love God.  No love – no repentance – no obedience – no salvation.