", In eight consecutive verses, eight different times Jesus claims to be God. Scripture Says Everyone Will Die / But What About the Rapture? children of Israel) had already heard the Gospel in one form or another but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it (Hebrews 4:2, Romans 10:19-21, Psalm 78:21-22, Jude 1:5). That means, first and foremost, we seek to communicate the gospel. However, enough indirect information can be pieced together from Scripture to provide a satisfactory answer, which relates to infants as well as those with mental handicaps and others. Judgment is part of an ongoing process. It doesnt hold water, and it undercuts the very mission enterprise of the church. (2 Thessalonians 2:1, 3, 6, 8). In my study of this issue, I found at least nine. Jesus said this, in Matthew 24:58, about the time after he would leave the earth: Many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray. The answer of the New Testament is a clear and earnest No. It also teaches they wait in the grave for a resurrection. Be vigilant. Gospel Exclusivism A second major response is, No, they must hear the gospel and trust Christ to be saved. crucified) He would draw all men unto Himself. . What happens to people who never hear the gospel? If they go to hell When we talk about mission, we have this picture that there are innocent people all over the world waiting to hear the gospel. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. John 5:21 - The Bible in the Old Testament states that only God can raise someone from the dead; yet, Jesus claims that He also can do the same! Melchizedek is said to have no descent and is yet a descendant. Where is the tallest General Electric Building located? And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life (Revelation 20:12). The truth is that all who have not heard or understood the gospel will have a chance to believe it. Find out about Bible & Theology events at TGC23. Heaven and Hell: What does the Bible Really Teach. Gods plan of salvation revealed in Scripture is quite different from what most Christians believe. We must realize that using the right language is not enough. The gift of the Holy Spirit will enable them to live the Christian way of life. The Gospel of Matthew tells of the magi visiting Jesus. Send inquiries regarding the operation of this Web site to webmaster@ucg.org. The name Melchizedek is really a title which means "King of righteousness.". Real Questions. "Titanic" director James Cameron said during an ABC News interview that one of his longtime friends was among the passengers on the . Others open the same book always expecting to find some new reason to treasure God. But clearly, their judgment is incomplete, and hence, God brings them back to physical life. So, always stay awake spiritually. From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. A primary verb; to arrive, i.e. Theres not a place we can go to in Scripture where Jesus says, Some of you have wondered what will happen to people who never hear about me, and heres the answer. But God is not silent. God always punishes people because of what they know and fail to believe. The apostle John describes what happens to these dead who will live again: And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. What of Those Who Never Heard? - Bible Query " The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance ." 2 Peter 3:9. But don't start with that. A friend and I have been reading your book Let the Nations Be Glad. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, NT Gospels: Matthew 24:14 This Good News of the Kingdom will (Matt. This means the offer of eternal life with God is opened to all these resurrected dead. The internet has become the most phenomenal tool of communication and information the world has ever known. . The only way the plan breaks down is if the people who have been saved by this gospel sit back and soak it in for themselves and turn a deaf ear to those who have never heard it. What Happens to Someone Who Never Hears the Gospel? - East West . What About Those Who Have Never Heard? - Focus on the Family Thank you. Incidentally, assuming that each ground type is proportional, then this parable also becomes a sad confirmation of Christs claim in Matthew 7:13-14 that most people (i.e. I want to remind you, based on the authority of God's Word, that there is no innocent guy in Africa waiting to hear the gospel. andhow shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? Incidentally, by they, it is apparent that Paul has all of mankind in mind, for in Romans 10:13 he says that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. The obvious answer then to Romans 10:14s rhetorical question is that onecant believe in Christ if onehasnt heard the Gospel! A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. This view is traditionally called postmortem evangelism. It concurs with exclusivism when it stresses that faith is a conscious and explicit trust in Christ but sides with inclusivism when it contends that the love and justice of God require that everyone be given an opportunity to trust Christ. That is a cause worth living for; its a cause worth dying for; it is the cause for which we have been saved, and it is the cause for which we are still here on this planet. Radio, television and satellites present remarkable opportunities to evangelize the world through broadcasting. 6. Or is this impossible? Yes The Bible clearly says Every tongue will confess and Every The 'Long Ending' (verses 16:9-20) was added much later, largely based on Luke's Gospel, and says that Jesus was taken up into heaven.Acts of the Apostles: Written by the same author as Luke's Gospel but some time later, this also says that Jesus was taken bodily up into heaven, but this time near Mount Olivet and rather long after the resurrection. Gods reply is: Yes, they have heard, in fact, their sound (i.e. What happens to people who have never heard the gospel? Evangelist Ray Comfort says people who never hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ before they die will not go to Hell specifically for that reason, but suggests they could still end up in eternal torment due to other sins. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed. Books by David Platt include Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, and Counter Culture, as well as the following volumes in the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series: Exalting Jesus in Matthew, Exalting Jesus in James, Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, and Exalting Jesus in Galatians. https://s3.amazonaws.com/radical-net-assets/images/20180118130329/WHAT-HAPPENS_AUD.mp3. Everyone (Who Has Ever Lived) Will Hear The Gospel In other words, if there were another way, Jesus would not have had to die for the salvation of us all." That is to say, they hold that the work of Jesus is ontologically necessary for salvation (no one would be saved without it) but not epistemologically necessary (one not need be aware of the work in order to benefit from it). J. P. Lange urges: Holy Scripture nowhere teaches the eternal damnation of those who died as heathens or non-Christians; it rather intimates in many passages that forgiveness may be possible beyond the grave, and refers the final decision not to death, but to the day of Christ.[17] Though preferring the designation divine perseverance, Gabriel Fackre concurs: Sinners who die outside the knowledge of the gospel will not be denied the hearing of the Word.[18] Donald Bloesch and Jerry Walls offer similar proposals.[19]. Sharing Your Faith 101 - Billy Graham Evangelistic Association What If They Never Heard if Jesus? - Bible Query This is affirmed by Jesus in Matthew 24:14 which states that 'this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.'. Reassessing Salvation in Christ and World Religions (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 2004), p. 33. My father didnt see things the way Im describing them right now. The apostle Paul implied a second resurrection in his writings (Romans 11:26-27), and the book of Revelation speaks of it as specifically as Christ did (Revelation 20:5, Revelation 20:11-12). offers an in-depth study of this great biblical truth. Today we have an important missions question from a listener named Zach. Now, I want you to imagine something with me. Essentially, we contextualize the gospel. The question is: Havent they heard the Gospel? He has spoken, I believe very clearly, to that question. Will Everyone Have a Chance for Salvation? But if you are filled with an agony for them, if you cannot bear that they are lost, you will soon find that they are uneasy, too.[24]. Hearing the Gospel Again and Again to Be Overcome Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. Will God Ensure that Everyone gets a Chance to Hear the GospelEven the Aborted Baby? Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Spit on me, but oh repent! Is Hell Real? Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple; what and how great calamities shall be before it; And because that day and hour are unknown. . How will He provide a chance for salvation for everyone? Now, whole books have been written to argue both sides of this issue, and Ive got less than ten minutes now. No further judging would be necessary in either case. All people are condemned for rejecting God. Surely, theres something in their life, something they have donesurely, there is something there that God will still bring them to himself in heaven. I feel the emotion behind that pull, but think about it with me. Christ sends followers, and followers preach. 1) All people know God the Father Romans 1:18-21. This means the offer of eternal life with God is opened to all these resurrected dead. He is author of. Now, this is not just a picture of rhetorical skill. As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!. Because, as Romans 1:18-32 strongly teaches, we have all rejected, corruptedordistorted this revelation of God which freely available to us through creation, in order to be saved we must first hear then believe the good news of Jesus Christ [Romans 10:8-15]. Partnering with churches. 6. God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). PrivacyPolicyTerms ofUse. 5. believed) the Gospel? God is fair and He desires that all of His children come to the knowledge of His love. The reason they need a gospel is because they're guilty, and not just them, but all of us. George then cites the Second London Confession of 1689, a Baptist confession which closely parallels the Westminster Confession of Faith on this issue, and speaks of the salvation of elect infants and other elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word. He then reasons that if the risen Christ appeared to Saul and if an angelic messenger can bring the gospel (2 Cor 11:14; Gal 1:8), then it is theoretically possible that special communications of the gospel could be extended in the gracious providence of God.[5] George clarifies that there is nothing in Scripture that indicates that this actually occurs but that if it did the content of the communications would be identical with that of the apostolic witnesssalvation by grace alone, received by faith alone, and on the basis of Christs finished death on the cross alone. Defending the Biblical Understanding of God, Salvation, and Evangelism, eds. Will All Nations Be Reached Before Christ Returns? A:Many Christians believe that Jesus will return before the end of time, and some even say his return is imminent. [22] John Hick, An Interpretation of Religion (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989), p. 240. But what we cannot safely say is that God ever does save anyone this way. . 2) All people reject true knowledge of God Romans 1:18-21. . In, on, among. Go and tell them about Jesus. And how are they to hear without someone preaching? The winter blossom garden by david low summary? [12] Tiessen states that while other religions are not means of salvation, people in them may be saved through general revelation even while remaining in them: Given the perspective that I have put forward, I grant that the member of another religion may be personally in saving relationship to God, in spite of the fact that their religion, as such, is erroneous and, as a system, is counterproductive for people seeking God.[13]. Yes. I think the apostles and Jesus both taught and lived as though they expected a significant delay in Jesuss coming, not as though he might come at any moment. He spoke of people from different ages coming face-to-face in "the day of judgment" (Matthew 11:20-24, Matthew 12:41-42; Luke 10:12-15). In fact, it seems to me that Jesus went out of his way to discourage people in his day from thinking that the end would come immediately or any minute after he left. For the culmination of all these verses is that all children of Adam must (and actuallywill) hear the Gospel. What about an Indian tribe who was here long before we were, and they didnt have knowledge of the gospel, but they had an innate desire to worship something. Reinder Bruinsma (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993). Be sure to read through to the end where Morgan, a theology professor at California Baptist University, explains how he teaches the Bibles difficult doctrines to skeptical audiences today. SinceRomans 1:16tells us that the power of God unto salvation is the Gospel of Christ, then we can surmise that it is through the preaching of the Gospel that Christ draws men unto himself. What Does the Bible Say About All Will Hear The Gospel? - OpenBible.info Required fields are marked *. . Briefly, inclusivists affirm the particularity and finality of salvation only in Christ but deny that knowledge of his work is necessary for salvation. Answer (1 of 56): I hope you don't mind if I answer a slightly rephrased question like, "Will God punish people who have never had the opportunity to hear the message of Jesus" since "what happens" when we die is described as either punishments/consequences or rewards based on how we lived life (. 2. None will suffer endlessly in hell, he maintains.[21]. Shavuot or Pentecost)! All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Do you hear the universality in all of those statements? welcome to ufulu festival 2023 performing live from gateway mall faith mussa eli njuchi kelvin siings sir creedy neo metalz provoice. Collin Hansen serves as vice president for content and editor in chief of The Gospel Coalition, as well as executive director of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. I think the most crucial word for us maybe to all agree on here, whatever eschatology you have and Ive got some really good friends who disagree with me on this. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 1. "Hello, Pastor John! There is an infinite chasm that separates us from God, and, by his grace, he came down to meet us where we are and to pull us to himself. See also John Hick, Pluralism, in Okholm and Phillips, Four Views on Salvation, pp. A marvelous reality of Scripture is that all who never knew or understood the gospel will have an opportunity to inherit eternal life. So, what do I make of Jesuss words when he says, for example, in Matthew 25:13, Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour, or in Luke 12:40, You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect? Notice the apostle Pauls teaching about the resurrection. There's no innocent woman in Asia waiting to hear the gospel. Those who hear after they die include Old Testament saints who faithfully followed the truth they had, and evildoers who rejected the truth they had. Is Christ the Only Way? knee shall bowand ay Jesus Christ is Lord. 200-258), bishop of Carthage, made this statement with reference to heretics, schismatics, and apostates from the church. Berean Literal Bible And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed in the whole earth, for a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come. Its at this point, obviously, that you feel the emotional pull of our question. 3:8-14). Quoted in Packer, Hell Under Fire, p. 179. Your email address will not be published. Rather, it is an absolutely decisive factor in bringing lost sinners into right relationship with God. Of those to be brought to life in the second resurrection, Jesus said it would be "more tolerable" for some than for others (Matthew 10:15). the voices of the sent preachers) went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. As in Colossians 1:23, Paul here also seems to put forth the notion that everyone has heard(paste tense)the Gospel. 19952023 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org.