Results 1 - 3 of 3
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | people who have never heard the Gospel ? | Heb 7:25 | DocTrinsograce | 150264 | ||
Dear Dr. Aixen, Thank you for your reply. I do not find your answer to my query in this thread. No doubt the fault lies in me, so I apologize. Might you oblige me by repeating it, please? With regard to your question: I ended my quote where I did as I was trying to be as concise as possible. Verse 18 is where Paul quotes Psalm 19:4. This speaks of the apostles and ministers of the Gospel who, by the time of Paul's letter to the Romans, had reached out to the known world. (See also Colossians 1:6 and 2 Corinthians 10:13.) In Him, Doc |
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2 | people who have never heard the Gospel ? | Heb 7:25 | Aixen7z4 | 150277 | ||
Everyone has access the plan of salvation. That is my understanding of the message from scripture. I have stated above that the Gospel has been preached from Genesis 3 to this time. Moreover, it will continue to go forth until Jesus comes. It will be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (Matthew 24). That is what Paul seems to be saying in Romans 10. “The Word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart"; that is, the same word of faith that he was proclaiming. Moses had said the same thing to the children of Israel. “It is not in Heaven, that you should say, ‘Who shall go up for us to Heaven, and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who shall go over the sea for us to the region beyond the sea, and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and do it?’ But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may do it‘” (Deuteronomy 30). It is not clear to me why you would say that Psalm 19:4 speaks of the apostles and ministers of the Gospel. I am also wondering why you say that their line having gone out to the whole world refers to the Gospel having gone out to the known world. It seems to me that Psalm 19 is a song about nature, the heavens declaring the glory of God, and the expanse proclaiming his handiwork. There is a message in the sun and the moon and the stars and in all of creation that gets across to all men everywhere. The same is said by Paul in Romans 1, that the unseen things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being realized by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that people everywhere are without excuse. God also speaks to people through their consciences, so that they have a law written in their hearts. The Jews had the Law, but also the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves (Romans 2). They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts accusing or else excusing one another. The grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (Titus 2). And yet, conscience and nature do not preach the Gospel, though they may prepare men to accept it. The one who has brought the Gospel to us is the Lord Jesus Christ, and I give you to understand that he has been doing that throughout time and to all peoples. It is the mystery which was not clearly seen in Old Testament times, but we can see it now. The Gentiles would be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ by the Gospel. Peter tells us that he preached to the people in Noah’s day, though Noah preached also, so that they would have their chance before they were taken away in the flood. Of course, the Jews heard the message. But God is no respecter of persons. A Rahab and a Ruth are just as welcome, and somehow they knew it. The Lord Jesus Christ goes with us now as we preach the Gospel where he has sent us, into all the world. And when he sends out his sheep, he goes before them. What is he doing? He is lightening every man who comes into the world (John 1). He is drawing all men to himself (John 12). He is still saying, “Ho, everyone that is thirsty”. He is still saying, “Come unto me all”. And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come”. And those who hear can say, “Come”. Anyone who is athirst can come. And whosoever will, he can take the water of life freely”. That is what I call universal access. I know that you will say no man will come unless God inclines his heart. And what I have said here indicates that he draws all men. Whether or not they can resist him, I do not think we are allowed to discuss that here. |
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3 | people who have never heard the Gospel ? | Heb 7:25 | DocTrinsograce | 150303 | ||
Dear Dr. Aixen, Thank you for your very clear reply. Thank you, also, for very clearly stating my position in this respect. So often others purposefully misstate or misrepresent another person's point of view in order to weaken their opponent's argument. That puzzles me -- even when I've been tempted to do the same! :-) After all, as believers, we are move interested in seizing the truth of God above all other things. It is a rich treasure to us! Also, as I understand it, we may, indeed, discuss anything within the scope of Scriptural studies. The key is that we discuss with reason and without rancor, and be willing to back off when we sense the rise of clearly un-Spirit led emotions. Frankly, I'd rather that God's Word elicit discomfort in others than have my words do so! When His Word does it, it is always for His eternal purposes; when I do it, it is most often the result of my failure to be edifying to my readers! You wrote, "It is not clear to me why you would say that Psalm 19:4 speaks of the apostles and ministers of the Gospel." I apologize for being unclear. I didn't mean to say that Psalm 19:4 speaks of the Gospel, but rather that Paul uses it this way. (Although one might argue that since Scripture explains Scripture, that the original quotation would not mean something different than how it is used elsewhere.) This is actually the orthodox understanding of this passage. Let me see if I can explain it a bit more clearly. Romans 10 is about the presentation of the Gospel to Israel. Paul tells us that it is his heartfelt desire and prayer that they believe (v1). Although they have a zeal for God, they lack true knowledge of Him (v2). Consequently, they set up their own righteousness (v3). Although Moses described the righteousness of the Law, what they really need is the righteousness of Christ (v4-7). On the other hand, Moses was not speaking of the Law alone, but also of Christ (v8). Then Paul carefully articulates the Gospel message of belief in, submission to, and dependence on Christ (v9-11). Paul points out that in the response to the Gospel, there are no racial distinctions, but that all men who respond to the Gospel will be saved regardless of their heritage (v12-13). Paul then asks rhetorically, how can they respond to a Gospel that is not preached for them to hear (v14-15)? Many of the Jews, after hearing, refused to respond to the Gospel command, as was prophesied (v16). Faith, he goes on to say, is given when the Gospel is preached (v17). Verse 18 is our verse in question, where Paul precedes from there to the end of the chapter to argue that the Gospel message has been preached repeatedly to the Jews. Context can make a thought clear that might otherwise be misleading stated on its own. Furthermore, as I pointed out in my previous post, the sense of what Paul is saying here is also expressed in other of his epistles. I agree that all men everywhere are without excuse. I do not agree, however, with Pelegius that, "If I ought, I can." Rather, I affirm with Saint Augustine, "Lord, command what You will, and grant what You command." Nor can I agree that salvation can come through any other means than by faith alone, through grace alone, by Christ alone. I really can't say this any better than the divines of the seventeenth century when they wrote, "The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and His will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people being now ceased. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20; Romans 1:19-21; Romans 2:14,15; Psalms 19:1-3; Hebrews 1:1; Proverbs 22:19-21; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19,20)" In Him, Doc |
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