Results 1 - 2 of 2
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | The Gospel the sole means of salvation? | Rom 1:16 | John Reformed | 39280 | ||
Dear Forum, I would like to propose a discussion concerning th Gospel. Is it God's sole means of salvation? |
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2 | The Gospel the sole means of salvation? | Rom 1:16 | Aixen7z4 | 123810 | ||
I sat and read the entire thread. Such a wonderful discussion! What a disappointment that that it degenerated so, and revealed a hidden agenda to promote the ideas of Calvin again! And yet the originator seemed so open to the idea that the Judge of all the earth would find a way to communicate the necessary Gospel to all men. Since we have heard the Gospel in words such as those recorded in 1 Corinthians 15, it is difficult to imagine how God communicates it to the person who has not heard. Since we learn so much by reading and by hearing, it is difficult to imagine how God can communicate facts to someone who cannot read or to someone who cannot hear. But the Bible assures us that God does communicate to everyone, if not through words, then through nature (Psalm 19) and through conscience (Romans 2:15). God our Savior will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth(1 Timothy 2:3,4). How can that happen when they have not heard? The word is true whether or not they have heard it. God knows the thoughts that he thinks toward them, thoughts of peace, and not of evil. They shall ye call upon him, and they shall go and pray unto him, and he will listen to them. And they shall seek him, and find him, when thy search for him with all their heart. He will be found of them, says the LORD. This applies to all men, not Israel only, for God is not a respecter of persons. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. It is fine to ask the questions: How 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? Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, (concerning those who have not heard the way that I have heard) “Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world”. Romans 1 and 2 contains so much about those who despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering of God, perhaps because they are the majority of the people. But what of the few who do respond to revelation and seek God? To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, (he gives) eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, (he responds with) indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but (he gives) glory, honor, and peace, to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. Apologies to those who would have liked to see the scripture references for all this. One can but hope that the words are familiar enough that we can think of them again as from Romans and Jeremiah and the Psalms and find them as necessary. But let us put them together to see that God created the gospel when he allowed Jesus to die on the cross and raised him from the dead. He has ways of sending this news to the whole world. Some of us may refuse to go, and some who hear may refuse to believe, but God will enlighten every man anyway. Most will reject the good News, but those who accept it and respond with repentance and faith, will be saved. This is just another attempt to encourage our participation in this process. All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. |
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