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NASB | Acts 17:30 "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 17:30 "Therefore God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God's purpose for their lives], |
Bible Question:
I read a book about Hudson Taylor and his missionary work in China where a Buddhist who converted to Christ asked Mr. Taylor why they had not arrived while his father was alive. How could the father and grandfather of this ex-Buddhist have been saved? I also read "Eternity in their Hearts" where the author points out that if the peoples that don't have access to the gospel are faithfull to the light they have, the gospel would be presented to them. But it didn't prove true concerning the previous generations of any of those groups. Their fathers, grandfathers and greatgrandfathers also died without hearing the gospel. Would it be just a circumstancial problem because there were no missionaries, or this is a case of flat predestination? How could the ones that are not reached with the message be morally accoutable to a message they never heard? Billy Graham and the Catholics say that those who are sincere and live according to the best light they have, above the level of lifestyle of their surroundings, will be granted salvation in Jesus Christ. They say that in many tribes they don't know the name of Christ but believe in Him by the way they respond to life and nature around them. Could this then be true that these peoples are saved without ever hearing the message of the Gospel? If you don't have the answers, could you refer to me those who would have them? Thank you, Finder |
Bible Answer: Those who have never heard about Jesus ____________________ NASB Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. ____________________ 'Question: "What happens to people who never have a chance to hear about Jesus? Will God condemn a person who has never heard about Him?" 'Answer: All people are accountable to God whether they have “heard about Him” or not. The Bible tells us that God has clearly revealed Himself in nature (Romans 1:20) and in the hearts of people (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The problem is that the human race is sinful; we all reject this knowledge of God and rebel against Him (Romans 1:21-23). Apart from God's grace, God would give us over to the sinful desires of our hearts, allowing us to discover how useless and miserable life is apart from Him. This He does for those who reject Him (Romans 1:24-32). 'In reality, it is not that some people have not heard about God. Rather, the problem is that they have rejected what they have heard and what is readily seen in nature. Deuteronomy 4:29 proclaims, “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” This verse teaches an important principle: everyone who truly seeks after God will find Him. If a person truly desires to know God, God will make Himself known. 'The problem is, “there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:11). People reject the knowledge of God that is present in nature and in their own heart, and instead decide to worship a “god” of their own creation. It is foolish to debate the fairness of God sending someone to hell who never had the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Christ. People are responsible to God for what God has already revealed to them. The Bible says that people reject this knowledge, and therefore God is just in condemning them to hell. 'Instead of debating the fate of those who have never heard, we, as Christians, should be doing our best to make sure that they hear. We are called to spread the Gospel throughout the nations (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). The fact that we know people reject the knowledge of God revealed in nature must motivate us to proclaim the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Only through accepting the Gospel of God’s grace through the Lord Jesus Christ can people be saved from their sins and rescued from an eternity apart from God in hell.' Related Topics: What is the plan of salvation? What happened to the people who believed in God before Jesus came? What happens to babies and young children when they die? Where do I find the age of accountability in the Bible? Do mentally challenged people go to heaven? What does it mean to be born again? ____________________ Source: www.gotquestions.org/never-heard.html |