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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:
AO, The problem would be for those who are faithfull to all these evidences about God, to find Him in Christ if they are immersed in cultures that are deeply religious in ways that contradict the Gospel. Like some Muslim teenagers that are conditioned to be bombers and think that Allah is God and die as suicide bombers. For me, no matter how much these fanatics would try to conceive God in their minds, they would have this strong cultural element to force them to see reality and God from a very narrow point of view. And emotional conditioning is a strong element in forming consciousness. I wonder if these suicide bombers, dying as young people, could ever get to know God. And there are inummerable Muslims in the world. Just to give one illustration. How deep can the Gospel go if it is the only means of salvation? Thank you, Finder |
Bible Answer: Hello Finder, Allow me to add something to the conversation please. I believe that when we consider the passage in Romans in the wider context of what the Scriptures teach (to include immediate context) I think it begins to make more sense. The passage in Romans isn't speaking to salvation but rather damnation, at least the utter fallen state of mankind. I'm not seeing it taught here at all that God's revelation in nature is what saves. Salvation comes by God's grace, through faith in Christ and by no other means as the Scriptures plainly teach. Later in the book (ch. 5) we see that the wrath spoken of in chapter 1 is something man can be saved from, being "justified by His blood (Romans 5:9). The next two verses make it very clear. "Rom 5:10-11 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (ESV) "..for while we were enemies..."(v. 10). When were we enemies? It's spelled out very clearly in Romans 1:18-32. The problem isn't in that some may never have the opportunity to here the gospel of Jesus Christ. The problem is that all, ALL, have had the truth of God revealed to them and all, including you and me, have rejected that. So, verse 20, we are all without excuse (Romans 3:23) So reconciliation is necessary! And how is that? Clearly presented as quoted above in Romans 5:10-11. It is by His death that we are reconciled and His resurrection that we have eternal life. God uses people to preach the Gospel. As a result, we might tend to give ourselves too much credit. God's saving a soul is not, and has never been dependent on someone hacking through just the right jungle trail to happenstance uppon the poor waiting lost soul there behind the tree. The effectual calling that results in reconciliation and eternal life is that calling of God alone. He may use a man to initiate it, but that poor creature does not effect it. Salvation belongs to the Lord, and to those He justly chooses in grace. If it were anything else, the cross would be of no use. Ours is to be obedient, trusting that He will complete His plan justly. And He is faithful. Hope this helps some, Jeff |