Subject: Christians before Jesus came |
Bible Note: Greetings Country Girl! In other words, the people of the OT were just like the people of today! :-) Different people have different views concerning those who do not have access to the Gospel. My view is simply this: God will make Himself known to any who truly seek Him. For instance, Abraham did not have a Bible, but God revealed Himself to Abraham. However, this is not to say that anyone who simply 'worships' a god will be saved. Scripture is quite clear that Christ is the only way! But, let's look at the clear words of Rom. 2 for a moment. Rom. 2:12 - "All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law." Now, let's compare this to Rom. 3:23 - "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," All have sinned; therefore, all will perish apart from Christ. Romans 3 is quite clear on the status of those who might think that they 'deserve' salvation in some other way. Rom. 3:9 - "What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10 As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.' 13 'Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.' 'The poison of vipers is on their lips.' 14 'Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.' 15 'Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.' 18 'There is no fear of God before their eyes.' 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin." So, would you have us believe that those who do not have the Law will be justified by their efforts to live a good life, while those who have the Law are unable to live up to it? The simple fact is that Paul is establishing that none of us can be saved apart from faith in Christ. Rom. 3:21 - "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." Now, I personally believe in a God who does not want anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance. So, I believe that there are some who may not have access to a Bible to whom God has revealed Himself. But, even then, their salvation comes through faith, not works. Finally, you can check your resources, but 'no one' simply means 'no one' ;-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |