Bible Question:
When the question is asked, "What about people that never heard of Jesus?" Many using an understanding of Romans 1:18-32 say nature attests to God therefore those people are without excuse. The question then becomes if that understanding of Romans 1:18-32 is correct why did God go to such extremes, as seen in the Book of Jonah to send Jonah, to Nineveh to tell them of God? Also we see in the Book of Jonah that God chastened Jonah for his lack of compassion toward the people of Nineveh because Jonah wanted to withhold from them the truth of God. I wonder if the understanding that nature somehow attests to God so that any lack of knowledge of Jesus Christ is without excuse is perhaps wrong. It is very possible to know God but not to be saved or not to follow after God. The Book of James 2:19 tells us the Demons believe and actually shudder in fear of God but that does not save them. I think Romans 1:18-32 perhaps becomes an over simplified answer to a question that when we hold it to the light of all of scripture, it just may be one we really don't know the answer to. |
Bible Answer: Greetings Ed! I'm not sure that I am following completely, but my response would be that Rom. 1:20 does teach that no man has an excuse for rejecting God since nature itself reveals Him to us. You seem to be asking, 'Is the knowledge gained through nature enough to produce saving faith?' I don't know, but it is certainly enough to produce blame. :-) I suspect that the knowledge gained through nature is not enough to produce saving faith, but it is enough to produce guilt. That guilt should then turn the person toward God for help, at which point, I believe God will make Himself know in a more complete way. However, Rom. 1:20ff tells us that many reject even the knowledge gained through nature, and turn to worship created things rather than our Creator. I hope I understood your question correctly. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |