Do we all have the same level of opportunity to be saved ?

[JessP]

Do you think that God gives everyone the same level of opportunity to be saved?

For example people born to a Christian family are more likely to be Christian. Parents who encourage and nurture their faith in their children will make it easier for the child.

Where as someone say born in a non christian country where they may not have exposure to Christianity or perhaps even parents who are against Christianity and bring their children up in another faith or as an anti theist.

I understand that both could have the chance to come to faith however for on the situation seems more conducive and easier for them to accept Christ.

Why would God make it harder for some people than others?

Sorry if this is a dumb question

 

[Joidevivre]

It is not a dumb question. God told His people way back in the OT to teach their children, and cause them to know His workings. That was so that they would be well grounded in God and not be led astray into the beliefs of the other cultures of the day. He gave implicit instructions.

God doesn't make it harder for some to come to the faith - we do. Since I was raised in a Christian home, it was so easy to believe. Children usually believe as their parents do. I never questioned the reality of God.

However, I have seen much evidence that God does work with hearts that are ready to receive Christ. With many of the Jewish people or Muslims, he seems to appear to them in person - through a vision or a dream. Usually, it is not through a scripture someone says to them, it is through His personal appearing to them. Many stories attest to that.

When I pray for my Jewish friend, I usually pray that Christ will make Himself known to her.

 

[Magenta]

It is not a dumb question.

I agree, it is not a dumb question at all!

God doesn't make it harder for some to come to the faith - we do. Since I was raised in a Christian home, it was so easy to believe. Children usually believe as their parents do. I never questioned the reality of God.

I too was raised in a Christian home but I think that made it harder for me to believe, for I knew there was something wrong with what I was being taught, I just did not know what it was. I found out many many many years later that I was brought up in an institution that is essentially legalistic and teaches heresies. Also that people are born spiritually dead to God anyways. I sought for years, but found surrendering to God difficult. Thank God I did not throw out the baby with the bathwater.

... think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

 

[Joidevivre]

Ah Magenta - I, too, found surrendering to God much more difficult than believing in Him.

 

[oldthennew]

our inherited nature, being what it is, is an awesome thing to comprehend, to say the least -
once our Father gives us the food of His Spirit to get a glimpse if what we truly are....
and the ability to comprehend what He has truly done for us,,,we can only pause, gasp,
and if we truly appreciate the wonder of it all, we can only bow and kneel in
our praise and appreciation, for we will never be able to grasp the other-worldly wonder
and power of it all, in this flesh......

 

[james57]

I agree, it is not a dumb question at all!

I too was raised in a Christian home but I think that made it harder for me to believe, for I knew there was something wrong with what I was being taught, I just did not know what it was. I found out many many many years later that I was brought up in an institution that is essentially legalistic and teaches heresies. Also that people are born spiritually dead to God anyways. I sought for years, but found surrendering to God difficult. Thank God I did not throw out the baby with the bathwater.

... think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Huge amounts of people are brought up in strict legalism as you and I were. Christian counsellors are constantly counselling those who have been damaged as a result of this. Basically it is phariseeical religion being recycled in christian churches. People try to attain heaven as Paul the Pharisee tried to attain it, and the same result often happens( rom 7:7-11) it is far more widespread than many would believe

 

[crossnote]

Do you think that God gives everyone the same level of opportunity to be saved?

For example people born to a Christian family are more likely to be Christian. Parents who encourage and nurture their faith in their children will make it easier for the child.

Where as someone say born in a non christian country where they may not have exposure to Christianity or perhaps even parents who are against Christianity and bring their children up in another faith or as an anti theist.

I understand that both could have the chance to come to faith however for on the situation seems more conducive and easier for them to accept Christ.

Why would God make it harder for some people than others?

Sorry if this is a dumb question

This all depends on how one sees God's sovereign choice vs. our choice.
I've always wondered about the scondrel who finally gets saved at 60 vs the scondrel who dies without Christ at 22. Did the latter get a bum deal? According to some he did, i.e. if he had been allowed to live 45 more years he would have had more opportunity to get saved.
I lean towards...

 

[Magenta]

Huge amounts of people are brought up in strict legalism as you and I were. Christian counsellors are constantly counselling those who have been damaged as a result of this. Basically it is phariseeical religion being recycled in christian churches. People try to attain heaven as Paul the Pharisee tried to attain it, and the same result often happens( rom 7:7-11) it is far more widespread than many would believe

I called it spiritual abuse for a time. Thank you for your response...

 

[Blain]

In all honesty being brought up in a Christian family doesn't always give one a better chance, my friend for instance was raised in a family who are very as they would believe Christian but instead of leaning towards God he was driven away from him and became an atheist and he constantly mocks my faith and all other Christians.

I was not raised in a Christian family at all, I found him on my own but had i died from my cancer which not many have survived I would not have been saved

 

[Utah]

Do you think that God gives everyone the same level of opportunity to be saved?

For example people born to a Christian family are more likely to be Christian. Parents who encourage and nurture their faith in their children will make it easier for the child.

Where as someone say born in a non christian country where they may not have exposure to Christianity or perhaps even parents who are against Christianity and bring their children up in another faith or as an anti theist.

I understand that both could have the chance to come to faith however for on the situation seems more conducive and easier for them to accept Christ.

Why would God make it harder for some people than others?

Sorry if this is a dumb question

Its a fantastic question.

I'd say not everyone gets the same level of opportunity, but God is Just, and regardless of what we may think and say, it is right to give Him all the praise and honor.

 

[notuptome]

God is not capricious nor does He love any one sinner more than every other sinner.

Ro 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[crossnote]

Do you think that God gives everyone the same level of opportunity to be saved?

For example people born to a Christian family are more likely to be Christian. Parents who encourage and nurture their faith in their children will make it easier for the child.

Where as someone say born in a non christian country where they may not have exposure to Christianity or perhaps even parents who are against Christianity and bring their children up in another faith or as an anti theist.

I understand that both could have the chance to come to faith however for on the situation seems more conducive and easier for them to accept Christ.

Why would God make it harder for some people than others?

Sorry if this is a dumb question

Taking this from a more practical angle, today nearly everyone has heard the Gospel and therefore has had the opportunity, either in person, through visual media or literature so there is little excuse. Even if the message was as simple and profound as...

John 3:16 (HCSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

 

[HQ]

Do you think that God gives everyone the same level of opportunity to be saved?

I think not. Even though a beautiful and orderly universe point to a thoughtful and intelligent creator how does one learn the identity of the Creator without someone disclosing it to him? Many people go to their grave without ever learning it. That said, I would re-word your question to 'does the God of the Bible judge people fairly on judgement day based on the knowledge that they had?'. I would say yes. God gave us all the same conscience to guide our conduct here on earth regardless of our belief system. Furthermore, I don't believe a just God would unfairly condemn a person who never heard the name of Jesus but did their best to follow their conscience. Perhaps Jesus himself will minister to such individuals when they make it to the pearly gates.

 

[Miri]

A while back I was discussing the issue of first and second generation
christians. First generation being people who mostly come to know
Jesus for themselves without the influence of godly parents, and the second
generation being children born into Christian families.

From what I have seen 1st generation Christians tend to have a faith
bourne out of personal knowledge and experience, a true unadulterated
genuine faith. The faith that has seen both sides , death and life and they
chose life.

2nd generation Christians tend to piggyback on the faith and belief system
of parents. They don't really know what life is like without Christ. While this
can be a big blessing, it can also be a problem as they can almost take their
faith in Christ for granted and not fully understand or appreciate it.

Thankfully it doesn't happen to everyone but I have seen many Christian kids
grow up in the church, reach their teens or adult hood then go off and do their
own thing or turn their back on God. Even pastors kids.

I have also seen some come back to Christ later on and it's as if they have to
discover for themselves what it is like to have a personal relationship with
Christ and almost experience life without Him to fully appreciate what that
really means.

While second generation Christians have a lot of head knowledge it does not
automatically follow that they have heart knowledge.

 

[Magenta]

God desires a personal relationship with each individual, and it is one of love, through the heart, which means a person's innermost self, an amalgamation of all they are, heart, mind, body, and spirit... every fiber of their being. Having head knowledge of Who God is one thing... I encountered God numerous times, but it was after learning Who Jesus Christ is that I came to faith. Despite my upbringing, I did not know Jesus. That made all the difference

 

[1faith]

so beautifully said

 

[crossnote]

Regardless of the generation, there is NO personal relationship until one is born again,,,in Christ.

 

[seed_time_harvest]

Romans 11:27-30
king James version(KJV)

27.)For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28.)As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

29.)For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30.)For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

 

[kaylagrl]

Do you think that God gives everyone the same level of opportunity to be saved?

For example people born to a Christian family are more likely to be Christian. Parents who encourage and nurture their faith in their children will make it easier for the child.

Where as someone say born in a non christian country where they may not have exposure to Christianity or perhaps even parents who are against Christianity and bring their children up in another faith or as an anti theist.

I understand that both could have the chance to come to faith however for on the situation seems more conducive and easier for them to accept Christ.

Why would God make it harder for some people than others?

Sorry if this is a dumb question

Yes,God gives the same opportunity to all or He would be an unjust God. I read or heard a missionary say that they went to a very remote village to share the gospel with them.When he arrived in the village and met the people and began to share the gospel they were very excited.The head of the village said they had had a dream that someone was going to come and tell them more about this Jesus. God is everywhere.He can reach anyone and no one is beyond that reach.

 

[Blain]

You know my friend knows my past and he said to me that it makes sense that I would cling to an invisible and non realistic accepting and loving God, he says it's obvious that because I was alone because of how brutal my life has been that is why I became a Christian he says it's just how the mind works because I never knew love I clung to the only kind of love available to me.

But in all honesty my past didn't bring me to God and also while what he said may be true for some ppl usually going through that kind of abuse and pain and suffering in life actually has the opposite affect. Everyone has a story of how they came to faith and everyone has things that brought them to the point where they needed to be saved but one cannot assume they know the reason and the story of ppls salvation and if in fact as the scriptures say God desires all to be saved then no doubt he has been trying desperately to reach all of us but many of us refuse to listen