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Luke 12:47-49King James Version (KJV)
47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
Romans 1:15-25King James Version (KJV)
15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
Romans 1:15-25King James Version (KJV)
15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
M
Thanks so much. I think I understand. God will only expect a person to follow in his way in so much as that person has heard or knows about God. And, all humans have been given the basic understanding of "God" and if they use this knowledge in good ways, they will be rewarded at the same level? I'll keep reading on this. Thank you. Watching a debate between William Lane Craig and Christopher Hitchens and Dr. Hitchens asked this question and it stumpted me. Thank you again. Any other Bible NT references I can look up?
One thing I believe is in God's love for us and He will not reject anyone that has not heard the gospel. He will be just and I believe everyone will have a chance to make a decision to receive Christ. How that happens....I don't know....nor do I give it a second thought. I'll trust Him to take care of that. People that say if they haven't heard the gospel will be in hell...are full of baloney! They obviously have no clue of the love God has for us. I would just leave it with the ne who deals justly.
M
Thank you Grace. I'm going through a major point in my life and need to know the truth about this. Do you have any Bible versus which talk about this? I need to read some NT versus and study more to understand it better and know if Jesus ever answered this question or a disciple learned it from him or someone must have said it in the early Gospels...Thank you so much for your faith is so strong on his word and proves His message has grown fruitful within you. But, I need to find the explanation straight from the Gospels. That's my best reference for questions like these. Joh4thecross gave me some great places to start. Always looking for more though
Thank you again.
Thank you again.
Also, consider Paul's speech at the Areopagus, in which he tells them that there was a time of ignorance, in which they were forgiven much, but that now that Christ had been preached, that time had ended.
And remember this, God is Just. So, therefore, any ignorance that is not the fault of the person in question, will not be held against Him. He will be judged justly.
And remember this, God is Just. So, therefore, any ignorance that is not the fault of the person in question, will not be held against Him. He will be judged justly.
M
Thanks for the Paul reference. I read all of Acts and seem to recall some kind of statement like that. But need to find a passage or verse that specifically and clearly answers the question.
How does God offer the Kingdom of Heaven to someone who's never known anything about it?
I think I understand though.
The savior will offer them to drink from the well of living water when their soul leaves their body. And, because they will see him in all his glory and light will be provided more evidence of his existence than most after life in this world, which is pretty much equal to the word we could hope to receive throughout a life of knowing Christ.
Also, I believe the Lord will praise those most who do good deeds as God is present in all humans and this presence gives them the needed intrinsic, objective moral direction. If they obey this direction, they will be rewarded by such. If no, they are not so rewarded.
Any thoughts from anyone else before I sign off for the night??
How does God offer the Kingdom of Heaven to someone who's never known anything about it?
I think I understand though.
The savior will offer them to drink from the well of living water when their soul leaves their body. And, because they will see him in all his glory and light will be provided more evidence of his existence than most after life in this world, which is pretty much equal to the word we could hope to receive throughout a life of knowing Christ.
Also, I believe the Lord will praise those most who do good deeds as God is present in all humans and this presence gives them the needed intrinsic, objective moral direction. If they obey this direction, they will be rewarded by such. If no, they are not so rewarded.
Any thoughts from anyone else before I sign off for the night??
Hitchens is just playing 'Gotcha' with Lane but it doesn't lessen the dilemma Hitchen faces, the same dilemma facing skeptics since the Cross and that is "How do you disprove the resurrection?".
As far as what happens to those who never heard (although their conscience and creation testifies to His Being, Rom 1), the Scripture is silent and so should we.
As far as what happens to those who never heard (although their conscience and creation testifies to His Being, Rom 1), the Scripture is silent and so should we.
M
Thanks Magenta. I think Jesus is the one pushing me to diligently seek him...if you know what I mean. Maybe it's time to step into a Church again after 15 years.?? But I have no idea where or how to find the right Church in my small Southern South Carolina town...I know!! I'll pray about it. Then He'll just tell me. Problem solved.
K
The bible says every creature knows the Creator. Yet though His invisible qualities are clearly seen in what has been created, they neither glorified Him as God, or gave Him thanks. Every soul has a conscience, a sense of right and wrong, and like God said to Cain, if you choose to do right will you not be accepted? The bottom line is we need to obey God. Cain did not have the bible, but he had the ability to obey God and chose not to.
He who KNOWS the good he ought to do, yet chooses not to do it sins. If you know you can get a bible and read it to find what God wants you to do, yet choose not to, you are disobeying God. For someone who don't know about the bible or even where to get one, they don't know the good they ought to do. But their conscience can tell them not to steal or murder.
We know today that we need to get baptized to wash our sins away, but they didn't know in the Old Testament. But Christ's blood flowed forward and backward to all who would obey God. We have the bible and know to obey God. But God says that those who have not law are a law unto themselves by their conscience.
We will be judged according to our knowledge and ability. Every soul knows the Creator and to choose to do what they know to be right. I don't believe those without the bible have an excuse. But I do know that you and I do have the bible, and are therefore definitely without excuse.
He who KNOWS the good he ought to do, yet chooses not to do it sins. If you know you can get a bible and read it to find what God wants you to do, yet choose not to, you are disobeying God. For someone who don't know about the bible or even where to get one, they don't know the good they ought to do. But their conscience can tell them not to steal or murder.
We know today that we need to get baptized to wash our sins away, but they didn't know in the Old Testament. But Christ's blood flowed forward and backward to all who would obey God. We have the bible and know to obey God. But God says that those who have not law are a law unto themselves by their conscience.
We will be judged according to our knowledge and ability. Every soul knows the Creator and to choose to do what they know to be right. I don't believe those without the bible have an excuse. But I do know that you and I do have the bible, and are therefore definitely without excuse.
For it is not the hearers of the law [who are] righteous in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous. For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things of the law, these, [although they] do not have the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written on their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts [one] after another accusing or even defending them on the day when God judges the secret things of people, according to my gospel, through Christ Jesus. Romans 2:13-16
There is a simple answer to your OP. If you are worried about people who have never heard the gospel, then be the one to go tell them!
"And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt 28:18-20
"And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt 28:18-20
For one thing, we have to stop thinking people who die without hearing about Jesus are innocent, and not deserving of eternal punishment. We all stand guilty for breaking God's Laws.
The Bible says God gives knowledge of His existence through His creation, and His Laws written on their hearts (conscience) so they are without excuse. It also says that if one uses that knowledge and seeks after God, they will find Him - because it's God who is drawing them through those revelations.
The Bible says God gives knowledge of His existence through His creation, and His Laws written on their hearts (conscience) so they are without excuse. It also says that if one uses that knowledge and seeks after God, they will find Him - because it's God who is drawing them through those revelations.