And did the majority of people who lived before Jesus have much of a chance?
Romans 9:22-24
King James Version
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Would it be correct to see them as vessels of wrath fitted to destruction? Like they had no shot whatsoever but basically lived in sin their whole lives and God endured them the whole time? Does that make us incredibly fortunate to have heard about Jesus? What's the correct way to see all of this stuff?
“
By faith Enoch was translated that he should
not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and
became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for
an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
…
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
But now
they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
By faith
Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith
Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and
worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Through faith he kept the passover, and the
sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of
David also, and
Samuel, and of the
prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were
tortured,
not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of
bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being
destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”
Hebrews 11:5, 7-10, 13, 16-24, 28-40 KJV
All those were dealing with Jesus and are saved by faith in him non believers then won’t be saved non believers now won’t be saved
“And I say unto you, That
many shall come from the east and west, and
shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 8:11 KJV
Abraham isaac and Jacob we gentiles and modern day Israelites are being called to that kingdom where they are by the gospel Jesus is inviting believers everywhere to be part of his eternal
Kingdom where Isaac Abraham
Moses Enoch Noah ect are bound to arrive as well but see itnis all one kingdom and always has been Enoch is translated into this same kingdom that gentiles are translated into by the gospel
“giving thanks unto the Father, which
hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the ( ot) saints in light: who hath
delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son
the kingdom Jesus and his apostles preached where well
Meet Abraham isaac and Jacob )
in whom
we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
Colossians 1:12-14 KJV
Before the gospel gentiles couldn’t be a part of the kingdom of the ot saints offered and revealed in the gospel , now they can
even those who were drown in Noah’s day have heard of Jesus and from him
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God,
being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which
also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.”
1 Peter 3:18-20 KJV
Everyone gets to hear of Jesus even if it’s after they die every ear will hear the message and every eye will see him and every person will answer to him
“For
for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but
live according to God in the spirit.”
1 Peter 4:6 KJV
