Those who never Heard the Message

[Storyteller]

I think with regards to those that have never heard the Gospel we just have to trust that God knows what He is doing. God will always be just, will He not? It`s a tough one, and I`m not sure that anyone knows the answers apart from Him.

It is not a tough question! The Bible addresses this over and over and over again! Those who earnestly seek God will find Him. God promises that He will reveal Himself to seekers. Hebrews 11:6 is just one of many promises about such seekers.

I completely agree, I have no idea how God will set those right. I just believe he will. That is my belief nothing else.

God sets those people right the same way He sets Old Testament saints right and newly regenerate saints right: through Jesus' atoning sacrifice.

None of this is really complicated! A simple reading of the Bible, along with faith that what you are reading is true, would put your mind at ease on this and many other topics.

FL

Sorry, mucked that right up!

So are you saying if someone truly seeks God they will hear the message?

And I didn't say the last bit, neo did.

[neo-x]

I think with regards to those that have never heard the Gospel we just have to trust that God knows what He is doing. God will always be just, will He not? It`s a tough one, and I`m not sure that anyone knows the answers apart from Him.

It is not a tough question! The Bible addresses this over and over and over again! Those who earnestly seek God will find Him. God promises that He will reveal Himself to seekers. Hebrews 11:6 is just one of many promises about such seekers.

I completely agree, I have no idea how God will set those right. I just believe he will. That is my belief nothing else.

God sets those people right the same way He sets Old Testament saints right and newly regenerate saints right: through Jesus' atoning sacrifice.

None of this is really complicated! A simple reading of the Bible, along with faith that what you are reading is true, would put your mind at ease on this and many other topics.

FL

Its not. But sometimes getting your point across is the hardest, sitting behind our keyboards, its very easy to misread each other. I am sure there will be lots to wonder and a lot understood when we actually get there with God in life eternal.

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

So are you saying if someone truly seeks God they will hear the message?

No. I say nothing, and anything I say should be called into question because I am absolute scum born of sinful parents. The Bible says that those who earnestly seek God will be found by Him. That's an unrevokable promise from God .

Now, this question about "those who never heard the Message" keeps coming up in different forms now & then. In my opinion, it is asked either out of biblical illiteracy (which, honestly, is fine by me) or as a veiled attack by those who wish to discredit Scripture. Many people - including genuine regenerate Christians feel that "good" people of whatever faith must get a free pass into heaven. Sorry, but no person is good, not even one; only God is good and we need His righteousness to get into paradise. That's the way it works.

But sometimes getting your point across is the hardest, sitting behind our keyboards, its very easy to misread each other. I am sure there will be lots to wonder and a lot understood when we actually get there with God in life eternal

I think the problem most people have is that they don't understand that words typed on a screen do not represent the whole person typing them. This is a very stilted form of communication and little of our persona gets transmitted though the keyboard...very little.

FL

[Storyteller]

I know that all who seek God are found by Him. He found me.

Any questions I ask are because I don't know, because I have only just started studying the Bible, never to discredit it.

As for personalities shining through our posts, sometimes, I think they do. I agree that posts are sometimes misinterpreted but I like to think that no one here would hesitate in clarifying a post and we are all friends on here.

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

I know that all who seek God are found by Him. He found me.

See?! I was an atheist and He found me. There are many stories of Muslims & Hindus who have found Jesus as well. But like it or not, If you die as a Muslim or a Hindu, you are toast.

Any questions I ask are because I don't know, because I have only just started studying the Bible, never to discredit it.

I know that, sweetie.

As for personalities shining through our posts, sometimes, I think they do. I agree that posts are sometimes misinterpreted but I like to think that no one here would hesitate in clarifying a post and we are all friends on here.

Uh...maybe. Most people seem to jump to conclusions quickly. From where I sit, that's what I see. I maintain that these are mostly the result of cultural misunderstandings. To wit: Americans are very touchy about race, so any comment about race/ethnicity makes the hair on the back of their necks raise. It is fun to prick them on this subject...but I would never do that because I am very respectful of other peoples' sacred cows sensitivities.

FL

[1over137]

[PaulSacramento]

Of course the bible does also state that ONLY those that believe in Christ will be saved (from judgment) and only those that The Father allows to know the Son will be saved.
John 6:44

[Storyteller]

Of course the bible does also state that ONLY those that believe in Christ will be saved (from judgment) and only those that The Father allows to know the Son will be saved.
John 6:44

So are there people He wouldn't allow? Does this fall into the knowing who will reject Him beforehand?

[PaulSacramento]

Of course the bible does also state that ONLY those that believe in Christ will be saved (from judgment) and only those that The Father allows to know the Son will be saved.
John 6:44

So are there people He wouldn't allow? Does this fall into the knowing who will reject Him beforehand?

I believe so.
Others ( Calvinists for example) believe that God had pre-destined who will and who will not believe before they are even born.
I disagree of course.

[Storyteller]

Of course the bible does also state that ONLY those that believe in Christ will be saved (from judgment) and only those that The Father allows to know the Son will be saved.
John 6:44

So are there people He wouldn't allow? Does this fall into the knowing who will reject Him beforehand?

I believe so.
Others ( Calvinists for example) believe that God had pre-destined who will and who will not believe before they are even born.
I disagree of course.

I'm not sure that I'd agree God pre-determines who will believe in Him. Wouldn't that negate the notion of free will?

[PaulSacramento]

Of course the bible does also state that ONLY those that believe in Christ will be saved (from judgment) and only those that The Father allows to know the Son will be saved.
John 6:44

So are there people He wouldn't allow? Does this fall into the knowing who will reject Him beforehand?

I believe so.
Others ( Calvinists for example) believe that God had pre-destined who will and who will not believe before they are even born.
I disagree of course.

I'm not sure that I'd agree God pre-determines who will believe in Him. Wouldn't that negate the notion of free will?

Yes, it would.
If God predestines those that will believe or not in Him then He is condemning innocents ( since they have yet to be born) to damnation with never having a choice in the matter.

[EssentialSacrifice]

Revelation 3:5
The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.

Psalm 69:28
May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.

Truly one of the hardest of all in scripture to get my head around. I would prefer to think all names are written in the book and some just choose to scratch themselves out.

[PaulSacramento]

To blot out something is to cover/blot something that is already there.

Which means that the names were there.

[Storyteller]

Okay guys, bear with me here....

So, all names are in the book to start with.
We choose to blot them out.
Right, I get that bit.

So what about those who haven't heard? If they havent heard, then they wont know there is a choice, will they? So by default, their names must still be there.

Thoughts?

[Philip]

Storyteller, read about this subject here: http://discussions.godandscience.org/vi ... 22&t=36261