August 9, 2009 — Mike Ratliff
by Mike Ratliff
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 ESV)
We live in an age of compromise. Liberal theology compromises the truth from Sacred Scripture in order to have peace with the world. These same liberals are also the first to object when one of their own is rebuked for their error. Their stance is that each person’s beliefs are between them and God and are nobody else’s business. This mindset has muddied the waters in some churches so badly that they are even seeking peace with Eastern religions such as Buddhism as we see in this article. In that article, a poll us quoted that shows that of religious Americans, 7 in 10 believe there is more than one path to salvation. On the other hand, Orthodox Christianity holds to the clear Biblical teaching that salvation is defined as a person’s reconcilement to God. This reconcilement is through the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who atoned for their sin on the Cross. John 3:18 tells us that everyone is condemned already, but those who do believe in the name of Jesus as Lord and Saviour are no longer condemned. Orthodox Christianity teaches an exclusive gospel.
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Yep, that’s the real truth that many don’t want to talk about. The Bible is pretty clear about it. There is no other name under heaven that can save.
What SHOULD surprise people is that there is even ONE way of being reconciled with God?
Nothing greives me more than a rank liberal!
Clearly unregenerate these men and women need to repent and believe.
Hello Mike, I believe that no one comes to the Father except through Jesus. But it’s the one thing in my faith that I have a big struggle with. I don’t understand that I could have been born somewhere else in the world and not have been taught about Jesus and then not go to heaven. God must have a plan for those people, don’t you think. God loves us and He is merciful. How could it be that there are beautiful people in the world that love God and live good lives but through no fault of their own (simply where on the planet and to whom they were born) they don’t know or believe that Jesus is our Savior because it wasn’t part of their upbringing – for instance, will all Jewish people not go to heaven? Should we be feeling sorry for all Jewish people and all Muslims because there is no hope for them? I struggle with this a lot. It’s not that I don’t believe it, it’s just that I think maybe for those of us who know about Jesus and have had the benefit of learning about Him – we will not be able to come to the Father except through Jesus, but maybe those people on the planet who were never informed, maybe our merciful God has a plan to help them get into heaven. What do you think?
Gail,
It does seem strange to our human minds (and our own failed sense of human “fairness”) that God would condemn someone to Hell “just because they never heard of Jesus.” Unfortunately for us humans, it’s not a matter of “hearing about Jesus.” Humans wind up in Hell because of their own sinfulness. “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God” (Romans 3:10-11). There is no such things as a “good person” no matter how “good” we think we can be. “Why do you call Me ‘good’? There is One who is good, that is, God” (Mark 10:18).
Another thing to remember is this–that even during the years the Old Testament was being written, there were nations in parts of the world who did not know the God of Israel. They did not have any knowledge of Him, even though all creation testified of Him. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). And when those who “never knew” Christ stand before the Great White Throne, they will be judged by the same Law as those who openly rejected Christ. “For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law” (Romans 2:12).
As for the Jews. …will all Jewish people not go to heaven? No. If that were true, then the Pharisees will be in Heaven. But that is not true. “The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades…” (Luke 16:22-23). John Baptist even warned the Saducees about their confidence in being Jewish. “And do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones” (Matthew 3:9). Paul told the Philippians that what nation you are born into does not save you. “If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee” (Philippians 3:4-5).
…maybe our merciful God has a plan to help them get into heaven. Sadly, no. There is only one way, and that is Jesus Christ. “This is eternal life, to know You…and Jesus Christ…” (John 17:3).
Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Can a person go to Heaven if they never have heard about Jesus and had the chance to reject Him??
If they can, then why did Jesus come and cause such a fuss with the religious world at the time?
Why did He take disciples to Himself for three years?
Why did He command them to go out into all of the world and preach the Gospel?
If a person could go to Heaven because they never got the chance to reject Jesus, then wouldnt’ it have been more loving of God to send Jesus so He could just die in obscurity so no one would have the opportunity to reject Him and everyone would go to Heaven?
Wouldn’t it have been easier for God to not ever get involved with man at all so we could just claim ignorance?
Romans 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Romans 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
A cousin of mine told me it isn’t fair for God to choose whom He will save. As Paul says, God is just and fair in whom He will bring to salvation and who are we to question Him.
Gail,
For not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the Law, do by nature the things contained in the Law, those having not the Law are a law unto themselves. Which show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another; Romans: 2:13-15 (Those who have not heard of Jesus are a law unto themselves. They know what is right and wrong, it is inborn in their hearts, and they accordingly will be judged)
Also remember there are things concerning God that you may never understand. He is on a higher plane. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Issiah %%: 8,9.