QandA: Part Two!

Question:
Where is salvation for those who don’t hear the Word or who lived in pre-Christian times?

This is really a two part question– first, I will answer, “Where is salvation for those who don’t hear the message about Jesus?“

God clearly reveals Himself to us– Romans 1:20,

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

The book of Romans goes on to explain that although God clearly reveal Himself to us, in our sinful nature, we reject and rebel against God, Romans 1:21-23,

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.”

Deuteronomy 4:29 explains that those who seek after God WILL find Him,

“But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

So where does this leaves those that already call themselves Christians?

Instead of debating the fate of those who have never heard, we, as Christians, should be doing our best to make sure that they hear. We are called to spread the Gospel throughout the nations (Acts 1:8). The fact that we know people reject the knowledge of God revealed in nature must motivate us to proclaim the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Only through accepting the God’s grace through the Lord Jesus Christ can people be saved from their sins and rescued from an eternity apart from God in hell.

It is interesting that the first instruction Jesus gives to the disciples (Simon and Andrew), Mark 1:17,

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

And the LAST instruction Jesus gives after He is risen, Matthew 28:18,

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Ultimately, God is all powerful and all knowing. He see’s to it that ALL have the opportunity to receive Him or reject Him.

I will answer the next half of the question about salvation for those before Christ in my next post. Look out for it!

Questions and Answer Series: Part One

QUESTION:
Jesus died to save us. So, what else do we need to do? He took the sacrifice, we’re good, right?

Yes, if you believe that Jesus died to save you and sacrificed Himself on the cross for us, then you are good.

John 14:6 tells us, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”

Is faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior your one-way ticket to heaven? Yes.

Does that mean we go one living a life in sin, doing whatever we want because we know that Jesus has already paid our ransom for sin?

No.

James 2: 14-24,
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

Faith in Jesus will produce life change—a heart truly transformed to seek out God produces a new life. James points out in this verse that “Even the demons believe and shudder!” Even evil recognizes the reality of God! But acknowledgment of Christ is NOT enough.

2 Corinthians 5:17 explains how when we accept Christ, we become changed,

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Galatians 2:20 elaborates that we essentially “die” and we now LIVE in Christ,

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Conclusion:
Only God truly knows the condition of your heart and the sincerity of your belief in Christ. Following Biblical truth, Faith without a transformed life/deeds is dead faith.

Question and Answer

Over the next week, I am taking the time to answer several questions raised in recent comments on my blog.  

Why?  The questions are important to address and rather than comment back, I think it’s necessary to take the time to address each one in a series of posts.

….And everyone can share in the answers!

Look for more to come, starting tomorrow!  🙂