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What about
those who never hear the gospel?
Are all those who do not believe or have not been
given the chance to believe cast to hell? Are those who have lived with out knowing of the
Bible or it's teachings condemned? What of those who were around before
"Christianity" was a religion? And are those currently who are raised in a non
Christian home or country also hell bound? If so why does God condemn these good people?
Is that not in it self an act of evil?
.
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Those who have not believed
upon Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, will be cast into hell. John 3:16-18 says,
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son
into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He
that believeth on him is not condemned: but HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY,
BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD."
The next few verses go no to tell what their problem is. John 3:19-21
says, "And THIS IS THE CONDEMNATION, THAT LIGHT IS COME INTO THE WORLD, AND MEN LOVED
DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil
hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he
that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are
wrought in God."
Man is given certain "light" to show him that there is a God.
Psalm 19:1-3 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth
his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There
is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard." Man is without excuse for
not seeking God, because man can see the evidence of Him all around.
There
are two examples of men who were responding to what light they had, and were seeking, and
in both cases, God sent someone to them with the gospel. The first man was the Ethiopian
eunuch. In Acts 8, we see God pulling Philip from a very fruitful ministry, and sending
him to reach one man out in the desert who was seeking the truth. Acts 8:26-40 says,
"And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south
unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and
went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of
the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to
worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the
Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither
to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou
readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip
that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this,
He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened
he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare
his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and
said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him
Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said,
See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest
with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ
is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both
into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come
up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no
more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing
through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea."
The other example is in Acts 10, and a man by the name of Cornelius.
Acts 10:1-6 says, "There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion
of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his
house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision
evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying
unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord?
And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with
one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest
to do." When Peter got there, this is what happened. Verses 24-48 say, "And the
morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called
together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and
fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I
myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come
together. And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that
is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that
I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying,
as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? And
Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I
prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said,
Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in
the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto
thee. Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come.
Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded
thee of God. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no
respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness,
is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace
by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published
throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing
good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are
witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom
they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly;
Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat
and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the
people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick
and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth
in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost
fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were
astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out
the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then
answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have
received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of
the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days."
In each
of the above instances, God had to also work in someone’s heart to be willing to go
to those who were seeking the truth, so that they could be saved. Romans 10:13-15 says,
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall
they call on him in whom they have not believed? and HOW SHALL THEY BELIEVE IN HIM OF WHOM
THEY HAVE NOT HEARD? AND HOW SHALL THEY HEAR WITHOUT A PREACHER? And how shall they
preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that
preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" What we need to
worry about is not whether God is fair or not, but whether we are listening to God and
going where He wants us to go, and speaking to whom He wants is to speak. God wants all
people to be saved. II Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,
as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance."
No person, except God, is "good." Matthew 19:17 says,
"And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? THERE IS NONE GOOD BUT ONE, THAT IS,
GOD" Romans 3:23 says, "For ALL HAVE SINNED, and come short of the glory of
God." Do you realize that Jesus died for our sin? Romans 5:8 says, "But God
commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us." Was that fair, that Christ died in our place? No, that was not "fair"
for Him to have to die for our sin, but that is exactly what He did — that was
"love." All those who reject that great love will die in their sins, and be cast
into hell. John 8:24 says, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your
sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." Revelation
20:15 says, "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into
the lake of fire." Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." God has done everything
possible that man might be saved — except twist man’s arm. Man has to come on
his own free will. If man rejects God’s wonderful gift, then man will perish for ever
in hell.
Have you repented of your sin and received Jesus Christ as your
personal Savior? Are you then willing to go take the message to those who are seeking?
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