Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

If faith in Jesus is the only means by which we can be saved, how can God judge the person who has never heard about Jesus? This common challenge appears to strike at the heart of God’s divine justice.

Paul reflected on this question in the first three chapters of his letter to the Romans. He tells us, “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law” (Rom. 2:12).

There are two groups of people in this world. There are those who have the law and those who don’t.

Those who have the law will be judged by it. Paul says, “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” (Rom. 3:19-20).

But there are those who do not have God’s law. Will they be judged by a standard they have never heard about? No, they will be judged by a different standard. Those without access to God’s special revelation will not be judged by what they don’t know. They will be judged by what they do know. They will be judged by the revelation of God in nature and conscience.

God will judge according to the light they have been given. The Scriptural principle if someone lives up to the revealed truth God has already given, no matter how small, he will give them more to pursue until they come to a saving knowledge of him. Light obeyed increases more light.

Speaking of God’s revelation in nature, Paul writes, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:18-20). There is enough knowledge of God through what He has made to condemn a person for rejecting it.

In addition, God has given everyone a conscience to bear witness to His moral character: “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things” (Rom. 2:1-2).

Paul continues, “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus” (Rom. 2:14-15).

God will judge every person who has drawn breath according to the light available to them. This doesn’t get anyone off the hook because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:23).

This means everyone needs Jesus to be saved, but not everyone will be judged for rejecting Jesus, if they never knew about Him.

Every man will be judged for his own deeds, and according to that knowledge of the law which he had opportunity of acquiring. The omniscience of the Judge will enable him to estimate with perfect exactness all the circumstances of every action; everything which aggravates guilt, and everything which palliates it, will have due consideration.

That light may be bright, or it may be dim, but if a person will follow that light, he will be given more light and he will eventually be brought face to face with the Lord Jesus Christ. Certainly, men will be judged according to the light they were given, but to reject a little light is just as damning as rejecting a lot of light!

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Amen and amen...

Well stated and well said....

We are in complete accordance here

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

Well, are you sure?

Perhaps you need to reread that?

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Absolutely sure...

I have always believed this...

Well stated again...

(As there is no link I assume these are your words)

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

Many books, many links, many resources, a lifetime of them, but first of all, the Word of God.

Addendum:

2 Timothy 4:1-3

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom:
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.…
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires."

bahmer

Amen and Amen very good there Zemirah thanks for these words.

TexaCan Loc: Homeward Bound!

I do believe that this proves alien abduction......the real CD has been kidnapped and an alien has taken his place!

Rose42

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

I don't believe I've ever contested this..

And I do love how clear and well written it is...

It would take a pretty powerful transporter to beam me up

TexaCan Loc: Homeward Bound!

👍👍👍👍👍👍