Not Hearing The Word, Salvation?

" Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Here is a question that comes up from time to time. I have dealt with it MANY times over the past 25 plus years I have been a Child of God. It comes in three forms;

1 - An honest question.
2 - An attack
3 - An excuse and ticket to Sin

We are going to attempt to answer this question, in all it's forms, today..

"What about those that never heard of Jesus? What about all those people that have been born and died, never hearing the Gospel of Christ? Are you saying that they are in Hell? Seriously. You say, that Jesus is the only Way. You say without Jesus there is nothing. You say that without accepting Jesus, you can in no way, enter into Heaven. There is no other way. SO? You must be saying that anyone, including those that have never heard of Jesus, must be burning in Hell. Right?

First, I will give you the cop out answer. Only God knows what is in the heart of man. Only God decides who enters into Heaven, and who does not. Now this is true. But it really does not answer the question.

Answer two. The Word declares...

"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! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."{Romans 10:13-17}

Some argue that since The Word declares "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?" It is not possible to believe in that of which you have not heard, so then, it would stand to reason that they who have not heard, are not lost, or Sinners, for they know not what they do, so they must be Saved by default. Well, if that is the case, then why tell anyone the Truth?

Seriously think about this. If it were true that those that never hear the Gospel, are saved out of their ignorance, then we should never tell them. By telling people the truth, there is only one way to be saved, then what we do is convict them and condemn them to Hell, if they do not believe after they have heard. It would be better to keep Jesus a secret so that they may live however they chose and simply go to Heaven unjudged by the Truth.

But that is not the correct answer either. The The Word declares...

"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. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things." { Romans 1:18–23}

What does this mean? The way they know God is by the way God has made the world and their own consciences. We have an inherent knowledge of God, Right, Wrong, Good , and Evil. We are the choices we make.The problem is that the Human Race is Sinful. We all reject this knowledge of God and rebel against Him if we live for the Flesh. If it were not for God's grace, we would be given over to the Sinful desires of our Hearts. He does this for those who continually reject Him.

Now, let's go back to that cop out answer. It is true that only God knows what is in our hearts. He is the only one that calls us out.

"God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." {1 Corinthians 1:9}

It is written..

"For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth." {Romans 9:15-18}

Jesus Himself said this...

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you."{John 15:16 }

And also this...

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."{John 6:44}

God chooses who He will. Does this mean some He chooses NOT to Save. Yes. Why? I'm not God. But think of this. As we just read, He said to Pharaoh, "Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up," and think about this. Jesus chose Judas, knowing that it would be him that betrays Him.

It was Jesus that chose Peter on the Fishing Boat. It was Jesus that chose Matthew at the Table of Customs. It was Jesus that chose Saul, yet rather Paul, on the road to Damascus. They were not looking for Him. They were going about their lives and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, here comes Jesus calling them out, and saying "Follow Me."

He is still doing this today. He is calling you out, saying "Follow Me." You didn't find Jesus. You would have no idea where to even look. You would not be able to find God. God chose you. You are a Child of God, because HE chose you to be.

Think about this also. If someone comes to you and asks you "What about those that have never heard of the name Jesus???" They have. See, THEY have heard the name Jesus so they are asking you "for someone else." but the truth is, they are really looking for an excuse to NOT follow that of which THEY have heard and want you to justify them and their lives.

You see, it is a nice picture. Little boy living on the top of a mountain somewhere, raised up never hearing the Word, or of Jesus, or whatever. Then he grows old and dies, and is swept into Heaven because of his ignorance and never loses his innocence. It's a nice concept. But it is not true.

If God wants to use this little boy, He will send a Church Camping trip to the top of the mountain. Or the little boy, when grows, will come off the mountain. Or God will speak to him through a Dream, or an Angel, or a burning bush, or whatever. God will call out whom He will. He will NOT, whom He will..

"Are you saying my sweet little old Grandma, who never believed in Jesus, is not in Heaven right now?" Well, that is a totally different question. See, Jesus said this...

"He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." {John 12:44-48}

Jesus also said this...

"If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause."{John 15:22-25}

Clearly YES. If someone hears of Jesus and the Works He did, and believe in Him not, they are NOT going to Heaven. There is no arguments, no question. No gray areas. This is an absolute.

"But that is a narrow minded and hateful view of God. You are saying that no one can get to Heaven unless they go through Jesus." Not me. God says this. Jesus says this. It is an absolute. There is no other way Once you hear of Jesus and see Jesus, the choice is yours..

"Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth." {John 9:41}

The bottom line is simple. Everyone inherently knows that there is a GOD. They know Good and Evil. Right from Wrong. They chose which path they take. If God calls them out, HE will lead them to Jesus. Then it is up to them to accept or reject. It is up to them to receive the Blessing or the Curse.

Again, if it were true that those that never hear of Jesus are Saved by default, then there is no reason to share the Gospel. But God gave us the Great Commission.

"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." {Matthew 28:18-20}

Our part in the Great Commission isn’t just about getting people to say a Prayer. It’s also about “teaching them to observe all that [Jesus] commanded.” Baptism is a one-time event. Teaching takes a lifetime. We’re talking about lifelong dedication to obey the Lord and teach others to obey him, too.

If people that never heard of Jesus were Saved by default, this would not be needed. If this were not needed, then we would not have been commanded to do so. But ultimately, the decision of whom to call, is God's to make..

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord..