Buff Scott Jr.
Sophomore
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- Jul 31, 2023
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Let’s talk about the
Fate Of The Unreached
[Part II]
Fate Of The Unreached
[Part II]
The pagans in the first chapter of Romans were without special revelation. Nonetheless, God had revealed Himself to them through the things He created.
“Since what can be known about God was plain to them, because God had made it plain to them. 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 He has made, so that men are without excuse. For although they [pagans or Gentiles] knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him” (Rom. 1:18-21).
These Gentiles had been given a revelation, but not a distinctive revelation in the form of audible or written messages. They were exposed to the divine nature through God’s creation. They could have even glorified God and given Him thanks, but they chose not to. Although without a unique manifestation, they could have served God. God can be seen through created things. He communicates through His splendid handiwork, for “God’s handiwork declares His glory.” His invisible qualities are clearly seen in His visible creation.
Every mentally competent person who has ever lived has been able to find God, for “he has set eternity in the hearts of men” (Eccles. 3:11). All men, everywhere and in every age, have been divinely infused with an awareness of an intelligent Creator and of life after physical death. On that principle, I must conclude there have been many “unexposed” persons who were receptive to the “revelation of creation.” And those who sought God’s face, as limited as it may have been, and who “by persistence in doing good sought glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life” (Rom. 2:7).
Since God has never required the impossible in any age, it seems to me He will show mercy and grace to those who seek His face, regardless of the revelation under which they have lived or may be living. Note the qualification: Those who seek His face. This is the key.
The man in darkest Brazil who responds to the only revelation to which he has access—the revelation of creation, although unexposed to scripture and has never heard the name Jesus, is glorifying God and will therefore be delivered by His mercy and grace. God’s creation is the only revelation he knows. He responds to that revelation by trusting in a Supreme Being and giving thanks to Him, as the pagans in Romans could have done.
I suspect you recall the story of Cornelius, a Gentile, as recorded in Acts 10. Being a Gentile, he was not one of God’s covenant people, yet he is referred to as a “righteous and God-fearing man”—even before he knew about Jesus and the new Way. Cornelius needed additional light. God sent the apostle Peter who revealed a special Light to him and his household in the person of Jesus.
Needless to say, many “Corneliuses” have died without coming in contact with that special Light. I entertain no doubt but that they were acceptable to God, even if they were not His covenant people. To put it another way: Wherever there are people like Cornelius, there are people acceptable to God.
Regarding the account of Cornelius, I defer to my good brother in the Lord, Leroy Garrett, now deceased, whose views on Cornelius have savored my thoughts.
“Martin Luther’s parents died Roman Catholics. On one occasion, a friend asked him if he believed his parents would be saved in heaven. Luther answered affirmatively. His friend reminded him that he was now opposing Catholicism while believing his Roman Catholic parents would be saved in heaven. The friend goaded him for a clarification of the apparent contradiction.”
Luther explained that his parents were receptive to all the truth they knew or could know at the time, indicating that God does not require the impossible. Luther gave a sensible response. When anyone seeks God’s face and consistently strives to conform to the only revelation he has, God “will give him eternal life” (Rom. 2:7).
NEXT TIME— In Part III, we will evaluate what our Lord said about the unreached. You might be surprised how vividly and clearly He covered it. Look for it next time. Please hold your questions until you have viewed all Parts.—Buff.
“Since what can be known about God was plain to them, because God had made it plain to them. 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 He has made, so that men are without excuse. For although they [pagans or Gentiles] knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him” (Rom. 1:18-21).
These Gentiles had been given a revelation, but not a distinctive revelation in the form of audible or written messages. They were exposed to the divine nature through God’s creation. They could have even glorified God and given Him thanks, but they chose not to. Although without a unique manifestation, they could have served God. God can be seen through created things. He communicates through His splendid handiwork, for “God’s handiwork declares His glory.” His invisible qualities are clearly seen in His visible creation.
Every mentally competent person who has ever lived has been able to find God, for “he has set eternity in the hearts of men” (Eccles. 3:11). All men, everywhere and in every age, have been divinely infused with an awareness of an intelligent Creator and of life after physical death. On that principle, I must conclude there have been many “unexposed” persons who were receptive to the “revelation of creation.” And those who sought God’s face, as limited as it may have been, and who “by persistence in doing good sought glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life” (Rom. 2:7).
Since God has never required the impossible in any age, it seems to me He will show mercy and grace to those who seek His face, regardless of the revelation under which they have lived or may be living. Note the qualification: Those who seek His face. This is the key.
The man in darkest Brazil who responds to the only revelation to which he has access—the revelation of creation, although unexposed to scripture and has never heard the name Jesus, is glorifying God and will therefore be delivered by His mercy and grace. God’s creation is the only revelation he knows. He responds to that revelation by trusting in a Supreme Being and giving thanks to Him, as the pagans in Romans could have done.
I suspect you recall the story of Cornelius, a Gentile, as recorded in Acts 10. Being a Gentile, he was not one of God’s covenant people, yet he is referred to as a “righteous and God-fearing man”—even before he knew about Jesus and the new Way. Cornelius needed additional light. God sent the apostle Peter who revealed a special Light to him and his household in the person of Jesus.
Needless to say, many “Corneliuses” have died without coming in contact with that special Light. I entertain no doubt but that they were acceptable to God, even if they were not His covenant people. To put it another way: Wherever there are people like Cornelius, there are people acceptable to God.
Regarding the account of Cornelius, I defer to my good brother in the Lord, Leroy Garrett, now deceased, whose views on Cornelius have savored my thoughts.
“Martin Luther’s parents died Roman Catholics. On one occasion, a friend asked him if he believed his parents would be saved in heaven. Luther answered affirmatively. His friend reminded him that he was now opposing Catholicism while believing his Roman Catholic parents would be saved in heaven. The friend goaded him for a clarification of the apparent contradiction.”
Luther explained that his parents were receptive to all the truth they knew or could know at the time, indicating that God does not require the impossible. Luther gave a sensible response. When anyone seeks God’s face and consistently strives to conform to the only revelation he has, God “will give him eternal life” (Rom. 2:7).
NEXT TIME— In Part III, we will evaluate what our Lord said about the unreached. You might be surprised how vividly and clearly He covered it. Look for it next time. Please hold your questions until you have viewed all Parts.—Buff.