THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD
1. When I conduct a Bible study with someone, I try to start with their beliefs.
2. Many times I have said to someone (in person and on the phone),
3. “Do you believe in God? Do you consider the Bible to be God’s word?”
4. “Do you believe that all people will spend eternity in heaven or hell?”
5. All these questions allow us to ask a concluding question.
6. If Hell really exists and people will really go there, who will be there?
7. What kinds of people will suffer unending punishment?
I HAVE HAD PEOPLE SAY TO ME, “HELL WILL BE FILLED WITH EVIL PEOPLE. HELL IS A PLACE FOR MASS MURDERERS OR AWFUL RULERS LIKE ADOLPH HITLER.”
a) This conclusion is consistent with the Scriptures.
b) We can be assured that some of the worst offenders the world has ever seen will be there.
c) Is Hell reserved for only this class of people or others too?
2) In the New Testament we find the word “unbelieving.”
3) A Christian male might be married to an “unbelieving” wife (1 Cor. 7:12).
4) Or, the situation might be reversed (1 Cor. 7:13).
5) Many of the unbelieving have their minds “blinded” (2 Cor. 4:4).
6) Moments ago I set forth what the New Testament says about eternity: there are only two choices.
7) Heaven or Hell are the only two locations where people can spend eternity.
8) Will an unbeliever be ushered into heaven or assigned the alternative destination?
9) Rev. 21:8 – READ.
10) Those who have the capacity to believe but choose not to will miss heaven.
a) Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith, we cannot please God.
b) Since an unbeliever does not have faith, he or she is not pleasing to God.
c) In addition to saying horrible criminals will be unsaved, we must also add atheists to the list.
11) Unbelievers and the very corrupt means a lot of people will be unsaved.
12) Will these two classes be the only ones permanently separated from God?
13) Let’s consider another group of individuals—perhaps the largest segment of the world’s population.
a) I will classify this group as “good people.”
b) We have all known people who were nice but not religiously inclined.
c) In this class we also have those who have embraced non-Christian faiths.
d) Others may have accepted some variation of Christianity.
e) Still others may have once been but Christians but have left the church.
f) Though away from the flock of God, they still try to be morally upright.
14) Will this large classification of “good people” be saved or lost?
15) Many look at this large group and they think at least some and very possible most of it will be saved.
16) We are not the judge. Jesus has been given that responsibility, Jn. 5:22.
a) If we listen to human wisdom instead of the Lord, here is what we hear.
b) First, a person may reason, “I am not that bad.”
c) “Not only am I lacking in bad characteristics, I am a pretty nice guy.”
d) It is as if people view their lives in terms of a scale that has 2 sides.
e) On one side there is a place for evil works (sins) and on the other side is a place for good.
f) Many seem to reason that their good done outweighs the evil.
17) From a human standpoint, our good may indeed outweigh the evil.
18) Since we are not the judge, we must ask if God bases salvation on our good being superior to our evil.
19) Here is what He says:
a) Tit. 3:5 – We are “not saved” by works of righteousness (good deeds).
b) Rom. 3:20 – By “works of law” we cannot be saved.
c) Rom. 3:28 – Justification comes by “faith” instead of “works.”
d) Eph. 2:8 – We are not saved by ourselves (i.e. our own actions).
e) 2 Tim. 1:9 – We cannot be saved by our own works.
20) God knows all about the idea of having more good works than sin.
21) Through the New Testament He has said, “it doesn’t work.”
22) No matter how little the evil and how much the good we might do, this method always fails.
TOO MANY PE0PLE MAKE UP THEIR OWN IDEAS ABOUT GOD AND SALVATION. IF WE TURN TO THE SCRIPTURES TO REALLY LEARN ABOUT GOOD, GOOD AND EVIL, WE SEE WHY HUMAN GOODNESS CAN NEVER MAKE UP FOR SIN.
a) Sin (evil) separates people from God, Isa. 59:1-2.
b) John put the matter a little differently in 2 Jn. 9.
c) John said the breaking God’s laws means that our fellowship with God is broken.
d) When our relationship with God is wrecked because of sin, there is only cure: obedience to Christ.
e) We can create the mess, but we cannot clean it up.
f) This is why Jesus said what He did in Jn. 12:47.
g) Jesus said to people, “I didn’t come to judge the world.”
h) Why not, Lord? Jesus knew the world was already condemned because of sin.
i) No matter how many good works were done, sin was destroying people.
j) Because the world was lost, Jesus said He came to bring salvation.
2) We need to remind ourselves of why people will be condemned.
3) No person will be condemned because he or she failed to be good enough.
4) Neither will condemnation come from not obeying obey the gospel.
5) Not obeying the gospel leads to condemnation, but it not the true cause for destruction.
6) People will be condemned for sin.
7) Sin is the reason for eternal punishment.
8) Atheists sin and so do well behaved people.
9) The most civilized people are guilty of sin.
10) Paul said in Rom. 3:10 and 23, that all are guilty; none is without fault.
11) If all are guilty and obedience to Christ is the only way to be pronounced innocent, we have a conclusion:
12) All guilty persons who have not been obedient to the Lord will not be in heaven with God.
13) This reinforces our conclusions about those who are very evil, atheists, and well moraled people.
14) It also helps us with another category of persons: those who have never heard.
a) One of the questions most at one time or another ask is, “What about those who are ignorant?”
b) Suppose a person is never exposed to the word sin or is never told about the true God?
c) Will God save him or her?
d) These questions are the wrong ones to ask.
e) No person will be denied salvation because they failed to hear about God.
f) Neither will someone be condemned because they never got a copy of the Bible.
15) Isaiah gave the basis for condemnation in Isa. 59:1-2 – it is sin that separates people from God.
a) Throughout the Bible we see that a lack of knowledge (ignorance) was not an excuse.
b) Pharaoh (Ex. 5:2) said this: “Who is Jehovah that I should hearken to His voice”?
c) Maybe Pharaoh really knew who the Lord was.
d) I am inclined that he was ignorant because Moses and Aaron did some explaining, Ex. 5:1.
e) Pharaoh lacked some knowledge but his ignorance didn’t help him.
16) The Psalmist prayed an interesting prayer in Ps. 79:6.
a) He asked for God to “pour out His wrath” on nations that “knew Him not.”
b) Unless the Psalmist prayed contrary to God’s will, here is a request for ignorant people to be punished.
c) Such was permissible because of sin.
d) Rom. 6:16 speaks of people “presenting themselves” unto one of two masters.
e) Those who are ignorant of Christ will certainly not present themselves unto God.
f) They present themselves unto “sin,” and Paul said the consequence of this choice is “death.”
g) Peter asked what will happen to them that “obey not the gospel” (1 Pet. 4:17).
h) Paul answered this question in 2 Thess. 1:8 – those who do not know will suffer punishment.
17) People from all kinds of backgrounds will be lost.
18) This is why in the great commission Jesus said this in Mk. 16:16: “He that disbelieveth…”.
a) Who are the “unbelievers”?
b) Atheists certainly qualify.
c) People with good morals are also in the classification of “unbelievers” (they are not obedient).
d) Those who have never heard must also be listed as unbelievers.
e) Jesus said a similar thing at an earlier time – Jn. 8:24 – without belief people die in their sins.
f) Even on the occasion in Jn. 8, Jesus told people what the true problem is: sin.
19) Another helpful text is Acts 4:12.
20) This is a well known passage, and it says that there is salvation in none but Christ.
21) If salvation can be found in good works, then salvation is through Christ and our own efforts.
22) If people who have never heard can be saved, salvation comes through Christ and ignorance.
23) If salvation can come through God’s love and Christ, salvation is not in Christ alone.
24) Salvation is only in Christ and we access it be obedience.
25) We live in a time when exclusivity is very unpopular.
26) On every hand there are calls for pluralism (we mix everything together and accept it all).
a) We cannot find this type of message in the New Testament.
b) All who are accountable are guilty of sin.
c) There is one specific remedy, and only one remedy.
d) People have two choices:
e) Learn what the problem is, find the only cure, take it as directed and live.
f) Ignore the problem or decide to treat it in some other way and die.
g) We have quack medical practitioners throughout the world.
27) Most of us have the sense to know that a witch doctor is not the right choice for medical care.
28) We want doctors who know their stuff and are qualified to handle problems.
29) In the spiritual realm there is only one physician who can cure man’s problem.
30) This is Jesus of Nazareth and the church He built nearly 2,000 years ago.
31) We accept Him on His terms or we will suffer a painful and unending eternity.
32) The sad news is that most of the world will be lost. Jesus said only a few will be saved.
33) He wants each one here to be part of that group that will be in heaven for eternity.
34) Have we accessed the salvation found in Christ and only in Him?