What about-those-who-have-never-heard (1)

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WHAT ABOUT
THOSE WHO
HAVE NEVER
HEARD?
I
t’s one thing to say that those
who knowingly reject Christ
CONTENTS do so to their own loss. But
what about those who have
A Growing Argument never been told that Christ died
In A Shrinking World . . . 2
in their place? Is it possible that
Is Christ The Only God would deny heaven to them
Way To God? . . . . . . . . . 4 for not accepting a Savior they
What Can We Know had never encountered? How
For Sure?. . . . . . . . . . . . 13 could they be held accountable
How Can We for what they didn’t know?
Make A Difference?. . . . 22 These are hard questions that
Have You need more than theoretical or
Really Heard? . . . . . . . . 31 speculative answers. So with
millions of unreached people in
mind, we have attempted in the
following pages to understand
what the Bible itself says about
those who have never heard.
Martin R. De Haan II

Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Photo: Digital Stock
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas
Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.All rights reserved.
© 2002 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA

© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.


A GROWING never heard that Christ died
ARGUMENT IN for them.
The unfinished mission
A SHRINKING of reaching the world raises
WORLD troubling questions for those
who believe that Christ is

T
he global influence the only way to God.
of Christ is a fact of What about those who die
history. The impact without knowing? Could
of His life has gone far God possibly say to them,
beyond the streets and “I’m sorry, but you have not
neighborhoods of His accepted My Son”? If so,
homeland. will they cry, “But we never
In The History Of The knew that He did anything
Expansion Of Christianity, for us! How could we accept
Yale scholar Kenneth Scott what we never even heard?”
Latourette traces the These are important
influence of Christ down questions. They are so
through the centuries into significant that some who
our current era. He shows have heard about Christ say
that vast distances have that they could only reject
been covered and cultural a God who would judge
barriers have been crossed. people who didn’t believe
Around the world, Christ’s in a Savior they never
followers organized first to had a chance to accept.
meet their own needs and The debate over the
then reached out to others future of unreached people
in the far reaches of the has become more intense in
earth. Yet despite these the last couple of decades.
enormous accomplishments, Ironically, as the number
there are many who have of people who have never
2


heard about Christ seems Jesus, why can He not do
to be shrinking, a growing likewise for the unreached
number of theologians are person today who has no
wondering whether it is explicit knowledge of Christ
possible to be saved by but may believe in the One
Christ without hearing His who raised Jesus from the
name or His gospel. dead? (Rom. 4:23-24).”
By similar reasoning,
some appeal to the fact that
Would a good many Christians already
God hold people believe that God will apply
the death of Christ to infants
accountable for who die or to people with
what they have severe mental limitations.
never heard? They go on to suggest
that “evangelicals who
are lenient toward these
While believing that ‘innocents’ should extend
Christ is the only way to their reasoning further and
God, many think that it embrace ‘the untold.’ ”
might be possible to come As we take a closer
to God through Christ look, we do so with this
without ever hearing His confidence: If at any point
name. One advocate of this we find ourselves doubting
view says, “If the eternal God’s goodness or losing
God, who does not concern for those who
necessarily view time have never heard, then
sequentially, has applied we have not understood
Christ’s blood to people of the Scriptures or the
faith in the Old Testament heart of the God who
who have no knowledge of inspired them.
3


IS CHRIST similarities are only part
THE ONLY of the picture. Buddhism
claims enlightened thinking
WAY TO GOD? without making an issue

I
n this age of global of whether there is a God.
culture and pluralism, Hinduism teaches that
few issues raise more there are thousands of
questions than the claim by gods. Modern Judaism
Jesus’ followers that He is maintains that the long-
the only way to God. So awaited Messiah has not
before we take a closer look yet appeared.
at “those who have never
heard,” let’s look at the
biblical evidence for why “It is a stubborn
many continue to believe fact that
that personal faith in Christ non-Christian
is so important.
What about the religions are
similarities between radically different
Christ and other from Christianity.”
religions? Some have J. I. Packer
observed the parallels
between the teachings
of Christ and other world In general, other major
religions. His emphasis on world religions emphasize
treating others the way we the importance of human
want to be treated, while efforts to purify the soul.
seeking peace and purity By contrast, the gospel of
of soul, is not unique to Christ says that we can’t
the Bible. achieve cleanness of heart
Yet the comparative by our own works but only
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by relying on the forgiveness that Jesus had a right to
Christ bought for us when make such amazing claims
He paid for our sins on His about Himself.
cross. The uniqueness of Christ
Where in the Bible is carefully developed by
does it say that Christ another apostle in the first
is the only way to chapter of his letter to the
God? The apostle Peter Roman Christians living in
said of Christ, “Nor is there the pluralistic city of Rome.
salvation in any other, for Paul wrote:
there is no other name 1
Paul, a bondservant
under heaven given among of Jesus Christ, called to
men by which we must be be an apostle, separated
saved” (Acts 4:12). Peter to the gospel of God
didn’t come up with such 2
which He promised before
a conclusion on his own. through His prophets in
According to the gospel the Holy Scriptures,
writer John, Peter was with 3
concerning His Son Jesus
others who all heard Jesus Christ our Lord, who was
Himself say, “I am the way, born of the seed of David
the truth, and the life. No according to the flesh, 4 and
one comes to the Father declared to be the Son of
except through Me” (Jn. God with power according
14:6). to the Spirit of holiness, by
If it were not for the rest the resurrection from the
of His life, those few words dead. 5 Through Him we
would have been long have received grace and
forgotten. The entirety of apostleship for obedience
Christ’s life, death, and to the faith among all
resurrection, however, show nations for His name
why His followers concluded (Rom. 1:1-5).
5


In these opening educated in the doctrine
words, Paul identified some and theology of Moses, he
distinctives that he believed prayed daily with the rest of
set Christ apart from all his nation, “Hear, O Israel:
other religious founders. The The Lord our God, the Lord
gospel of Christ was deeply is one!” (Dt. 6:4). As a result
rooted in the predictions of of this training, Paul had
Old Testament prophets initially persecuted Jewish
(v.2). Even though the countrymen who followed
Jewish prophets didn’t know Jesus and declared that He
how it would happen, they was Lord and Messiah (Acts
pointed to a Messiah who 9:1-2). Only through a life-
would die a substitutionary changing encounter with
death for wrongs that were the risen Christ on the
not His own (Isa. 53:1-10; road to Damascus did
Dan. 9:24-26). Paul become convinced
Verses 3 and 4 refer that Jesus was both Savior
to additional factors that and God (vv.3-22).
distinguish Christ from In that moment, Paul
all other religious leaders. became one of the many
According to Paul, Jesus witnesses of Christ’s
was “the Son of God,” who resurrection—a resurrection
possessed both a human that distinguishes the gospel
and a divine nature. This of Christ from all other
was something that the faiths. If Jesus’ body had
apostle had once found remained in the grave
impossible to admit. All of after His death on a Roman
his religious training had cross, He would have come
made him suspicious of any to the same end as all other
religious idea that even religious teachers (see 1 Cor.
hinted of idolatry. Well 15:12-19). Instead, the
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evidence of an empty tomb, then to people of every
personal appearances, and other nation.
witnesses who were willing Could people be
to die for their claim that worshiping the true
they had seen Christ alive God but calling Him
after His death all combine by a different name?
to lead many to believe in Paul had so much
Christ as the King of kings confidence in Christ that
and Lord of lords. he told a group of Athenian
It is on the basis of such philosophers that the God he
evidence that Paul wrote: had come to know in Christ
I am not ashamed of the was the God they were
gospel of Christ, for it is worshiping in ignorance
the power of God to (Acts 17:16-33).
salvation for everyone This claim that people
who believes, for the all over the world have some
Jew first and also for knowledge of the one true
the Greek (Rom. 1:16). God (Rom. 1:18-21) has
Paul’s enthusiasm was been observed by others
rooted in the conviction who have brought the gospel
that the God of his fathers to previously unreached
had revealed Himself in a people. Don Richardson,
manner that now needed to author of Peace Child and
be declared to all the world. Lords Of The Earth, is
The apostle did not interpret known for finding ideas in
his experience merely as part other religions that can be
of his Jewish heritage. He used to introduce the God
believed that Christ had of the Bible. He tells of
provided a salvation that people living in an isolated
needed to be offered first to culture who, when told
his Jewish countrymen and about the life of Christ,
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quickly recognized the God put their faith in the one
of the Bible as the God they true God could find
had been waiting for. They forgiveness even though
told of traditions of a lost they didn’t have the whole
holy book and spoke of a gospel message as we
Creator from whom they know it (Heb. 11:1-40).
had been separated. When An example of a
the gospel was presented to repentant person who
such groups, the people didn’t have the whole gospel
responded warmly to the is one of the two thieves
message of Christ. who was executed along
Richardson’s with Jesus. The message of
observations suggest Christ’s death for sin and
that people in unreached His subsequent resurrection
cultures may have remnants had not yet been declared.
of knowledge about the But one of the thieves found
one true God that have mercy when he confessed
been passed down from his sins and asked Christ to
generation to generation. remember him when He
But what about those came into His kingdom. In
ancestors who died before response to the dying man’s
hearing about Christ? faith and his less-than-
Can a person be complete understanding of
saved without hearing the gospel, Jesus said,
the gospel? Here we must “Today you will be with Me
be careful. It’s important for in Paradise” (Lk. 23:43).
us to say as much as the What we know from this
Bible says without adding passage is that Christ offered
more. It’s clear that until “deathbed assurance” to a
the beginning of the church, man who acknowledged his
repentant individuals who own sin and asked the right
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Person for help. What we The problem with
don’t know for sure is to such a view is that it is
what extent we can apply not supported by some
this example to others of the most foundational
who recognize their sin biblical texts. Consider, for
and appeal to the one true instance, these well-known
God for mercy, even though words of Jesus:
they’ve never heard the full For God so loved the
gospel of Christ. This raises world that He gave His
another question. only begotten Son, that
Will God use the whoever believes in Him
death of Christ to should not perish but
forgive everyone? In a have everlasting life. For
desire to see everyone benefit God did not send His Son
from the salvation provided into the world to condemn
by Christ, some believe that the world, but that the
because of Christ’s death on world through Him might
the cross, God will eventually be saved. He who believes
forgive all people regardless in Him is not condemned;
of whether they have heard but he who does not
of Christ or whether they believe is condemned
have believed in the gospel. already, because he has
They go on to say that not believed in the name
because Jesus paid the price of the only begotten Son
for everyone’s sin, He could, of God. And this is the
on that basis, follow through condemnation, that the
on His own desire when light has come into the
He prayed from His cross, world, and men loved
“Father, forgive them, for darkness rather than light,
they do not know what they because their deeds were
do” (Lk. 23:34). evil (Jn. 3:16-19).
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Both Old and New Bible shows that God
Testaments follow this sacrificed His own Son to
pattern of offering spiritual assure that the balance of
forgiveness only to those justice was met, but He
who acknowledge their sin offers His mercy only to
and accept God’s terms those who are willing to
of forgiveness. come to terms with their
Our own systems of own wrongs.
justice follow a similar Why isn’t it enough
path. Little mercy is to be sincere? The
extended to hardened prophet Jeremiah, speaking
criminals who show no on behalf of God, wrote,
apparent conscience, “You will seek Me and find
remorse, or even Me, when you search for
acknowledgment of Me with all your heart” (Jer.
wrongdoing. Yet something 29:13). His words show
different happens to those
who come to terms with the
harm and pain they have “You will seek
caused others. When
justice allows, leniency Me and find Me,
can be extended within the when you search
boundaries of the law. Even for Me with all
when prison terms and
death sentences are legally your heart.”
mandated, there is a level of Jeremiah 29:13
human reconciliation that is
possible when individuals
show a willingness to face that an honest heart is
the harm they’ve done. important. Jeremiah clearly
In a similar way, the acknowledged that God
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honors those who seek Him seeking such to worship
with their whole heart. Him. God is Spirit, and
But honesty of heart is those who worship Him
only one part of the picture. must worship in spirit
From Genesis to Jesus, the and truth (Jn. 4:22-24).
Bible also shows that God
wants sincere people to
know the truth about Him. “God is Spirit,
The God of the Bible expects
something all of us can and those who
relate to. Just as we don’t worship Him must
want others to believe false worship in spirit
and dishonoring rumors
about us, so the God of the and truth.”
Bible insists that those who John 4:24
worship Him do so on the
basis of what is true.
Expressing His concern Here Jesus spoke of
that people worship God worshiping “in spirit” in the
in both sincerity and truth, sense that God is looking for
Jesus said to a skeptical, those who will respond to
non-Jewish woman: Him from their heart. But
You worship what you do He also said that God is
not know; we know what looking for those who will
we worship, for salvation worship Him in truth. That
is of the Jews. But the one word adds profound
hour is coming, and implications.
now is, when the true The requirement of truth
worshipers will worship can be both comforting and
the Father in spirit and deeply troubling. On one
truth; for the Father is hand, believing reliable
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information about God according to knowledge.
brings great assurance to For they being ignorant of
those who accept Him as He God’s righteousness, and
is. But that same knowledge seeking to establish their
can also fill us with deep own righteousness, have
concern for those who still not submitted to the
don’t have an adequate righteousness of God. For
understanding of what they Christ is the end of the
need to know. law for righteousness to
The apostle Paul’s letter everyone who believes
to the Romans shows that (Rom. 10:1-4).
he was heartbroken over Paul’s words in verse 3,
his countrymen who didn’t “seeking to establish their
understand that they needed own righteousness,” remind
to rely on God’s mercy us why everyone needs to
rather than on their own hear the gospel of Christ.
merits. Even though Jesus The Jewish family, friends,
Himself declared that and neighbors Paul cared
“salvation is of the Jews” so much about were not
(Jn. 4:22), Paul knew that much different than the
many zealous Jewish rest of us. We are all
worshipers were rejecting inclined to rely on our
the part of the truth they own accomplishments.
needed to be saved. So There is something within
the apostle wrote: all of us that believes we
Brethren, my heart’s desire deserve not only the good
and prayer to God for things God gives us, but
Israel is that they may be also His forgiveness and
saved. For I bear them eternal life.
witness that they have a
zeal for God, but not
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WHAT CAN Whom was Paul
WE KNOW most concerned
about? Instead of
FOR SURE? answering such questions,

I
magine asking the Paul showed that he was
apostle Paul the far more concerned about
question we are those who turn away from
considering in this booklet. what God has revealed
“Paul, what about those about Himself through both
who have never heard?” nature and His messengers.
What if we followed up The man who saw
with a second question: himself as “the apostle to the
“Paul, do you think it’s Gentiles” was concerned
possible for someone to about people of all nations
respond to the light he’s who, without intervention,
been given and to be would continue to run from
saved by Christ without the light of God. His letter to
ever hearing His name?” the Romans shows that he
If we use Paul’s letters saw all people, Jew and
to try to guess how he would Gentile alike, as entangled in
answer, we might conclude their own tendency to avoid,
that he would encourage us suppress, and deny the truth
to leave those answers in that was self-evident even in
God’s hands. He wrote as the natural world (Rom.
one who believed that God 1:18-21; 3:10-23).
would be a fair judge to all This universal
(Rom. 2:1-11), without tendency to deny personal
saying how God would deal accountability and error is a
with persons who respond in human trait that Paul did
faith to the light they’ve been not underestimate. What he
given. said about human nature
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seems to parallel a story that own choices (Gen. 3:12-13).
showed up in our local Thoughtful reflection shows
newspaper. It described the that we are all wrongdoers
actions of a couple of men who need the forgiveness of
who tried an unorthodox God.
method of trimming a row Paul saw all of
of bushes. Since they didn’t humanity in this category
have hedge clippers, they (Rom. 3:23). He was not
tried lifting a lawn mower content, however, to prove
and using it like a trimmer. the liability of guilty people.
Unfortunately, one man was Instead, the apostle was
seriously injured when he deeply concerned about
lost his grip on the mower. those who needed to
Their misfortune became a hear that Christ had died
part of the daily news when for their sins (Rom. 9:1-3;
the injured man tried to sue Phil. 1:12-18).
the manufacturer for failing Did Paul believe
to label the machine with a there was anyone who
warning against using it as had never heard? In
a hedge trimmer. Romans 10:18, the apostle
Blaming others for asked this question and
our own irresponsibility is then answered in a way that
something we all are inclined might surprise us. Instead of
to do—especially when it acknowledging that there
comes to our relationship were many who had not yet
to our Creator. Just as our heard the gospel of Christ,
first parents tried to shift he continued a theme that
blame after their first act of he began in chapter 1.
disobedience (Gen. 3:8), we Asking and answering his
are all prone to try to avoid own question, he wrote:
the consequences of our I say, have they not
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heard? Yes indeed: The heavens declare the
“Their sound has gone glory of God; and the
out to all the earth, and firmament shows His
their words to the ends handiwork. Day unto
of the world” (v.18). day utters speech, and
It’s important to see how night unto night reveals
Paul answered his own knowledge. There is
question. He didn’t write as no speech nor language
if there were a fairness issue where their voice is not
heard. Their line has gone
out through all the earth,
People of all and their words to the end
of the world (vv.1-4).
nations are By quoting these words
accountable not of King David, the apostle
for what they repeated here what he
emphasized in 1:18-21.
don’t know Once again he reminded his
about Christ but readers that the Creator has
for what they revealed enough of Himself
in the natural world to hold
do know and yet all people everywhere
turn away from. accountable for their lack
of heartfelt worship and
gratefulness (1:21).
at stake. Instead, he quoted Yet Paul didn’t use
from a Psalm that speaks of the truth of Psalm 19
the evidence God has left as an excuse to stop
of Himself in nature. In caring. Instead, he went
Romans 10:18, Paul referred on to write about his
to Psalm 19, which begins: own Jewish countrymen:
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Did Israel not know? result, Paul spent his life
First Moses says: “I will doing what he could to
provoke you to jealousy make sure that as many
by those who are not a people as possible heard
nation, I will move you to what God had done for
anger by a foolish nation.” them through the life, death,
But Isaiah is very bold and resurrection of Christ.
and says: “I was found by What did Paul
those who did not seek see as the greatest
Me; I was made manifest danger? In Romans 1:18-
to those who did not ask 25, the apostle wrote:
for Me.” But to Israel he The wrath of God is
says: “All day long I have revealed from heaven
stretched out My hands to against all ungodliness
a disobedient and contrary and unrighteousness of
people” (Rom. 10:19-21). men, who suppress the
If Paul believed that truth in unrighteousness,
someone could have saving because what may be
faith in response to natural known of God is manifest
revelation, that’s not where in them, for God has
he focused his attention. shown it to them. For
Neither did he use a lot of since the creation of
ink expressing fear that God the world His invisible
would not be fair in attributes are clearly seen,
judgment. Instead, the being understood by the
dominant emphasis of his things that are made, even
letters is on the tendency of His eternal power and
human nature to reject the Godhead, so that they are
God behind natural creation without excuse, because,
and to worship the creation although they knew God,
instead of the Creator. As a they did not glorify Him
16


as God, nor were thankful, of spiritual independence,
but became futile in their their children have inherited
thoughts, and their foolish an aversion to the truth.
hearts were darkened. Like nocturnal animals who
Professing to be wise, naturally avoid the light, all
they became fools, and of Adam’s children are born
changed the glory of the with an uncomfortable
incorruptible God into sensitivity to light.
an image made like
corruptible man—and
birds and four-footed Ever since Adam
animals and creeping
things. . . . [They]
and Eve started
exchanged the truth of down a path
God for the lie, and of spiritual
worshiped and served the
creature rather than the
independence,
Creator, who is blessed their children
forever. Amen. have inherited
Here Paul described a
process that could be
an aversion to
called “the death spiral the truth.
of human history.” By
their own choices, morally
responsible people end up All who inherit the legacy
worshiping creation rather of such human nature find
than the Creator. many ways to reject Christ.
Paul’s explanation is Not believing the gospel is
based on the Old Testament only one of them. The Lord
record that ever since Adam Jesus Christ is more than
and Eve started down a path the Messiah who died on
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the cross for our sins. He that in many different ways,
is also the Creator who is God has taken the initiative
constantly revealing Himself to reveal Himself and to
through the natural world receive those who respond
(Jn. 1:1; Col. 1:16-17). in faith to His messengers.
Here, though, we need
to consider an important
question. The Scriptures
Does the Bible say
there is more than one plainly state
way to accept Christ? If that before
Christ is not only the Savior Christ’s death on
who died for us but also our
Creator and Sustainer (Jn.
the cross, people
1:1-3; Col. 1:16-17), is it were accepted by
possible to accept Christ by God when they
receiving Him in any one of
the ways He reveals Himself?
responded in
Is bringing a repentant heart faith to what He
to our Creator the same as revealed to them
accepting Him as Savior if
we have no knowledge of
about Himself and
the gospel? about their sin.
The Scriptures plainly
show that before Christ’s
death on the cross, people Abraham is an example
were accepted by God when of someone who was saved
they responded in faith to not by hearing the gospel as
what He revealed to them we know it today, but rather
about Himself and about by believing God when He
their sin. Hebrews 11 shows promised to give him a child
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and a legacy in his old age example of this unfolding
(Gen. 15:5-6; Rom. 4:1-5; story is seen in the life
Heb. 11:8-19). of a Roman military officer
The author of Hebrews named Cornelius. In Acts
began his New Testament 10, he is introduced to us as
letter by saying that a devout man of prayer who
throughout history God feared God and gave to the
revealed Himself in many needs of others (vv.1-2).
times and in many ways One of the reasons that
(1:1-2). His point was that Cornelius is important to
all of this self-disclosure this study is that he is an
was moving toward the day example of a Gentile who
when His own Son would had not heard about Christ
step into history to reveal and yet was known by God.
the love of God and then He was called “one who
die for our sin (v.3). feared God” (v.2), which
At that point in time, was a term used of Jewish
the breaking news was that proselytes. So it appears that
the Creator Himself had he was a Gentile who first
personally visited our planet responded in faith when he
(Jn. 1:1-3,14). After Christ came in contact with the
died for our sin and rose God of the Jews. Then
from the dead to prove it, sometime after the death
He sent His followers out and resurrection of Christ,
into the whole world with an angel from God appeared
the message that God the to Cornelius in a vision and
Father had sent His Son said, “Cornelius! . . . Your
into the world, and that prayers and your alms have
all who believed in Him come up for a memorial
would be saved. before God” (vv.3-4).
A New Testament In the events that
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followed, the Scriptures gospel of Christ, some things
describe how God sent the are clear. We’ve already
apostle Peter to Cornelius seen that people will not
and his family. Peter be condemned because they
explained to the Roman have not heard about the
officer that the God he life, death, and resurrection
had been worshiping had of Christ. Those who are
revealed Himself in Christ. condemned will be judged
Cornelius and the rest of his because they have not
household heard Peter say, responded to what God
“To Him all the prophets has revealed about Himself
witness that, through His through conscience and the
name, whoever believes in eloquent witness of nature
Him will receive remission (Rom. 1:18-21; 2:12-16).
of sins” (Acts 10:43). In addition, it’s important
This is just one example that we don’t make the
of what is seen elsewhere in mistake of thinking that
Scripture. Cornelius shows all lost people will suffer the
God’s willingness to use same punishment. The Bible
supernatural means, if shows that even though no
necessary, to respond to one can earn his way to
those who want to know heaven, the rewards of
Him. believers (2 Cor. 5:10)
How will those who and the punishments of
have never heard the unbelievers (Rev. 20:13) will
gospel of Christ be be a matter of degree based
judged? While the Bible on works. Jesus Himself
does not tell us everything taught the principle of
we would like to know about judgment by degrees
how God will judge those when He said:
who have never heard the That servant who knew
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his master’s will, and did If this is our concern,
not prepare himself or do then we might also be
according to his will, shall troubled by the fact that
be beaten with many many people live with
stripes. But he who did profound mental retardation
not know, yet committed or disease that makes it
things deserving of stripes, impossible for them to hear
shall be beaten with few. and consider the good news
For everyone to whom of Christ. Others die at a
much is given, from him very early age. We all come
much will be required; into the world with differing
and to whom much has abilities and opportunities.
been committed, of him
they will ask the more
(Lk. 12:47-48). God’s love
Justice, by its very nature, must be just
calls for varying degrees of
reward or punishment. and His justice
What if we find must be loving.
ourselves struggling
with issues of fairness?
Some of us will undoubtedly Even among those who
find ourselves struggling do hear the gospel, there are
with the thought that God profound differences. Some
has not given everyone an hear clearly about the love
equal opportunity to hear of Christ from loving parents
the message of Christ. We or godly spiritual leaders.
may be deeply troubled by Others hear the message of
the fact that not everyone Christ from those who abuse
has had a chance to hear their power and exploit their
the gospel. followers.
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This is when, once again, HOW CAN
we must trust the Judge of
all the earth to do what is
WE MAKE A
right (Gen. 18:25). We don’t
DIFFERENCE?

A
have it within ourselves to s we consider the
resolve such problems. God question “What
alone knows how to deal About Those Who
with people in a manner Have Never Heard?” there is
that allows for the choices another important question:
they had in light of what What can we do to help
they knew or didn’t know others once we know what
about Him. Christ has done for us?
Thankfully, we are left
with more than just the
People desperately statistics about those who
need to hear that have never heard. There is
Christ died for much that we can do. Let’s
consider, for instance, four
them, that He practical ways we can
rose from the make a difference.
dead to prove it, By Praying For
Unbelievers. The first way
and that He offers we can make a difference is
forgiveness of sins by praying for those who do
and everlasting life not yet believe in Christ.
Once again we can learn
to all who will from the apostle Paul when
believe and he wrote:
trust Him. Therefore I exhort first
of all that supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and
22


giving of thanks be made brings honor to Him.
for all men, for kings and • “intercessions”—
all who are in authority, a word of involvement,
that we may lead a quiet sympathy, and
and peaceable life in all compassion for those
godliness and reverence. who do not know God.
For this is good and • “thanksgiving”—a spirit
acceptable in the sight of gratitude to God for
of God our Savior, who the saving gospel of
desires all men to be Christ that can be
saved and to come to the proclaimed to those
knowledge of the truth who do not know Him.
(1 Tim. 2:1-4). The apostle understood
Paul wrote this while the influence of government
giving counsel to a young on the mission of Christ. As
pastor named Timothy. In a result, he urged Timothy to
the process, the wise and maintain well-balanced
seasoned apostle described prayers both for leaders and
several kinds of evangelistic those living under authority,
prayers. We are to offer: so that the people of God
• “supplications”— “may lead a quiet and
prayers arising from peaceable life in all
a sense of need as we godliness and reverence.”
realize the desperate Then, almost as a
condition of the lost. surprising afterthought, Paul
• “prayers”—a general made the statement that
word for prayer that God “desires all men to be
conveys an attitude of saved and to come to the
awe and respect for knowledge of the truth” (v.4).
God, recognizing that What did Paul mean
the salvation of the lost by this comment? Was he
23


saying that all people will be compassionate desire will
saved because that’s what never override the human
God desires—even if they responsibility to respond.
don’t believe in Christ? God wants everyone to say
“yes” to Him, but many will
say “no” instead.
“For this is good As we pray, God wants
us to reflect His desire for
and acceptable in all people to be saved. He
the sight of God wants us to pray not only
our Savior, who for ourselves but also for
those who don’t yet know
desires all men Him, and for anything
to be saved and that would enhance their
to come to the receptivity to the gospel.
By Helping To
knowledge of Bring In The Harvest.
the truth.” The Lord Jesus spoke of the
1 Timothy 2:3-4 mission of world evangelism
in terms of the team effort it
takes to harvest a crop:
Such an interpretation Behold, I say to you, lift
would not fit the rest of what up your eyes and look at
Paul wrote. Instead, the the fields, for they are
apostle was referring to the already white for
heart of God. The God of harvest! (Jn. 4:35).
compassion wants His own The harvest truly is
people to live in peace. But plentiful, but the laborers
He also has a deep love for are few. Therefore pray
those who have not come the Lord of the harvest to
to know His Son. That send out laborers into His
24


harvest (Mt. 9:37-38). rise by day, and the seed
We are not called to should sprout and grow,
carry out His mission he himself does not know
alone. Bringing in the how. For the earth yields
harvest is a team effort crops by itself: first the
that God Himself is deeply blade, then the head, after
interested in. Therefore, He that the full grain in the
encourages us to look to head. But when the grain
Him for the additional ripens, immediately he
people and help that are puts in the sickle, because
needed to supplement our the harvest has come.
own prayers, interests, and This simple story reminds
efforts. And in the process, us that growth of the seed to
our Lord wants us to have maturity is similar to the
an attitude that is far more growing receptivity within
inspired than overwhelmed the heart of an unbeliever.
by the task before us. Responsiveness to the
Sowing The Seed. gospel takes time. As we
Mark 4:26-29 adds continue to think about
another word picture to those who have never heard,
the illustration of harvesting we need to remember that a
a crop, which helps us to person usually doesn’t
think in even more basic understand the gospel in
and strategic terms. one hearing. This gives us
Speaking of our role in reason not only to provide
bringing the gospel to our a one-time witness to our
friends, the Lord said: friends but to invite them
The kingdom of God is as into other environments,
if a man should scatter where over time they can
seed on the ground, and hear the good news of Jesus
should sleep by night and Christ in different contexts.
25


Working And Waiting. he doesn’t dote over the
In verse 27, Jesus reminded field. He attends to other
His followers that the sower responsibilities, trusting in
is not the one who brings time as his ally.
about new life. Rather, he As we share our life and
is one who “should sleep by faith with friends, time is our
night and rise by day, and ally as well. It often takes
the seed should sprout and time for nonbelievers to
grow, he himself does not begin to grasp what the
know how.” gospel means. Think of all
Time can be an ally the experiences you have
rather than an enemy to the gone through to develop
farmer. The growth process your values and current
occurs as he does what he view of the world. Yet
can and then waits on the sometimes we expect
normal processes of nature. unbelievers to change their
He goes home at night and entire outlook on life after
goes to sleep. Early in the hearing the gospel only
morning he rises and once. Most people need
takes care of other daily more time to come to an
responsibilities. As he waits, awareness of their need
the days turn into weeks and to a confidence in what
and the weeks into months. Christ has done for them.
During that time he Usually, the Lord of the
removes hindrances to the harvest takes time to
growth of his crop. He puts cultivate and grow such a
fertilizer on the earth to conviction in those who are
enrich its natural fertility moving toward Him.
and he removes stubborn Honoring The Source
weeds that rob the plants Of Growth. In verse 28,
of food and moisture. But the Lord said that “the earth
26


yields crops by itself: first illustrate the initial signs
the blade, then the head, of spiritual life within the
after that the full grain in human heart. A genuine
the head.” conversion is never just the
independent response of an
individual. At the heart of
the process is the convicting
Sometimes we and calling ministry of the
expect unbelievers Holy Spirit, who makes the
to change their Word come alive and stirs
the heart of the unbeliever.
entire outlook on God the Holy Spirit will
life after hearing germinate the seed of the
the gospel Word, though to us it looks
like it produces “all by
only once. itself.”
The ultimate sign of ripe
grain is the development of
The word translated the “full grain in the head.”
“by itself” is automatos If the farmer harvests too
(from which we get the word soon, he will have an unripe
automatic). This implies that crop. If he waits too long, it
good seed depends on good will rot in the field.
ground. The open heart Timing The Harvest.
is the good ground that Verse 29 continues, “But
produces fruit. The word for when the grain ripens,
“blade” refers to those first immediately he puts in the
appearances of a crop that sickle, because the harvest
indicate growth is taking has come.”
place. This process of Just as the plant shows
natural growth seems to the farmer when it’s ripe
27


enough to harvest, so need to hear again. But
unbelievers send signals that beyond our neighborhood
they are ready to respond. is a world of other fields,
In the ancient world,
when the farmer saw the
ripe grain beckoning to Reaching those
him from the field, he who have never
immediately ordered the
harvest to begin. heard begins with
This reminds us that as a down-to-earth,
we do our part by waiting caring interest in
on God, we also need to be
alert and sensitive to the those who are
right time to encourage the closest to us.
people to make a decision
to accept Christ. If we try
to force their decision, we other teams of workers,
can do damage. But if we and other strategies of
continue to show them outreach. Here too we
that we care, and look for have an important role.
times to ask appropriate By Developing A
questions, God Himself Global Perspective.
will give us the wisdom we Just before Jesus ascended
need to help them make the to heaven, He told His
most important decision of followers:
their life. You shall receive power
We’ve just been talking when the Holy Spirit has
about what we can do to come upon you; and you
help those within our own shall be witnesses to Me
sphere of influence who in Jerusalem, and in all
haven’t heard or who may Judea and Samaria, and
28


to the end of the earth Organizations have
(Acts 1:8). been set up to assist in
The cause of Christ sending a larger number
has been a global enterprise of missionaries to this very
from its beginning. The needy part of the world. By
strategy outlined by our giving, praying, or even
Lord is simple but not easy. going, you too can help
We are to depend on the accelerate this important
Holy Spirit’s power as we outreach to “those who have
witness to the life-changing never heard.”
claims of Christ. Some of us We care about these
will carry this out locally in people because all who have
our own sphere of influence not heard and all who have
(Jerusalem). Some of us heard without believing will
will extend our witness to eventually give account of
include a nearby region themselves to God.
(Judea). Others will go to By Trusting In
people of a different culture God’s Character. In
(Samaria). And still others the last book of the Bible,
will go to the “end of the the apostle John wrote:
earth.” Then I saw a great white
The largest concentration throne and Him who sat
of people who haven’t heard on it, from whose face the
the gospel of Jesus Christ are earth and the heaven fled
located in a part of the away. And there was
world often referred to as found no place for them.
“The 10/40 Window”—a And I saw the dead, small
region 10 degrees to 40 and great, standing before
degrees north of the equator, God, and books were
stretching from West Africa opened. And another book
to East Asia. was opened, which is the
29


Book of Life. And the dead be rewarded according to
were judged according to their faithfulness (1 Cor.
their works, by the things 3:12-15; 2 Cor. 5:10), and
which were written in the unbelievers will be given
books. . . . Then Death appropriate punishment for
and Hades were cast into
the lake of fire. This is the
second death. And anyone Once human
not found written in the
Book of Life was cast into independence
the lake of fire (Rev. has been looked at
20:11-12,14-15). under the blinding
A loving, all-wise God is
the only One who has the searchlight of God’s
character to carry out such scrutiny, all will
judgment. He alone knows realize they have
all that we could have done
and all that we actually did. been treated fairly.
He alone understands the
mitigating circumstances of
each act. And He alone is a the lives they have led (Rev.
God of complete justice as 20:13). Eternal life can be
well as mercy. received only as a gift,
Once human but both believers and
independence has been unbelievers will be held
looked at under the blinding accountable to God for how
searchlight of God’s scrutiny, they responded to Him.
all will realize they have
been treated fairly.
In their own moment of
accountability, believers will
30


HAVE YOU standard of righteousness
REALLY HEARD? (Rom. 3:23). The terrible
consequence of this is that

W
hen we were we are separated from a
children, many holy God (Rom. 6:23).
of us heard But the Bible also says
frustrated parents asking that because of God’s deep
if we really heard their compassion for us, He
reminder to finish an
unwanted chore. We may
have claimed to have heard, “All have sinned
but our attitude and actions
said otherwise. and fall short
As you have read this of the glory of God
booklet, you may have . . . . For the wages
thought about your own
response to the gospel. of sin is death, but
Have you heard it? And if so, the gift of God is
how have you responded? eternal life in Christ
It’s easy to put off
making a decision. And this Jesus our Lord.”
becomes an even greater Romans 3:23; 6:23
tendency when eternal
consequences are at stake.
But God wants us to make became a man and allowed
a decision about His Son. Himself to be nailed to a
The gospel is a simple cross to pay the penalty for
but heart-penetrating truth. our sin (1 Pet. 3:18).
The Bible tells us that all of It’s not enough just to
us have sinned and fallen know these great truths.
short of God’s perfect We must respond to them
31


by personal choice. The Jesus Christ has come into
Scriptures tell us, “As many your life and given you the
as received Him, to them gift of eternal life (1 Jn. 5:12-
He gave the right to become 13). Can you think of
children of God, to those anyone you’d like to share
who believe in His name” your new discovery with?
(Jn. 1:12).
Will you respond to
this spiritual light God has “He who has the
placed before you? Right
now you can go to God in
Son has life; he
prayer and express the who does not have
desire of your heart. Receive the Son of God
the Savior’s forgiveness and
His gift of eternal life with
does not have life.
Him. These things I have
It can be expressed in written to you who
a simple prayer like this:
Jesus, I know I’m a
believe in the name
sinner and can’t save of the Son of God,
myself. Thank You for that you may know
dying on the cross to pay
the penalty for my sin. I
that you have
receive You as my Savior eternal life.”
and Lord. Take control of 1 John 5:12-13
my life and make me the
kind of person You want
me to be. Remember, there are people
Did you pray that prayer? all around you who still
Were you sincere? If so, you haven’t heard the saving
can have the assurance that gospel of Jesus Christ.
32

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