Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 4:50 pm Post subject: A question about the selectivity of God
I have a question. Is it only Christians who go to heaven? If so, then what about the buddhists, Taoists, Aboriginals and such that may have never even heard of Jesus, the one true God, or even heaven for that fact. I don't understand how they can be separated when they had no oppurtunity to see the light. Anyways, I'm sorry if this question is naive, I'm only 15 and this is y first day on these boards. Thank you
Godsend, your question isn't naive. There are many Christians that don't know what the Bible teaches on this. You are wise to question what you've heard (or imagine). Don't stop researching this until you find an answer that is both intellectually and spiritually satisfying.
From the perfect character of God, we may reasonably expect that God isn't going to condemn anyone for what they don't know and what they haven't heard. God will judge individuals on the basis of how they have personally received or rejected the light made available to them. According to the Bible, this light is abundant.
Quote:
Psalm 19:1-4
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
So, if the message of the heavens may be reduced to words (in whatever language), what do they say?
"The invisible things of Him [God] since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse" (Romans 1:20).
Thus, the glory, power, and divinity of God are clearly taught by the marvel of Creation itself; and Paul declared that men are without excuse who refuse to see the "power and divinity of God" which is continually being shouted in their ears by the whole glorious Creation.
Romans 10:11-18
As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
"Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world."
Paul in these verses is saying that Jews and Gentiles have equal access to God but that not all the Israelites accepted God's saving grace. Paul is emphatic that the Jews heard the gospel message and proves it by quoting Psalm 19:4.
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