

                      WHY WE BELIEVE IN GOD'S LOVE

   In today's world, believers are constantly beset by non-believers  with
questions.  One of the most  prominent  of these  are "What happens to people
who never hear of Christ - are they condemned to Hell by God?" or something
to  this effect  is asked.  I have many times fielded this  question and
relied  on  the  teachings of other  apologist  as  my answer,  usually  to
the  effect that  "God  is  shown  as merciful  and  love  and would not
condemn anyone  for  not hearing of His Son's name".

   This answer,  as good as it is,  does not really explore all the facets of
the question.  The question of  innocence is  implied  in the question,  and
this matter is not  delt with.

   In my prayer before studing for this lesson, I asked the Lord  to  assist
me in finding the answer  that  would  be applied  to  questions of this
nature.  I believe  that  He answered  this prayer in directing me to Romans
1.  I  have read this section many times, but this time verses 18 to 21
really  became "alive" and jumped at me.
Lets read  Romans 1:18-21  *** READ ***

   Here  we  have Paul actually telling us  the  answer  to these  questions
in more detail than most questioners could have  imagined.  The WRATH OF GOD
is not  directed  against innocence  or ignorance but is directed against (1)
ungod liness and (2) wickedness.

   What  is  the specific act of ungodliness that  provokes the WRATH OF GOD?
- Supressing the truth! What Truth? Let's look at verse 19-21.

   Here we have what is referred to as a General Revelation and  is  general
in character by its content  and  by  its audience.  Content because it does
not provide specific  or detailed  description of God - the TRINITY is not
revealed here,  etc.  God  reveals  that  (1) HE IS and (2)  HE  HAS ETERNAL
POWER AND DIETY.

   The  audience  is  general in that  this  revelation  is directed to all
mankind and not to a specific group.


                             WHAT IS REVEALED?
1.  It  is CLEAR and unambiguous - the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD  IS NOT OBSCURE!
    "It has been shown (manifest) to them -19-"
    "It  has been clearly perceived (seen)
     by all mankind -20-"
2. The message GETS THROUGH-
   God  never provides an insight into Himself that may  or may  not be
   received.  These verses show "THEY KNEW  GOD [21]."  Our  problem is not
   that we don't KNOW  GOD  but that  we refuse to acknowledge what we DO
   KNOW to be  of God.
3. We  find  the  revelation  has been  (and  is  and  will continue  to  be)
   going on sice the foundation  of  the world  - not a ONCE FOR ALL
   situation but CONTINUAL  and CONSTANT -20-
4. The revelation comes by way of creation. God's invisable nature is
   revealed "through the things that are made"  -in  other  words all of
   God's creation is a  theater  to display the nature of its creator.
5. It is sufficient to render ALL MANKIND "without excuse".  What EXCUSE was
     Paul addressing"
     What excuse could this general revelation eliminate?  IGNORANCE

   In the "SHORTER CATACHISM",  the Roman Catholics have  a doctrine  of
VINCIBLE AND INVINCIBLE  IGNORANCE".  Vincible ignorance "Could and should be
overcome and is inexcusable" while  INVINCIBLE  "cannot be overcome  and  is,
therefore excusable"

           **** PARABLE OF TRAFFIC TICKETS ****
                     (Teacher's note:
  I use a story of driving into XXXX town and turn right on a  red light and
I am pulled over by the police of XXX town and given a ticket - this is
Vincible ignorance in that  by driving my car into XXX I should have become
aware of their traffic laws,  etc.  Now if XXX's town council had secretly
passed  a law that made it against the law to go through an
intersection   on  a  "green"  light  then  I  would   have INVINCIBLE
ignorance  and  not be liable to  the  law  for violation of that law"

   I  believe  that this doctrine is a  valid  and  correct interpretation
of what God intends for mankind.  A  person may  be  excused for not hearing
the name of Christ but  he will not be excused for claiming to not know God.
 WHAT ABOUT THE NATIVES WHO WORSHIP GOD AS SOMETHING ELSE?  Cows, Totem

   Poles, Idols or other forms are addressed in the  remaining  verses of 22-
25 and given  concise  answer.  Pagan  religions are not derived from a
sincere  or  honest attempt  or  search to find the "ONE AND TRUE GOD"  but
is created  out  of  a  fundamental rejection  of  God's  self revelation.
                     READ ROMANS 2:15

   Here  we have "Law written on their hearts".  What  does this  mean  to
you?  Mankind is ALWAYS  devising  laws  and "ethics"  - and man is always
breaking them.  These are the laws  that Paul mentions here.  Every group
discovered  has developed  social laws of right and wrong.  Where  do  they
come up with these "universal" laws - from their hearts and what they
perceive from God's creation.

   Therefore,  a  man in the remote parts of the world will NOT be condemned
for never hearing of Jesus. He will not be punished  for  that  - he will
stand on  judgment  for  the rejection of the Father and the DISOBEDIENCE to
the laws in his own heart.

   If  all men have heard of the Father but  rejected  Him, then it follows
that all men need to know of the redemption offered  through CHRIST.  To have
no knowledge of Christ is to  be  in  jeporady  due to  he  prior  rejection
of  the revelations of the Father. To hear of Christ and reject HIM is a
state of DOUBLE JEPORADY. Now, not only has the Father been rejected, but the
Son as well!

   Now the meaning of the "TWO-EDGED" sword is deepened. To those who believe
on the Son and the Father finds the sword "sweet with victory" while those
who reject God and His Son find the sword DEATH.
                   READ ROMANS 10:14,15

    Now  we  find  in these verses that (1) No Man  is  not aware  of God the
Father and the fact that He is  invisible (2)  that  He  is the creator of
all things  and  (3)  that mankind ALWAYS operates by some set of laws that,
at their foundation closely resemble God's laws of right and  wrong.  It  is
these laws that a man will violate and thus  be  in loss  of His soul --- BUT
we are told by verses 14,15  that it is OUR duty to see to it that THEY DO
HEAR. We must SEND preachers  (missionaries)  into their midst (if we are
not the missionary being sent)!  In Ezekiel,  we have the story of  the
watchman and the admonition that "if  the  watchman seeth  the sword coming
and calls not a warning -- the loss of  their  blood shall beupon  the
watchman's  head".  Our responsibility and our duty ot Jesus,  our Lord, is
to make certain,  within the abilities given us by God,  that every tongue
shall hear of our Lord.

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