Kokoebapluse: Surely there is life after death. All proof it, but many will regret why they let this world decive them, hell is real heaven is really.
If you die in pagan way ( Jews, christain, Hindu, budah, Samaritan, Rastafarian, Zoro,) you are going to hell, only in Islam you have garranty of heaven.
Muhammad himself is already in hell not just for his atrocious acts of massacres committed but also for inspiring terrorism, intergenerationally.
Ok, here is what i mean, when you Die, u incarnate into another body and voila! You're born again, into another family, place and maybe even a different country or planet all together. But if in any case you have an unfinished business/didn't complete the tax assigned to you by the almighty, then you reincarnate, into the same family. That's how the world goes..... There is nothing like a burning furnace where sinners burn for eternity, that line as used in the bible is only a figure of speech which is wrong to interprete directly.
I understand all these you've explained but what made me ask that question was the part you talked about the rich, the poor and the very poor. I got confused there.
Ynsai: Nothing! Like all beings including animals, Muslims, Christians and non-religious... we all die and that is the end of it. You people should stop fantasising about your imaginary after life.
don't be in a haste to say after life is imaginary. first ponder how life even come about, whether God or no God
MostHated: Mehn! Whoever came up with this whole idea of religion is the greatest strategist to ever exist! Works perfectly! Multi-trillion dollar industry. Tax free!
religion is not the problem. how life begun is what drives religion and other reasoning. stop a while and think about how life begun, God or no God
NPComplete: So who did God have tell Africans about Him? who are the witnesses God left for Africans so that they will be saved before Christianity came? Orunmila and Amadioha?
Instead of u to admit u don't know the answer to what happens to people who died before Christianity and leave it to God, u just decided to wing it and throw about a bunch of meaningless Bible verses that cannot withstand logic, abi?
PRESENTATION: They will die and burn in hell for life, it isn’t possible not to have heard about the good yahweh in all your life, I have a Church very close to my house now and I’m listening to the word of god also.
Ok, ok, since you have already made up your mind that you won't get anything from here, could you please direct your energy to other threads and later comeback to show proofs of response. We have over a thousand threads on Nairaland, so why so particular about this one.
Why does Sunnis kill Shia, you have started again and when people start exposing your blood thirsty religion and its Pedeaphilic founder you will start hunting for who to BOMB AND STAB.
uthlaw: the likes of adam,Eve, Abraham,Moses,noar, Joseph exist before the coming of Jesus (Isa)are they going to hell...all of them worship one God through the religion of Islam....which part of Christianity did Jesus belong because your means of worship is totally different and you condemn each other....from Catholic to Pentecostal to Jehovah witness,which one did Jesus belong for we to know which one to follow,you don't go to each other churches!
TommyAnthem: Ok, ok, since you have already made up your mind that you won't get anything from here, could you please direct your energy to other threads and later comeback to show proofs of response. We have over a thousand threads on Nairaland, so why so particular about this one.
You could be of help too. Aren't you a human? A Nairalander?
I understand all these you've explained but what made me ask that question was the part you talked about the rich, the poor and the very poor. I got confused there.
ok, you see, the conditions we find our self in our present life is determined by how we lived our previous life. Every good or bad we find our self in today is a payback of what we did to others in our previous life.
Sometimes we feel life is unfair to us, sometimes we wonder why we are suffering everyday while someothers party day and night, sometimes we wonder if we really deserve what we are getting, sometimes we feel the world is just being wicked, but the truth is, the universe is plain justice...... All we are facing today is as a result of what we did in our previous life, as they say "what goes around, comes around" the way you treat others now is how you'd be treated later.
I am appalled to discover that there are still educated people who regard God as a myth and The Bible as a fiction, even with all the evidences everywhere! The Hour is fast approaching and the day of The Lord will be a day of great disaster which has never happened before or ever after it for the unbelievers.
Have you ever wondered how God will judge those who died before Jesus came? Especially the people who never had the opportunity to hear about Him at all?
Today we will see how God being a just God, in his wisdom made plans for those who never had the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross. If you are ready, get your Bible, note and pen and let’s dive into the Word together. Let me start by stating categorically clear that JESUS is the ONLY way to God. No man at any time anywhere, can come to God except through Him. By coming to God here I mean no man can be saved from sin and it’s penalty (Hell) except through faith in Him and His sacrifice for sin.
Knowing this, we do not relent in our efforts to see the whole earth covered with the knowledge of the Gospel of Christ even as water covers the sea. We take the gospel to all kinds of people everywhere, proclaiming “Jesus their salvation, is here!”
Having made that clear, let us address the question, “what will happen to those who died without hearing about Jesus?” (I will like you to pay a careful attention here as we see this from the Bible together)
“For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Rom 2:12-16)
From the scriptures we just read, we see that those who died before the coming of Christ shall be judged by Jesus on the last day. And they will be judged for the following reasons:
1.They Had The Demands Of The Law By Nature Written In Their Hearts As a Witness Even though they may never have heard the name Jesus directly spelt out to them, they had the righteous demands of the Law of God which was supposed to produce Faith towards God and His Salvation written in their hearts.
“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal 3:23-24)
With this Law written in their hearts, their conscience ruled their actions and inactions. By condemning them almost everytime, their consciences completely exposed their weakness as man to them to the end they might reach out to God by Faith alone for help (Salvation). And since God has no other salvation to offer man than His Son Jesus, by exercising Faith in God for Salvation, they have also exercised faith in Jesus though without having a full knowledge of Him.
[i]Does this mean those who never heard of Jesus will be saved if they lived according to the dictates of the Law, following their conscience? [/i]Not at all. If they ever get saved by obeying their conscience’s rules and regulations 100%, then salvation by works is possible. However, the Bible is clear that salvation can only be gotten by faith and not by works.
The essence of the human conscience is actually not to help us achieve salvation by our works. It is rather there to judge our actions and point our glaring weaknesses and need for a saviour outside of us to us. It is from this need that Faith was supposed to rise up from our hearts towards that Saviour who in this case is God.
Again, the human conscience just like the Law, was given to point out our need for a Saviour to us. On it’s own, following our consciences cannot justify us before God. Only faith in the one our consciences point to can justify us.
2. Natural Things Witnessed To Them About God
[b]“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” (Rom 1:18-25)[/b]
“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Rom 1:32)
Natural things, the whole of creations, testify of the existence of a creator who only have the power to save the world from death. This creator apostle John tells us, is the Word who Himself is also the Christ. God in Christ (the creator) left these created things as witnesses to point to Himself. Man was supposed to look at them and learn of His existence. Having known of Him from the works of His hands (creations), they were to put Faith in Him (not the creations now) for justification.
“Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” (Act 14:14-17)
From the above scriptures, we see that God being a just God, never left Himself without a witness on the earth. So on the day of judgement, no man would claim to have never known of His existence as God and the saviour of the world. Although they may never have had a full understanding of the gospel like we have today, they cannot claim to be completely ignorant of Him. In Acts 17, we see Paul in Athens explaining this powerful truth to the Athenians.
“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.” (Act 17:22-23)
In the place we just read, Paul acknowledged that even without having heard of the Gospel fully, the Athenians worshipped God. Although in a very wrong way. So they were not saved, even though they worshipped God. And the reason for them not being saved is because they did not worship Him by Faith alone but by various rituals and works of their flesh (including idolatry) It was from this ignorance (their wrong way of worship) that Paul encouraged them to turn from to Faith alone in God’s Salvation (Christ)
“Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Act 17:29-31)
What if they had followed after God completely by Faith alone, then they would have been like Enoch, Abel, Noah and lots of Old Testament folks who despite the fact they never heard about Christ in full not met Him physically, sought after Him by complete faith in God. Hebrews tells us that by that faith they had in God for salvation, they were said to have believed in His Christ and were righteous before Him.
3. God Have Always Had A Man Tell Others About Him In Almost Every Generation
In almost every generation of men, God have always had at least one man who had a little glimpse of Him and told others the same. Even before the Law was given and before the birth of Jesus. He has never left Himself without a human witness also regardless of how little light that person may have had of Him.
Now while we may not be able to trace who it was in all the generations of our forefathers that had a little knowledge of God, we can always look at the scripture and see this principle at work. For instance, in the first generation of men it was Adam, then Abel, Enoch, Noah, Lot, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and his brothers, Moses, Joshua, the Judges, Samuel, David, the prophets and so on till John the baptist.
There was always a man who either went around talking about God or stayed in one place and had kings and people from different nations come from far to hear about God from their lips. These people always go back to where they came from with the news of the God who made the heavens and the earth.
God is so just He never left Himself without a witness in almost every generation. So those who did not believe in Him from ages past will actually have no excuse before Him. Before ever the Law came, men like Enoch, Noah, Lot, Abraham and the rest have in one way or the other, spoken about God to individuals and kings of their generations. See below scriptures.
ENOCH “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jud 1:14-15)
NOAH “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.” (2Pe 2:5)
LOT “And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.” (Gen 19:14)
From this study in the scriptures, we see that God is going to judge all men including those who died before the coming of Christ by Jesus. Those who through the witnesses that God has left for Himself on the earth trusted in Him for Salvation, will be saved. Those who did not exercise Faith in Him regardless of how good and sincere their actions were, will be condemned. Seeing that God has left us as His witnesses today on the earth, we do everything within our power to let the whole world know of this Gospel which is the power of God to save even the greatest sinner.
Those who trusted in God for salvation before the coming of Christ shall be saved because the blood of Jesus also took care of their sins. But those who did not, will perish alongside those who rejects the Gospel today.
What about billions of muslims world wide who have heard about Jesus but vehemently refused to accept him as their lord and Savior will all of them also be going to hell?
uthlaw: the likes of adam,Eve, Abraham,Moses,noar, Joseph exist before the coming of Jesus (Isa)are they going to hell...all of them worship one God through the religion of Islam....which part of Christianity did Jesus belong because your means of worship is totally different and you condemn each other....from Catholic to Pentecostal to Jehovah witness,which one did Jesus belong for we to know which one to follow,you don't go to each other churches!
When important people are talking you M0HAMEDIAN GO PUT MOUTH, ACCUSERS OF THE BRETHREN, SHATAN HIMSELF... BACKOFF!
YOU BETTER GO AND LOOK AT HOW TO MANAGE THE MESS YOUR FALSE PROPHET DID AND WROTE ... AND STOP BUSY BODY.
In My church The Church of Jesus Christ of Later day said we Baptise for the dead, proxy baptism..Christ went to spirit world to commission the preaching of the gospel to those who never had the opportunity to believe in God or hear of God...That was why Jesus Chris said touch me not for i have not yet ascended unto my Father
Have you ever wondered how God will judge those who died before Jesus came? Especially the people who never had the opportunity to hear about Him at all?
Today we will see how God being a just God, in his wisdom made plans for those who never had the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross. If you are ready, get your Bible, note and pen and let’s dive into the Word together. Let me start by stating categorically clear that JESUS is the ONLY way to God. No man at any time anywhere, can come to God except through Him. By coming to God here I mean no man can be saved from sin and it’s penalty (Hell) except through faith in Him and His sacrifice for sin.
Knowing this, we do not relent in our efforts to see the whole earth covered with the knowledge of the Gospel of Christ even as water covers the sea. We take the gospel to all kinds of people everywhere, proclaiming “Jesus their salvation, is here!”
Having made that clear, let us address the question, “what will happen to those who died without hearing about Jesus?” (I will like you to pay a careful attention here as we see this from the Bible together)
“For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Rom 2:12-16)
From the scriptures we just read, we see that those who died before the coming of Christ shall be judged by Jesus on the last day. And they will be judged for the following reasons:
1.They Had The Demands Of The Law By Nature Written In Their Hearts As a Witness Even though they may never have heard the name Jesus directly spelt out to them, they had the righteous demands of the Law of God which was supposed to produce Faith towards God and His Salvation written in their hearts.
“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal 3:23-24)
With this Law written in their hearts, their conscience ruled their actions and inactions. By condemning them almost everytime, their consciences completely exposed their weakness as man to them to the end they might reach out to God by Faith alone for help (Salvation). And since God has no other salvation to offer man than His Son Jesus, by exercising Faith in God for Salvation, they have also exercised faith in Jesus though without having a full knowledge of Him.
[i]Does this mean those who never heard of Jesus will be saved if they lived according to the dictates of the Law, following their conscience? [/i]Not at all. If they ever get saved by obeying their conscience’s rules and regulations 100%, then salvation by works is possible. However, the Bible is clear that salvation can only be gotten by faith and not by works.
The essence of the human conscience is actually not to help us achieve salvation by our works. It is rather there to judge our actions and point our glaring weaknesses and need for a saviour outside of us to us. It is from this need that Faith was supposed to rise up from our hearts towards that Saviour who in this case is God.
Again, the human conscience just like the Law, was given to point out our need for a Saviour to us. On it’s own, following our consciences cannot justify us before God. Only faith in the one our consciences point to can justify us.
2. Natural Things Witnessed To Them About God
[b]“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” (Rom 1:18-25)[/b]
“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Rom 1:32)
Natural things, the whole of creations, testify of the existence of a creator who only have the power to save the world from death. This creator apostle John tells us, is the Word who Himself is also the Christ. God in Christ (the creator) left these created things as witnesses to point to Himself. Man was supposed to look at them and learn of His existence. Having known of Him from the works of His hands (creations), they were to put Faith in Him (not the creations now) for justification.
“Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” (Act 14:14-17)
From the above scriptures, we see that God being a just God, never left Himself without a witness on the earth. So on the day of judgement, no man would claim to have never known of His existence as God and the saviour of the world. Although they may never have had a full understanding of the gospel like we have today, they cannot claim to be completely ignorant of Him. In Acts 17, we see Paul in Athens explaining this powerful truth to the Athenians.
“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.” (Act 17:22-23)
In the place we just read, Paul acknowledged that even without having heard of the Gospel fully, the Athenians worshipped God. Although in a very wrong way. So they were not saved, even though they worshipped God. And the reason for them not being saved is because they did not worship Him by Faith alone but by various rituals and works of their flesh (including idolatry) It was from this ignorance (their wrong way of worship) that Paul encouraged them to turn from to Faith alone in God’s Salvation (Christ)
“Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Act 17:29-31)
What if they had followed after God completely by Faith alone, then they would have been like Enoch, Abel, Noah and lots of Old Testament folks who despite the fact they never heard about Christ in full not met Him physically, sought after Him by complete faith in God. Hebrews tells us that by that faith they had in God for salvation, they were said to have believed in His Christ and were righteous before Him.
3. God Have Always Had A Man Tell Others About Him In Almost Every Generation
In almost every generation of men, God have always had at least one man who had a little glimpse of Him and told others the same. Even before the Law was given and before the birth of Jesus. He has never left Himself without a human witness also regardless of how little light that person may have had of Him.
Now while we may not be able to trace who it was in all the generations of our forefathers that had a little knowledge of God, we can always look at the scripture and see this principle at work. For instance, in the first generation of men it was Adam, then Abel, Enoch, Noah, Lot, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and his brothers, Moses, Joshua, the Judges, Samuel, David, the prophets and so on till John the baptist.
There was always a man who either went around talking about God or stayed in one place and had kings and people from different nations come from far to hear about God from their lips. These people always go back to where they came from with the news of the God who made the heavens and the earth.
God is so just He never left Himself without a witness in almost every generation. So those who did not believe in Him from ages past will actually have no excuse before Him. Before ever the Law came, men like Enoch, Noah, Lot, Abraham and the rest have in one way or the other, spoken about God to individuals and kings of their generations. See below scriptures.
ENOCH “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jud 1:14-15)
NOAH “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.” (2Pe 2:5)
LOT “And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.” (Gen 19:14)
From this study in the scriptures, we see that God is going to judge all men including those who died before the coming of Christ by Jesus. Those who through the witnesses that God has left for Himself on the earth trusted in Him for Salvation, will be saved. Those who did not exercise Faith in Him regardless of how good and sincere their actions were, will be condemned. Seeing that God has left us as His witnesses today on the earth, we do everything within our power to let the whole world know of this Gospel which is the power of God to save even the greatest sinner.
Those who trusted in God for salvation before the coming of Christ shall be saved because the blood of Jesus also took care of their sins. But those who did not, will perish alongside those who rejects the Gospel today.
Righteousness89: The Gospel Has Gone through the Whole Earth Today.... There is No Excuse for that!
lol, gone through the whole world? stop watching NTA... and start watching some documentary channels or still search for; Most isolated places on earth, you'll be amazed at what you find out.
Have you ever wondered how God will judge those who died before Jesus came? Especially the people who never had the opportunity to hear about Him at all?
Today we will see how God being a just God, in his wisdom made plans for those who never had the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross. If you are ready, get your Bible, note and pen and let’s dive into the Word together. Let me start by stating categorically clear that JESUS is the ONLY way to God. No man at any time anywhere, can come to God except through Him. By coming to God here I mean no man can be saved from sin and it’s penalty (Hell) except through faith in Him and His sacrifice for sin.
Knowing this, we do not relent in our efforts to see the whole earth covered with the knowledge of the Gospel of Christ even as water covers the sea. We take the gospel to all kinds of people everywhere, proclaiming “Jesus their salvation, is here!”
Having made that clear, let us address the question, “what will happen to those who died without hearing about Jesus?” (I will like you to pay a careful attention here as we see this from the Bible together)
“For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Rom 2:12-16)
From the scriptures we just read, we see that those who died before the coming of Christ shall be judged by Jesus on the last day. And they will be judged for the following reasons:
1.They Had The Demands Of The Law By Nature Written In Their Hearts As a Witness Even though they may never have heard the name Jesus directly spelt out to them, they had the righteous demands of the Law of God which was supposed to produce Faith towards God and His Salvation written in their hearts.
“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal 3:23-24)
With this Law written in their hearts, their conscience ruled their actions and inactions. By condemning them almost everytime, their consciences completely exposed their weakness as man to them to the end they might reach out to God by Faith alone for help (Salvation). And since God has no other salvation to offer man than His Son Jesus, by exercising Faith in God for Salvation, they have also exercised faith in Jesus though without having a full knowledge of Him.
[i]Does this mean those who never heard of Jesus will be saved if they lived according to the dictates of the Law, following their conscience? [/i]Not at all. If they ever get saved by obeying their conscience’s rules and regulations 100%, then salvation by works is possible. However, the Bible is clear that salvation can only be gotten by faith and not by works.
The essence of the human conscience is actually not to help us achieve salvation by our works. It is rather there to judge our actions and point our glaring weaknesses and need for a saviour outside of us to us. It is from this need that Faith was supposed to rise up from our hearts towards that Saviour who in this case is God.
Again, the human conscience just like the Law, was given to point out our need for a Saviour to us. On it’s own, following our consciences cannot justify us before God. Only faith in the one our consciences point to can justify us.
2. Natural Things Witnessed To Them About God
[b]“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” (Rom 1:18-25)[/b]
“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Rom 1:32)
Natural things, the whole of creations, testify of the existence of a creator who only have the power to save the world from death. This creator apostle John tells us, is the Word who Himself is also the Christ. God in Christ (the creator) left these created things as witnesses to point to Himself. Man was supposed to look at them and learn of His existence. Having known of Him from the works of His hands (creations), they were to put Faith in Him (not the creations now) for justification.
“Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” (Act 14:14-17)
From the above scriptures, we see that God being a just God, never left Himself without a witness on the earth. So on the day of judgement, no man would claim to have never known of His existence as God and the saviour of the world. Although they may never have had a full understanding of the gospel like we have today, they cannot claim to be completely ignorant of Him. In Acts 17, we see Paul in Athens explaining this powerful truth to the Athenians.
“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.” (Act 17:22-23)
In the place we just read, Paul acknowledged that even without having heard of the Gospel fully, the Athenians worshipped God. Although in a very wrong way. So they were not saved, even though they worshipped God. And the reason for them not being saved is because they did not worship Him by Faith alone but by various rituals and works of their flesh (including idolatry) It was from this ignorance (their wrong way of worship) that Paul encouraged them to turn from to Faith alone in God’s Salvation (Christ)
“Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Act 17:29-31)
What if they had followed after God completely by Faith alone, then they would have been like Enoch, Abel, Noah and lots of Old Testament folks who despite the fact they never heard about Christ in full not met Him physically, sought after Him by complete faith in God. Hebrews tells us that by that faith they had in God for salvation, they were said to have believed in His Christ and were righteous before Him.
3. God Have Always Had A Man Tell Others About Him In Almost Every Generation
In almost every generation of men, God have always had at least one man who had a little glimpse of Him and told others the same. Even before the Law was given and before the birth of Jesus. He has never left Himself without a human witness also regardless of how little light that person may have had of Him.
Now while we may not be able to trace who it was in all the generations of our forefathers that had a little knowledge of God, we can always look at the scripture and see this principle at work. For instance, in the first generation of men it was Adam, then Abel, Enoch, Noah, Lot, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and his brothers, Moses, Joshua, the Judges, Samuel, David, the prophets and so on till John the baptist.
There was always a man who either went around talking about God or stayed in one place and had kings and people from different nations come from far to hear about God from their lips. These people always go back to where they came from with the news of the God who made the heavens and the earth.
God is so just He never left Himself without a witness in almost every generation. So those who did not believe in Him from ages past will actually have no excuse before Him. Before ever the Law came, men like Enoch, Noah, Lot, Abraham and the rest have in one way or the other, spoken about God to individuals and kings of their generations. See below scriptures.
ENOCH “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jud 1:14-15)
NOAH “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.” (2Pe 2:5)
LOT “And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.” (Gen 19:14)
From this study in the scriptures, we see that God is going to judge all men including those who died before the coming of Christ by Jesus. Those who through the witnesses that God has left for Himself on the earth trusted in Him for Salvation, will be saved. Those who did not exercise Faith in Him regardless of how good and sincere their actions were, will be condemned. Seeing that God has left us as His witnesses today on the earth, we do everything within our power to let the whole world know of this Gospel which is the power of God to save even the greatest sinner.
Those who trusted in God for salvation before the coming of Christ shall be saved because the blood of Jesus also took care of their sins. But those who did not, will perish alongside those who rejects the Gospel today.
lol, gone through the whole world? stop watching NTA... and start watching some documentary channels or still search for; Most isolated places on earth, you'll be amazed at what you find out.
I dey talk another thing you dey talk another thing, don't be ignorant... make your research, the gospel has not gotten to every part of the earth. you won't be here typing if it does.
I dey talk another thing you dey talk another thing, don't be ignorant... make your research, the gospel has not gotten to every part of the earth. you won't be here typing if it does.
Don't DECIEVE yourself Bro! The Gospel has Gone beyond!
The Rapture is the next Event! And it could Happen anytime.
There is Nothing to do... But for you to Repent and Accept JESUS CHRIST
I didn't tell you I haven't received Jesus, I'm telling you to stop being ignorant by saying the gospel has gone through the whole earth. Once it does, the trumpet sound. Nothing like "Waiting for the trumpet to sound"
I didn't tell you I haven't received Jesus, I'm telling you to stop being ignorant by saying the gospel has gone through the whole earth. Once it does, the trumpet sound. Nothing like "Waiting for the trumpet to sound"
Don't DECIEVE yourself, The Gospel has gone beyond
Muhammad himself is already in hell not just for his atrocious acts of massacres committed but also for inspiring terrorism, intergenerationally.
Are you saying of about what Jesus said?
He said don't think I come to preach the peace but sward ⚔️ and turn everyone again each other, remember he also command his followers to buy sward ⚔️.
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Rom 2:12-16)