For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
i am of the mind that because of this verse no one needs to go to an eternal hell. i went to new tribes mission with the belief that if the "little brown man in the jungle" did not hear and acceot Christ he'd go straight to hell. well this verse leads me to believe that when the little brown man dies and stands before God. God will ask him if he wants to join Him or go into eternal punishment. this,my theory, let's man off the hook as far as evangelizing the world. i mean who would choose eternal damnation? what think ye?
Rom 2:14-16 speaks of the Gentiles (i.e. those who did not receive God's Laws) & their accountability before God as a result. Now, in Paul's day, the Gentiles (Romans/Greeks) had no reference to God's Laws as we have today in our Judeo/Christian cultures, but were subject to their own devised laws. Likewise, those more primitive souls who live in the jungles would either have their own laws or instinctively performed the laws written in their consciences. And these laws, says Paul, either accused them or excused them, making them conscious of errors (sins) in their hearts.
So to the Jew who followed the Law to the letter, or to the Gentile trying to obey the laws given (or, not given) to him, or to the tribal convicted in his own heart, all would be accountable to God for their perfect obedience to them. And we know that none are righteous - not even one, none can keep any law perfectly & none can ever claim to have an untarnished conscience. The only solution to man's failure to keep God's Laws & incurring His penalty, was to have faith in His Son's redeeming work at the Cross. Without that type of faith it is impossible to please God & impossible to be saved from His righteous Anger against us. And that is why, Jesus commission in Mt 28:19,20 was to reach out into 'all nations' to teach them this Truth so that they might be saved.
I believe that if there is anyone that should stand in trepidation before God, it should probably be each one of us, who have failed in reaching out to someone with the hope of the Gospel.
I think I understand your point: "that God's Grace to all meant that His Salvation has appeared (revealed) to all people". One could look at it this way that all people everywhere have had that grace applied to them. Yet, we know that the Gift of Salvation has been given for all yet also requires a personal response to it in this life & not after death; ( Jn 3:16 "that whoever believes"; Rom 10:13-15 "whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved") are just a couple of portions.
Every Christian Mission, including NTM, will have this burden upon them: 'that unless someone goes out to proclaim this Good News to the unreached, then those people will never hear. And if they don't hear, they will not be able to respond, & if they don't respond to Christ, then they have rejected the Grace of God & bound for a Christ-less eternity". As well, there is nowhere in the Bible that anyone, even the unreached people, will have a second opportunity to stand before God to receive some 'special' respite from going to Hell. Heb 9:27: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement". There is no second opportunity (even for that "little brown man"), nor purgatory, between now & eternity.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 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.
21 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.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 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.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 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.
Comment: People have been given the ability to learn through natural things that Someone had to of made all this.
This world will soon pass away. If people are so inclined: then google to find a church that sends missionaries to those places and help fund their efforts.
We are to "Go Ye into all the world". That may mean going to your own neighborhood to invite people to come to your church. A little friendliness makes all the difference.
Or it may mean giving some of your God given wealth to help missionaries go ye for you. David Wilkerson (deceased now) son Gary Wilkerson of World Challenge sends missionaries all over the world. See his website. You might like to get his newsletter. I love it.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
i am of the mind that because of this verse no one needs to go to an eternal hell. i went to new tribes mission with the belief that if the "little brown man in the jungle" did not hear and acceot Christ he'd go straight to hell. well this verse leads me to believe that when the little brown man dies and stands before God. God will ask him if he wants to join Him or go into eternal punishment. this,my theory, let's man off the hook as far as evangelizing the world. i mean who would choose eternal damnation? what think ye?
Rom 2:14-16 speaks of the Gentiles (i.e. those who did not receive God's Laws) & their accountability before God as a result. Now, in Paul's day, the Gentiles (Romans/Greeks) had no reference to God's Laws as we have today in our Judeo/Christian cultures, but were subject to their own devised laws. Likewise, those more primitive souls who live in the jungles would either have their own laws or instinctively performed the laws written in their consciences. And these laws, says Paul, either accused them or excused them, making them conscious of errors (sins) in their hearts.
So to the Jew who followed the Law to the letter, or to the Gentile trying to obey the laws given (or, not given) to him, or to the tribal convicted in his own heart, all would be accountable to God for their perfect obedience to them. And we know that none are righteous - not even one, none can keep any law perfectly & none can ever claim to have an untarnished conscience. The only solution to man's failure to keep God's Laws & incurring His penalty, was to have faith in His Son's redeeming work at the Cross. Without that type of faith it is impossible to please God & impossible to be saved from His righteous Anger against us. And that is why, Jesus commission in Mt 28:19,20 was to reach out into 'all nations' to teach them this Truth so that they might be saved.
I believe that if there is anyone that should stand in trepidation before God, it should probably be each one of us, who have failed in reaching out to someone with the hope of the Gospel.
John, if I might respond to you once again.
I think I understand your point: "that God's Grace to all meant that His Salvation has appeared (revealed) to all people". One could look at it this way that all people everywhere have had that grace applied to them. Yet, we know that the Gift of Salvation has been given for all yet also requires a personal response to it in this life & not after death; ( Jn 3:16 "that whoever believes"; Rom 10:13-15 "whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved") are just a couple of portions.
Every Christian Mission, including NTM, will have this burden upon them: 'that unless someone goes out to proclaim this Good News to the unreached, then those people will never hear. And if they don't hear, they will not be able to respond, & if they don't respond to Christ, then they have rejected the Grace of God & bound for a Christ-less eternity". As well, there is nowhere in the Bible that anyone, even the unreached people, will have a second opportunity to stand before God to receive some 'special' respite from going to Hell. Heb 9:27: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement". There is no second opportunity (even for that "little brown man"), nor purgatory, between now & eternity.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 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.
21 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.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 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.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 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.
Comment: People have been given the ability to learn through natural things that Someone had to of made all this.
This world will soon pass away. If people are so inclined: then google to find a church that sends missionaries to those places and help fund their efforts.
We are to "Go Ye into all the world". That may mean going to your own neighborhood to invite people to come to your church. A little friendliness makes all the difference.
Or it may mean giving some of your God given wealth to help missionaries go ye for you. David Wilkerson (deceased now) son Gary Wilkerson of World Challenge sends missionaries all over the world. See his website. You might like to get his newsletter. I love it.
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