Christianity is something that I don’t understand. I am not sure I even grasp the concept of God (in the Trinitarian sense, or His character), grace, love, faith, and belief in general.
A friend brought an interesting concept to me recently that I haven’t been able to get out of my head. It keeps me up at night, and has led to more questions that keep on coming. The question related to the scope of humanity and if it was possible that God has more grace than what we realize; saving those who have never heard of Jesus Christ therefore, not believing in him. When I read the token salvation scripture, John 3:16-17, I see that God sent his son to save the world, not to judge it; that believing in him, we can enter the Kingdom of God and have eternal life. This I believe, then Nicodemus asks Jesus how to enter the Kingdom, and Jesus says that he needs to be born again. Just a few pages later, Jesus tells the rich, young ruler that he must sell everything he has in order to obtain the Kingdom. Jesus even says that He is the only way to the Father. But, Abraham’s obedience to the Lord was credited to him as righteousness, which makes me believe that salvation is possible through obedience to the Lord. That maybe belief in Christ is the belief in the Messianic message; modeling our lives after his.
What if people have never, and will never hear about Jesus, or even God? Will they have a chance to ever enter the kingdom? I almost feel guilty about being born at the space and time in which I was, knowing that there is a possibility that so many will(have) die(d) never accepting Christ spending the subsequent eternity in hell.
Like the rest of Humanity, I don’t deserve eternal life because of sin, but why am I so privileged, while the majority of the people in existence will have never believed. I struggle so much with it because it doesn’t really sound like justice to me to let so many people die. It’s like the gift is free, but not an option which is open to everyone. This frightens me. It frightens me because it makes me question whether I believe his love is really unfailing. I am not talking here about the people that openly reject Christ, but those who have never heard about him. Is it just by chance that they will not enter the kingdom? What if someone were to tell them, would they believe then? I would like to think that if all the people who have never heard the message of Jesus were to hear his message at least some of them would accept him as their Savior and enter into a relationship with Him. What about those people who never hear about Jesus, but seek something outside of themselves? Luke 11 promises that those who seek will find. Do we always know what we are seeking? Will He credit that to them as righteousness? I don’t know. Will he judge them by a different standard than he does those who have actually heard about him? Maybe? SALVATION BELONGS TO HIM ALONE
I don’t know the answers. I know that His ways are so much higher than my ways, and that my finite, sinful, and unjust mind doesn’t hold a candle to the Mind of the Creator. I have this feeling that I will never know the answers, but where does that leave me? What will I use my life for now? If salvation is possible for all people where they are, what is my role in sharing the love and message of Christ? Doesn’t that make it a bit futile? I can’t bring myself to believe that. So, if that is my mission, then deep down I believe that if the people of the world never have the chance to hear about Jesus, they will go to hell. Ouch.
Then, if that is true, there is something seriously wrong with our priorities. Not only are we as the Bride of Christ responsible for all those in the world today that don’t know Christ, we are responsible for all of the people since Christ that lived and died and never heard about him. Doesn’t that do something to you? It does something to me. It blows my mind. It fires me up to tell as many people as I meet about Jesus. It makes me want to give every breath I have for that end. Am I wasting my time? No. I probably will end up wasting a lot of it, but I would hope that the Holy Spirit can use me to influence those around me, by Him living and speaking through me. Diving into the word (discovering His message), then diving into the world. To be a true servant; to hold nothing back. It really puts things in perspective for me. Are we using every breath of our lives to the extent that we could? The challenge is to everyone, and so is the call.
I think that the reason I have been struggling so much with these questions is that I need to understand the call is to me as well. What will I use my breath for? What will use yours for?
There are an estimated 2.62 Billion Unreached people in the world; 40% of the 6.56 Billion living in the world Today. (The Joshua Project / joshuaproject.net)
Let me know what you are thinking… I would like that.
Love in Christ
John Paul
Tags: christianity, faith, God, Jesus Christ, life, love, missions, salvation, the Father, the Way, unreached. the great commission
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Profound questions indeed, John Paul, thanks for shaking us up to ponder with you and accept the challenge to live and serve God Almighty Himself. He alone can provide the answers and they are all in HIM. As you seek Him He will continue to reveal His mysteries to you.
John, I was moved so much by this blog – the feelings echoed so many things I’ve thought about and will probably revisit many times!
It spurred me on to write a blog about it myself, I guess it’s sorta in response to this one…check it out when you can and let me know what you think.
Thanks for recording your thoughts man, it blessed me today.
love you bro,
Andrew
John, WOW!!! Sounds like God is really giving you his heart for a lost nation and revealing to you the passage “go and make disciples of all nations.” If we all were to truly follow God and not do what we want to do; there would probably not be as many people who have never heard of Jesus….you have raised some really great things to ponder on and examine in my own walk with the Lord.
Thank you for your thoughts
Cierra
John, Simply asking the questions and seeking after the answers is a step many do not take. Throughout history these are some of the challenging questions which have perplexed the understanding of many. I believe there are heavenly concepts which our human mind simply cannot grasp. Now this does not mean that we stop seek after answers, but when God’s time, space, and purposes are part of the revelation, how can we adequately fathom it?
Faith is belief in the unseen, I believe God has a plan for everyone. The plan he has shared with us is the plan of salvation by grace and faith. Romans gives a very compelling history, and may provide some insight. Keep asking, Keep seeking, keep knocking. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide you.
You inspire us all.
john, The reality of God’s grace is something I can’t fathom other than to accept it. You are so right in saying that we are sooooo priveleged to have this amazing gift and how we (including myself) take it so lightly sometimes. The world is waiting for the this Message of God’s grace. Keep sharing John, God is using every gift you gave up to Him.
Vic:
Definately have pondered this one. My addition would be my experience, where I think about God giving second chance after second chance, after second chance to the Israelites. I would think – when do the second chances stop? Upon death do we come face to face with God for yet another chance? I think so, honestly.
What I would suggest, is what led me to salvation: the hope of glory… Christ in me. (Um, I get goose bumps still when I think about it. Frick. Christ in ME. The hope of glory. In ME. WOOOO! Alright: Side note over.)
At 18 there wasn’t anyone in the world that could heal my broken little being. No programs. No governments. No books. Nada. And so salvation meant redemption that literally exchanged my life. Salvation meant eternal life. Eternal life was Christ. And Christ was in me. (Again, trip out. In ME. WOOO!!!)
I agree with you that you will never know. But your mission is not futile. Not in the least. Everyone is Dead on Arrival, friend. You gotta show them life, eternal life, and that to be free they have to be born again.
Aaand I’m gettin’ all preachy.
Take care, Vic.
-jess hills
Thanks John, I have been a Christian for over 26years and am still asking so many questions.
If you have not heard and have never had the chance to accept or reject God ..are you then destined to Hell .
It really does make it even more important to use every day that God gives us to tell others of his
Grace and Love .