The Classical Questions against the Christian Gospel

Created Date: 27-Dec-2018
 

Last updated: 8-Apr-2021
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Sections
1 Two Classical Questions and Statements 2 Answers To These Questions and Statements
3 How the World Perceives Jesus Christ 4 Is There a Faith that Saves?
5 Does God Reveal Himself to His Creation? 6 Salvation Without Jesus Christ?
7 Comprehension    

Two Classical Questions and Statements

Most likely the primary two classical question against the Gospel and Jesus Christ are:

  1. What about someone, like the Pigmies in South America, who have never heard about Jesus Christ and therefore could not have accepted Him for Salvation?
  2. What about those who are killed in war, murdered or died as a slave before having a chance to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior?

Then there are often the three follow-up classical statements: 

  1. It is not fair for these types of two groups of people, much less hardly anyone, to automatically go to Hell for not having Jesus Christ as their Savior.
  2. If there is a God then He would have fixed the evils in the world.
  3. What is going to stop any of us to do something like Lucifer did and sin in eternity?

Answers To These Questions and Statements

There are many points to consider when discussing the Classical Questions and Statements.  Here are a few primary points that anyone reading this should take self-examination to evaluate in whole:

  1. ABSOLUTELY none of us are righteous.  No one can enter God's Presence based on anything we do on our own without Jesus Christ because we are depraved, full of deeds that are against God and one another in our actions and thoughts.  God cannot allow anyone who is not righteous, cleansed, worthy into His Presence.  None of us seek God on our own without recognizing first that there has to be a God.  Simply stated, we are all condemned and cannot make demands on God.
  2. In the scriptures, there is the Age of Accountability which many Biblical Scholars have always recognized and point to the possible Salvation choice option for those who couldn't make a decision because of their mental ability or age. 
    (a) This may also have implications for those who have not heard the Gospel.
    (b) It is the opinion of a few Biblical Scholars and this author that the principles of Age of Accountability can also indicate that God will use this for someone who absolutely had zero chance to make a Salvation choice, as long as the person looked for God in their life. 
  3. God used Faith to justify those who would obtain Salvation in the times:
    (a) Before Jesus Christ's death on the Cross as discussed in the topic on Dispensations of mankind. 
    (a.1) This is one definite key, as God allowed justification by Faith before there was knowledge of Jesus Christ, which "could" mean that after Jesus Christ, then someone might be justified by Faith by not ever hearing about Jesus Christ one time.  Prior to the Cross, these people would have gone to Upper Sheol, which was emptied after the Cross, so there is a possibility that after death that someone who has NEVER heard of Jesus Christ will be given the opportunity.  This author heard this once 30 years ago, if memory serves, from J Vernon McGee, so this is not a fringe thought.
    (b) It is the opinion of a few Biblical Scholars and this author, that for someone who never once heard of Jesus Christ, and looked for God in their life, then they will be given the opportunity. 
  4. The scriptures explain the world is in the predicament of evil, with mankind constantly hurting one another.  The Purpose of History, is God made a way for us to be reconciled with Him, spend eternity with Him and give those with Him a brand new Earth and Heavens.  Note that Heavens is plural, which many Biblical Scholars point to more than the one single universe.
  5. There is an almost immeasurable difference between what Lucifer did and Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden against God.  The difference as explained in the topic on Sin of Mankind vs. Fallen Angels where the topic on the Purpose of All History explains why in eternity, the sin of Lucifer, will never happen again as we will understand the consequences.

If we understand that we are condemned already because of our sins, then the classical questions are really not valid questions.  By asking the classical questions, then we are implying that we are judging God for not being fair. 

The real point of Salvation is everyone who achieves Salvation, is receiving a Gift and by nothing else. 

Romans 3:11-12 11 “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless;

We only have to receive the Gift of Salvation by accepting Jesus as our Savior.  The next step for all of us, is to strive for rewards in Heaven.

It is opinion of this author that when we are in Eternity with God, then we will start to understand the perfection in how God chose the plan and the way for Salvation after the betrayal of Lucifer and then the fall of mankind through Adam and Eve.  Until that point, we are not capable of understanding the complete perfected plan of God other than it requires Salvation through Jesus Christ. 

Isaiah 55:8-9 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 9 So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Note that man has attempted to explain the Salvation Process through several theories such as Calvinism and Arminianism.  Both have valid points but deny several key points on Salvation. 

How the World Perceives Jesus Christ

The world sees Jesus Christ through the portal of sin so the world is not able to understand the gift God the Father gave us through the work of His Son Jesus Christ on the Cross, and the calling by the Holy Spirit to recognize the gift offered. 

One of the many beautiful chapters in the Bible, that describe what Jesus Christ did is Isaiah 53, which is often called the Holy of Holies of the Old Testament.  Read the following excerpt to get a heartfelt vision of the Mission that Jesus Christ accomplished and why it is necessary for everyone to accept this Work done by Him! 

Note that these verses, in this author's mind, are one of many proofs of the Bible because a man inventing information on a god would not have the god suffer the way Jesus Christ did throughout His entire life.  Isaiah 53, along with many other scriptural passages describe the suffering, agony, death on the cross. 

Isaiah 53:2-6 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.  4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Is there a Faith that Saves?

The Scriptures have pointed out that Salvation is always by Faith in Jesus Christ.  Faith is also Love, and is the opposite of Fear.

  1. Those who died in the Old Testament dispensation and accepted God in Faith went to the good compartment of Sheol until Jesus Christ came and "witnessed" to them about His Resurrection after the death on the Cross, where Jesus Christ then took them with Him to Heaven.
  2. After the Cross, those who died and have accept Jesus Christ's death on the Cross as payments for their sins are Saved.  (See 2 Corinthians 5:8).  This is also done in Faith. 
Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Does God reveal Himself to His Creation?

God is revealed in His Creation, which is one-way God is initiating His Presence to us.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

To the unsaved world, this scriptural verse may seem like a paradox because it implies that it is directed to those who didn't recognize or failed to recognize that there is the unseen God who made all things that are seen.  By the creation, that is seen, the creation is a witness to all of mankind where the current myth of Evolution is easily proven to be false with a little bit of discernment.  God exists outside of all of His Creations which also includes God existing outside of everything in the Kingdom of God.

Salvation Without Jesus Christ?

Is Salvation possible without Jesus Christ?  Two questions to consider:

  1. How can anyone be saved, who has never heard of Jesus Christ, even though they believe that there is a God?
  2. What if someone believe as Romans 1:20 (shown above) which states that they recognize God is evident by everything that is around us?

The second question is often called "Natural Revelation".  It might be argued that all of the world's religions that worship deities other than the God of the Bible is because of a response to knowing that creation requires God. 

Excerpt from Dispensations Topic:

As briefly explained at the start of this Dispensations Topic, before Jesus Christ was presented to mankind as the Savior, mankind obtained Righteousness through Faith, but Salvation still required the payment of sins on the Cross by Jesus Christ.  In all the time periods of the world, as mentioned above, God's witness to us was through His Creation, Angels, human witnesses, His written Word and Theophanies.

Everyone that lived prior to Jesus Christ:

  1. Possibly did not know a method was required to receive Salvation other than the Hope and Faith of God, and
  2. Possibly did not know that God would use His Son as the method for justification. 

From many scriptures in the different books of the Old Testament, we know that many people were righteous because of their Faith and they did receive Salvation after Jesus Christ paid the sin debt.  The oldest book in the Bible, Book of Job is a great example, as read in Job 19:25-26. 

Job 19:25-26 25 As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that as the last he will stand upon the earth.  26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Please re-read this paragraph twice to make sure there is no confusion of what this author is writing concerning the possibility.

An interesting point is, if people didn't know how God was going to provide Salvation, prior to Jesus Christ, then does this have other possibilities that prove that God reaches out to everyone who hasn't heard of Jesus Christ or is under the Age of Accountability?  The answer, in this author's opinion, is yes, where God possibly reveals Himself in more ways that are not listed in the scriptures, so that those who have Hope and Faith in God, without ever hearing of Jesus Christ can most likely be given that opportunity after death as the Old Testament Believers in the God of the Bible did who were sent to Upper Sheol before Jesus Christ's death on the Cross.  This does not exonerate anyone who receive revelation and refuses it, nor those who follow other false gods, but this author is talking about the strong possibility of saving revelation by Faith for those under special or different types of circumstances

After considering the Excerpt from Dispensations Topic possibility, the problem always goes back to righteousness and the perfection that God requires to enter His Presence that is not obtainable without Jesus Christ being a person's Savior.  No one can enter God's Presence without Faith and a Savior Relationship with Jesus Christ.  A payment for sins is required, which Jesus Christ did pay the price.  Jesus Christ took on the punishment and so much more, which many Biblical Scholars point out is not fully understandable until we are in eternity. 

Romans 2:11-16 11 for there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law; 13 for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified; 14 (for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves; 15 in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them); 16 in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, then the Holy Spirit indwells us as John 14:16 informs us.   Among the first things we all feel as a Christian, is the desire for our family and friends to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. 

As we know from the Scriptures, Moses so loved Israel that he was always interceding for them as they all left Egypt.  Moses' interceding was almost to the point of putting himself in jeopardy.  That is a great love which many of us feel towards many people that are in our lives. 

In our Christian maturity, we realize that we do not want anyone to be condemned to the Lake of Fire, even if we harbor pain and sorrow for evil done to us from others, where the realization that the Lake of Fire is permanent then this makes most people realize that no suffering in this life done to them should make any of us want someone to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.  Every time someone repents when hearing the Word of God unto Salvation, as Jesus was telling the Disciples, there is great rejoicing in Heaven, as read in Luke 15:10.

John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

It is the opinion of many Biblical Scholars and this author, when viewing events at the Great White Throne of Judgment, that we will be sorry for anyone being condemned to the Lake of Fire.  This includes the greatest perpetrators of evil throughout history.  Remember Jesus Christ died for everyone's sins, not just some people.  God promises us that he will wipe away every tear when we enter Eternity with Him.

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Comprehension

The mental comprehension of the whole Word of God reflects that we all are sinners who do not deserve Heaven.  When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, they set into motion consequences which God already had a plan to reconcile us through a specific plan of Salvation.  We will not be able to understand the Perfection in God's plan until we are in His Presence and even then, we will spend eternity learning, appreciating and loving God for it.

What to read next?

We have eternal life.  Evolution is not real.  When a Christian suffers is there benefits from it.  Rewards in heaven.  Do we Tithe?  What does the 3rd Commandment tell us?  What is Salvation?  What is Grace and Mercy?  Is there an Age of Accountability?  Is there a place of unending punishment and exile form God?