Friday, May 30, 2008

Calling: Salvation from Ignorance?

So I read today that their are an estimated 100 untouched tribes living in the jungle, one of which was recently found. This is the front line of evangelism and by evangelist I mean "willing" Christian. We are all called, but few will go. This raises a question and also provides a good reason to speak on a particular topic which is in the post below.

Question: Are those that do not hear the gospel saved through ignorance?

No. While our sensibility wants them to be spared it is not so and we well know it. From basic experience we know that ignorance of the law is not a way out of being guilty. Besides, the guilt people have is borne of sin (crimes or lawbreaking) which they have committed, not ignorance of the law. They are not guilty because they didn't know any better, but because they broke the law. Also, what was the point of Jesus telling us to go and making a point of informing us at all if understanding the gospel is what brings condemnation? It would be more appropriate in that case to leave us all in ignorance, but that is not what we have been told to do. The idea that ignorance is a form of protection is simply is not the reality of things. We must all follow a basic plan...

-Hear the gospel message (Romans 10:17)
-Believe on His Son (John 3:16)
-Confess Christ's name (Matthew 10:32-33)
-Repent of their sins (Luke 13:3, Acts 3:19)
-Have those sins remitted through baptism (Acts 2:28, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21)
-Remain faithful (Hebrews 10:26, Revelation 2:10, John 14:15, )
-Speak the gospel (Ezekiel 33:8-9, Matthew 28:19)

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