Why preach the Gospel? June 11, 2007
Posted by JP in Bible Study/Reference, Discussion, Faith, Scripture.trackback
Can a person be saved through general revelation?
General revelation can be defined as “the revelation of God to all people, at all times, and in all places, that reveals that God exists and that He is intelligent, powerful, and transcendent.” Scriptures such as Psalm 19:1-4 and Romans 1:20 clearly state that certain things about God can be understood from nature and the universe around us.
In the context of God, revelation is how God reveals Himself to humanity. General revelation and special revelation are the two ways God has chosen to reveal Himself. General revelation refers to the general truths that can be known about God through nature. Special revelation refers to the more specific truths that can be known about God through the supernatural.
General revelation
Psalm 19:1-4 declares, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” According to this Scripture, God’s existence and power can be clearly seen through observing the universe. The order, intricacy, and wonder of Creation speaks to the existence of a powerful and glorious Creator.
General revelation is also taught in 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 men are without excuse.” Similarly to Psalm 19, Romans 1:20 teaches that God’s eternal power and divine nature are “clearly seen” and “understood” from what has been made…and that there is no excuse for denying these facts. With these Scriptures in mind, perhaps a working definition of general revelation would be: “the revelation of God to all people, at all times, and in all places, that reveals that God exists and that He is intelligent, powerful, and transcendent.”
Special revelation
Special revelation is how God has chosen to reveal Himself through miraculous means. Special revelation includes physical appearances of God, dreams, visions, the written Word of God, and most importantly – Jesus Christ. The Bible records God appearing in physical form many times (with Genesis 3:8; 18:1; Exodus 3:1-4; 34:5-7 as just a few examples). Second, the Bible records God speaking to people through dreams (Genesis 28:12; 37:5; 1 Kings 3:5; Daniel chapter 2) and visions (Genesis 15:1; Ezekiel 8:3-4; Daniel chapter 7; 2 Corinthians 12:1-7). God seems to reserve physical appearances and appearances in dreams and visions to when He has something particularly important to reveal; something that requires the authority and clarity of an absolutely clear message.
The Word of God, the Bible, is also a form of special revelation. God miraculously guided the authors of Scripture to correctly record His message to mankind, while still using the styles and personalities of the human authors. The Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God is inspired, profitable, and sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God determined to have truth regarding Him recorded in written form because He knew the inaccuracy and unreliability of oral tradition. God decided to reveal everything that humanity needs to know about Him, what He expects, and what He has done for us in the Bible.
The ultimate form of special revelation is the Person of Jesus Christ. God became a human being (John 1:1,14). Hebrews 1:1-3 summarizes it best, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son … The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being.” God became a human being, in the Person of Jesus Christ, to identify with us, to set an example for us, to teach us, to reveal Himself to us, and most importantly to provide salvation for us by humbling Himself in death on the cross (Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus Christ is the ultimate “special revelation” from God.
In regards to the question, “Can a person be saved through general revelation?”, this question is usually asked in relation to another question, “What happens to those who have never heard the Gospel?”
Sadly, there are still parts of the world with absolutely no access to the Bible, to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or to any means of learning Christian truth. The question then arises, what happens to these people when they die? Is it fair for God to condemn a person who was never even heard the Gospel, nor heard of Jesus Christ, nor even heard that there is a God? Some propose a solution to this dilemma in the idea that God judges those who have never heard based on how they responded to general revelation. The presumption is that if a person truly believes what can be known about God through general revelation, God will judge the person based on that faith and allow the person entrance into Heaven. Is it possible that such a concept is true?
Before we address that question, a key assumption must be dealt with. Some make the assumption that those who have never heard the Gospel are searching for God, seeking for truth, practically begging for someone to come and deliver the message of salvation. The problem with this assumption is that Scripture declares the exact opposite. Romans 3:10-12 exclaims, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” According to Scripture, people take the knowledge of God available through general revelation and pervert it to their own liking. Romans 1:21-23 states, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.” According to Scripture, the “status” of those without God is not one of seeking salvation, but rather one of rebellion, darkness, and idolatry.
Back to the question at hand – can a person be saved through general revelation? The Bible nowhere gives any hope that those who have never heard the Gospel are fully believing the truth about God available through general revelation. Again, the Bible describes the lost as being in rebellion against what they already know about God, not seeking for more truth about God. However, there is always the question, “What if?” IF a person who has never heard the Gospel truly and fully believed what can be known about God through general revelation, would that person be saved? IF such a person did exist, it would seem consistent with the love, mercy, and grace of God that such a person would be saved. Again, please understand, this is a hypothetical that Scripture does not support.
Acts chapter 10 records the story of Cornelius. Cornelius is described as “devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly” (Acts 10:2). Did God save Cornelius because of his devotion to God based on the limited knowledge he had of God? No. God sent an angel to Cornelius with instructions for Cornelius to contact the Apostle Peter and have him come to Cornelius’ home. Cornelius obeyed, and Peter came and presented the Gospel to Cornelius and his family. Cornelius and his family believed and were therefore saved (Acts 10:44-48). Acts chapter 10 is a clear example of how we are not saved by believing certain truths about God, or by obeying God in certain respects. The only way of salvation is the Gospel of Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
The fact that the lost reject general revelation is the reason why it is so important for us to proclaim the Gospel throughout the whole world (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). Romans 10:14 declares, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” God commands us to present the Gospel because of the fact that “there is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:10-11). Rather than hoping some people are being saved by believing what can be known about God through general revelation, God calls us to go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel. Believing in the Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ is the only method of salvation the Bible mentions (John 3:16).
Will God condemn a person who has never heard about Him?
All people are accountable to God whether they have “heard about Him” or not. The Bible tells us that God has clearly revealed Himself in nature (Romans 1:20) and in the hearts of people (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The problem is that the human race is sinful; we all reject this knowledge of God and rebel against Him (Romans 1:21-23). Apart from God’s grace, God would give us over to the sinful desires of our hearts, allowing us to discover how useless and miserable life is apart from Him. This He does for those who reject Him (Romans 1:24-32).
In reality, it is not that some people have not heard about God. Rather, the problem is that they have rejected what they have heard and what is readily seen in nature. Deuteronomy 4:29 proclaims, “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” This verse teaches an important principle: everyone who truly seeks after God will find Him. If a person truly desires to know God, God will make Himself known.
The problem is, “there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:11). People reject the knowledge of God that is present in nature and in their own heart, and instead decide to worship a “god” of their own creation. It is foolish to debate the fairness of God sending someone to hell who never had the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Christ. People are responsible to God for what God has already revealed to them. The Bible says that people reject this knowledge, and therefore God is just in condemning them to hell.
Instead of debating the fate of those who have never heard, we, as Christians, should be doing our best to make sure that they hear. We are called to spread the Gospel throughout the nations (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). The fact that we know people reject the knowledge of God revealed in nature must motivate us to proclaim the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Only through accepting the Gospel of God’s grace through the Lord Jesus Christ can people be saved from their sins and rescued from an eternity apart from God in hell.
If we assume that those who never hear the Gospel are granted mercy from God, we will run into a terrible problem. If people who never hear the Gospel are saved…we should make sure that no one ever hears the Gospel. The worst thing we could do would be share the Gospel with a person and have him or her reject it. If that were to happen, he or she would be condemned. People who do not hear the Gospel must be condemned, or else there is no motive for evangelism. Why run the risk of people possibly rejecting the Gospel and condemning themselves – when they were previously saved because they had never heard the Gospel?
Pretty good little write up.
I would mostly agree. And fully agree with the statement:”Rather, the problem is that they have rejected what they have heard and what is readily seen in nature.”
Mostly agree? What is it that doesn’t sit right with you?
Hey JP,
Semantics mostly. You say, “In reality, it is not that some people have not heard about God.”
Then it is added, “Instead of debating the fate of those who have never heard, we, as Christians, should be doing our best to make sure that they hear.”
If they have heard, let them be. Elect or not. From your viewpoint, God will make sure they hear “the gospel” (if that is what they need to hear), if He’s elected them. Point final (said with as good of a French accent as you can). =)
I am almost positive I understand what you are saying. Basically, it boils down to no one is without excuse. That’s where we agree 100%.
The small details could be argued, but who cares about such trivial things?
Therefore, since we mostly agree, why even mention the trivial nothingness? =)
Thanks for stopping by. Please remember I am trying to be funny when I pop off at the mouth. So, if in jest, I say something inappropriate (no, not if, when), I sincerely apologize. We are brothers and serve the same Lord. Now, let’s go after the heathen, making disciples out of some of them!!
No problemo…
I agree with ‘point final’ actually, I think that is where some of the so-called ‘hyper-calvinists’ and other demented reformers go wrong.
Being a “reformist” through self-study and revelation I have no particular need to hold firm to some of the details. I’m not the biggest fan of pre-destination, nor do I think it is an issue worth dividing over spiritually. As far as the ‘elect’ go… well, it seems there is less confusion in that term than in ‘believers’, ‘the faithful’, ‘christians’, ‘born-again christians’ or any other number of terms used and misused to describe the adopted heir of God.
it’s interesting that, although you state we do have to share gospel, at no point do you categorically state WHY.
Your example of Cornelius is a good one. Can you adequately deal with the example of Noah though? How did this man end up saved? More to the point, how did his children and their wives end up saved?
I’m at a loss Arukiyomi, wasn’t the whole post descriptive of WHY?
Additionally, I don’t see where or why Noah comes into this discussion. Did I reference him somewhere that I am unaware of?
well, I did say categorically. No, the whole post is not descriptive of why to my mind. It ranges around various topics. Concluding that we must share the gospel because we are called to it and because people will go to hell otherwise. What I meant was that your post does not comment explicitly on why it is important that people do not go to hell and why God gave us a command to share the gospel. This may seem obvious. But actually, on further reflection, I’ve found it isn’t. I wonder what you think are the reasons for the command?
Noah is an example of someone who was saved apart from the Law and with no obvious witness to him. How did this happen if he needed to hear the gospel to be saved? He was declared righteous in a perverse generation. How did this happen? I’m not sure that simply stating that he is an old testament figure answers the question so much as sidesteps the issue. I’d be interested in hearing your comments.
“What I meant was that your post does not comment explicitly on why it is important that people do not go to hell and why God gave us a command to share the gospel.”
Perhaps you would care to share your thoughts?
At the start I think Romans 10:14 is clear enough as to the why:
Romans 10:14-17 But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed [in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance]? And how are they to believe in Him [adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him] of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? (15) And how can men [be expected to] preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings! [How welcome is the coming of those who preach the good news of His good things!] [Isa. 52:7.] (16) But they have not all heeded the Gospel; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed (had faith in) what he has heard from us? [Isa. 53:1.] (17) So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).
Why is it important that people do not go to hell? Well, I can only say initially that God desires for His creation to spend eternity with Him, not separated from Him, and any ‘why’ apart from the desires of my Lord is largely irrelevant to me.
As for Noah: One cannot say that he was ’saved apart from the law’ as he indeed superseded the law. Genesis tells us:
Gen 6:8 But Noah found grace (favor) in the eyes of the Lord.
God used Noah for His purposes of retaining man upon the face of the earth, yet nothing in scripture that I can find, tells us that Noah was ’saved’ from anything other than the destruction wrought by God’s flood. We are told however that Noah, through faith, became an heir and possessor of righteousness:
Heb 11:7 [Prompted] by faith Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for the deliverance of his own family. By this [his faith which relied on God] he passed judgment and sentence on the world’s unbelief and became an heir and possessor of righteousness (that relation of being right into which God puts the person who has faith). [Gen. 6:13-22.]
You apparently believe I think or assert something about Noah and his eternal disposition which I clearly have not established.