United to Jesus, let us live to God
Two People That Do Not Exist There is a single, surprisingly simple biblical truth that answers two ...
Published August 22nd, 2012
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Two People That Do Not Exist
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Two People That Do Not Exist
2012-08-22 12:26:15
2012-08-22 12:26:50
Two People That Do Not Exist There is a single, surprisingly simple biblical truth that answers two of the most common questions leveled at biblical faith. Let's examine these questions together. Question: Will the Lord really condemn a good person who seeks God just because he does not believe in Jesus? (Perhaps he has never even heard of him!) Answer: No, in the same way that God will not condemn Bigfoot. Neither exist. You have seen this righteous God-fearer in the movies and heard about him in hypothetical questions, but according to the Bible he/she simply does not exist. “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12) True, by sovereign grace, certain naturally unseeking people are made seekers, but only as God also brings them in contact with the gospel message, which they in turn believe. (Note the unbroken chain of salvation in Romans 8:29-30. See also Matthew 7:7-8.) But the adherents to Judaism or Islam (etc.) who are sincere, but reject Jesus as the Son of God crucified for sins, do not sincerely seek God. This is politically incorrect, but true. And not only true, but also evident when you look beneath the surface. Sadly, we have this experience regularly as we meet Jewish people who claim to seek God, but have no interest to even read the messianic prophecies found in their own Book. There are many seekers of religion in the world, but zero seekers of God—save those whom God has given a heart to seek and come to Jesus. Question: Will someone who believes in Jesus but "lives like Hell" go to Heaven? Answer: No, in the same way the bogeyman will not go to Heaven. Neither exist. If salvation were simply a human decision, this question would be valid. But biblically, salvation is a miracle of God from start to finish. True salvation comes via new birth (1 Peter 1:3-5) and a spiritual heart-transplant (Ezekiel 36:26). When one comes to Jesus, he/she dies to sin and is raised with Jesus to new life as a new creation (Romans 6:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Can you see how this question becomes incoherent in light of the biblical reality of salvation? This is why James and John and Paul and Jesus can call out "faith" that is not attended by a changed life as fake and dead. The God-seeking non-Christian and the Christian that lives like Hell are two people who, like Bigfoot and the bogeyman, simply do not exist. Therefore, let us leave discussion of them and turn to reality—a world full of sinners in need of the gospel.
11345638375522 1345478153794 Two People That Do Not Exist 2012-08-22 12:26:15 2012-08-22 12:26:50 Two People That Do Not Exist There is a single, surprisingly simple biblical truth that answers two of the most common questions leveled at biblical faith. Let's examine these questions together. Question: Will the Lord really condemn a good person who seeks God just because he does not believe in Jesus? (Perhaps he has never even heard of him!) Answer: No, in the same way that God will not condemn Bigfoot. Neither exist. You have seen this righteous God-fearer in the movies and heard about him in hypothetical questions, but according to the Bible he/she simply does not exist. “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12) True, by sovereign grace, certain naturally unseeking people are made seekers, but only as God also brings them in contact with the gospel message, which they in turn believe. (Note the unbroken chain of salvation in Romans 8:29-30. See also Matthew 7:7-8.) But the adherents to Judaism or Islam (etc.) who are sincere, but reject Jesus as the Son of God crucified for sins, do not sincerely seek God. This is politically incorrect, but true. And not only true, but also evident when you look beneath the surface. Sadly, we have this experience regularly as we meet Jewish people who claim to seek God, but have no interest to even read the messianic prophecies found in their own Book. There are many seekers of religion in the world, but zero seekers of God—save those whom God has given a heart to seek and come to Jesus. Question: Will someone who believes in Jesus but "lives like Hell" go to Heaven? Answer: No, in the same way the bogeyman will not go to Heaven. Neither exist. If salvation were simply a human decision, this question would be valid. But biblically, salvation is a miracle of God from start to finish. True salvation comes via new birth (1 Peter 1:3-5) and a spiritual heart-transplant (Ezekiel 36:26). When one comes to Jesus, he/she dies to sin and is raised with Jesus to new life as a new creation (Romans 6:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Can you see how this question becomes incoherent in light of the biblical reality of salvation? This is why James and John and Paul and Jesus can call out "faith" that is not attended by a changed life as fake and dead. The God-seeking non-Christian and the Christian that lives like Hell are two people who, like Bigfoot and the bogeyman, simply do not exist. Therefore, let us leave discussion of them and turn to reality—a world full of sinners in need of the gospel. notes
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