What about those that haven't heard?
If you have 15-20 minutes, give the following article a read. However, I will caution that this guy's paragraph mentioning predestination and election, in my opinion, negates his entire argument for evangelism because he views certain people as already predestined to be believers, so I view it as failed logic. Definitely a Calvanist, although never specifically stated (see also his many references to RC Sproul, a well known Calvanist.) That's just one paragraph, though, the rest of it is pretty convincing. I'm not done looking, but I found this to be one of the better cases for point of salvation by Christ's name only, no exceptions.http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/8449/exclus2.html
Let the good news roll...
Oh yeah, and if you wonder what John MacArthur says on this topic, here's a summary: "People say, you hear this in mission discussions, "Oh those people over there who have never heard the gospel, the Lord's going to save them somehow." Nobody will ever be saved, nobody will ever come into a saving relationship with God who does not know the true gospel regarding Jesus Christ...nobody. There isn't any salvation in any other name. The one who does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who does abide in that teaching has both the Father and the Son."
The entire sermon is worth reading, it can be found here: http://www.ondoctrine.com/2mac0009.htm
And finally, a 3 pager that answers some of the common objections to this philosophy: http://www.calebproject.org/userfiles/MIB-lost.pdf
So what do you all think? Use the Comments section!
[Comment from David S.]
Aaron,
Hadn't been to your site in a while, but found this posting of interest. I read a bit of the first article. Then read the 3rd one, then John MacArthurs article. My initial take on it is this:
The 3rd article contradicts the 1st one to me. The 1st article claims, "I do not see how this verse can be used to argue that one can be saved without hearing of Christ if he follows his conscience." The 3rd one says, "The Bible does not teach that God will judge a person for rejecting Christ if he has not heard of Christ. In fact, the Bible teaches clearly that God's judgment is based on a person's response to the truth he has received."
While the 3rd article goes on to say that there is no record of those who have been saved outside of Christ, it purposes not to rule it out, which I think the 1st article clearly does.
For a starting point, I think there are two parts to this discussion. In the quote you have from the John M. article, he speaks of his disagreement with those who claim people are Christians who have never heard the 'truth'. The 1st article talks of those who believe in Christ specifically, and the 3rd article points to both the idea of revelation through creation/conscience and Christ.
What do you think?
David S.
posted by Aaron @ www.HornIT.net @ 7:23 AM
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