It is sometimes said, that people in foreign countries, where they have never heard about God, will be saved because they don't know any better. Others will say it doesn't matter what one believes just as long as he is honest and sincere. What one might think about it doesn't change God's word and that word is the final appeal. "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). The apostle Paul said, God "commanded all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). Does that mean all except those who don't know? "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom.3:23). All have sinned, and all must repent. How can one know to repent without the gospel?
"Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor 6:9-10). Paul didn't say, if you don't know any better you can enter the kingdom of God!
It is sometimes said that God, who knows the hearts of man, knows who would obey the gospel if only they had been given a chance, and He will save such men. If such were the case, why did God send his Son to die for our sins? "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Pet 2:24).
Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). Why would Jesus send "into all the world" to preach the gospel to those that were saved? If some, after hearing the truth, should reject it, then they would be lost! Why would Jesus command to baptize those who were saved, when the inspired Peter said that "baptism doth also now save us" (I Pet. 3:21).
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast in the lake of fire" (Rev. 20:15). Will there be anybody in heaven whose name is not in "the book"? "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven"(Heb 12:23). “And there shall in no wise enter into it...but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Rev 21:27)
"Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body" (Eph 5:23). Paul instructed the elders "to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).
These verses teach that Christ is the head of the church, and he is the saviour of the church (body). It also states that he gave himself for the church, and he shed his blood for the church. Only the names of those in the church are written in heaven.
If one can be saved outside the church, he can be saved without the blood of Christ. There can be no doubt where the saved are, because we read, "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47).
Ignorance will not put one into Christ where salvation is, (II Tim. 2:10); all spiritual blessings are, (Eph. 1:3); there is forgiveness of sins, (Eph. 1:7). But we read: "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Gal. 3:27). Those verses do not teach that ignorance puts one into Christ or faith alone puts one into Christ or grace only puts one into Christ. But, they do teach that one is baptized into Christ.
In Acts 17:23,we read where some “ignorantly worship” God. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world...” (Acts 17:30-31).
"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God" (II Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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