Sunday, April 18, 2010

What about the Pigmys in Africa?

This question comes up so often when I am sharing the gospel on college campuses. Faith in Christ Jesus is trusting in, and relying on Jesus alone for salvation>Acts 4:12. In Romans 10 we see clearly and specifically the answers to this dilemma. The A. Paul clearly points out to us in this chapter that, #1. It is necessary for believers to preach the good news of the gospel to all people so that they can (if they choose to) hear, have faith, and get saved>(vs. 5-7, 13-15,17). #2. Because the Jew (and anybody else) who doesn't have their righteousness (the means of salvation) found in God through Christ Jesus, will not be saved>(vs 1-4). #3. And for the ones who have not heard the gospel? Well, according to Ps. 19:1-4 and Rom 10:17-18 (AMP version), all have heard the gospel already through nature>"...Have they not heard? Indeed they have; for the scripture says, Their voice (that of nature bearing God's message) has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world." So, the preaching of the gospel is just one more effort God uses to reach out in hopes that people will respond to His love and give their heart and life to Him. Even "Christians" in error and with great effort, try to establish their righteousness through their own good works. It won't happen! Rom. 9:31-33 declares that like the Jews, pursuing a right standing with God, without faith in Christ, will make one fall short and not attain salvation. No religion in the world will accomplish the task of providing salvation. It's through a personal relationship with Christ alone. I hope that on the day I stand before the Lord, I will hear Him say, "Enter in thou good and faithful servant!">Matt. 24;25> When we all stand before Him, He will not be tallying our works, but will measure whether we have been good>(Greek-valuable; virtuous), and faithful>(Grk.-trustworthy) servants. This takes relying on a personal relationship with Jesus in which He will provide the knowledge of His will for our lives. We then must be obedient. There will be those who will know God's plan, but will reject it>Rom 10:19-21. God forbid we be unyielding, disobedient, and self-willed (vs21). Please read all of Col.1. > I pray "that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will...that you may walk in a manner that is worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him in all things...bearing good (valuable) fruit in works, steadily growing and increasing in the knowledge of God...giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints...the riches of the glory of this mystery which is Christ in you, the Hope of glory...Him we preach and proclaim...and for this I labor, striving with all superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me."

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