AboutClifford H. Readout, Jr. Expertise Expertise:
Preferred subject areas: Biblical doctrine, problem texts, and application
of Bible teachings in daily life. Willing to consider questions concerning
other aspects of Christianity, as well. Experience and qualifications:
Converted to Christianity in 1970 while a student at Indiana University;
active in Christian ministry since 1971; President, 1971 - 1973, then
Chaplain, 1973 - 1975 of a campus ministry at Indiana University; Director
of Campus Ministry for North Central Region of the U.S.A. and Canada, 1975 -
1976; director, dean, and teacher for a Bible College in Kaiserslautern,
Germany, 1977; Pastor of the same church since 1978; founder and director of
The Foundations Forum (Christian think tank), 1991 to present; District
Foreign Missionary Director, 1981-2000; District Superintendent, 2000-2009; Founding Coordinator of Friendship International, a ministry to
college and university students around the world, 1997 - 2001; Special
Advisor to Friendship International, 2001 to present; Secretary and member
of the Board of Trustees for a Graduate School of Theology, 1999 to present; Chairman of the Board of Directors and faculty member at the Apostolic Leadership Institute, 2000 to present;
internationally known and requested Bible teacher, ministering by missionary
and other official invitations in more than forty nations, and at least
thirty-three of the United States; and other minor functions. Husband to the same
wonderful lady since 1970, father of three college graduates, and one
delightful Down Syndrome son born in 1994.
Experience For best results, send your question directly to readout@gmail.com. Be sure to mention AllExperts.com in the subject.
See "Expertise" section.
Question Hi. I'm needing a more mature Christian,please, to help me find an exact scripture. Can you please tell me where I might find where it says that all peoples are given a chance to accept or reject God's word?
My friend says that the Bible says if people truly believe something else, then God won't hold them accountable. I know that's wrong, but can't give the exact location. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!
Lisa
\0/\o/\0/ (praise!)
Answer Dear Lisa,
Your opening line has caused me to grin. “More mature.” I suppose that is a polite way of reminding me that I am one of the older volunteers on this web-site. I am thankful for the years the Lord has given me. Thank you for the smile, and for your question.
I am presently deeply involved in ministry responsibilities, and still recovering from a recent surgery, so I do not have time to give you as thorough a response as I am accustomed to doing. I hope these two passages may suffice, but if not, write to me at <readout@earthlink.net> and I will happily communicate more with you about the issues involved in your question.
Romans 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Please notice these few significant details:
1. The most important factor of all is knowing God, and this text assures us that any man can come to know God, even His eternal power and godhead, simply by an honest assessment of the creation (:20).
2. God has revealed Himself already, through the creation, and it is man’s responsibility to seek Him, and come to know Him in a personal and intimate way. It is not His responsibility to do anything more to make Himself known and understood. (See Isaiah 43:10-12.) this is unmistakably shown by the words “so that they are without excuse” (:20).
The summation of all human problems follows man’s lack of knowing God personally, and this is expressed in the following verses (:21-25). The resulting condition of human beings is defined in verses 26-32.
The second passage is also in Romans:
Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
Again, there are several things to notice:
1. Not being in a culture that has traditionally known the true identity of God makes no difference in one’s personal responsibility to seek Him (:12).
2. Salvation is available to anyone who fulfills the requirements summarized by “calling upon His name” (:13).
3. the problem of human ignorance is also addressed, and the fact that God has provided an extraordinary measure of grace toward man by sending witnesses to appeal to them on His behalf (:14-15).
4. The problem is not that encountering God is difficult, but that people really don’t care much about it (:16).
5. Faith, knowing God, comes by hearing (paying attention to and responding to) the Word of God (who is Jesus Christ, and is preached by men of God) (:17).
6. But, God has already given humanity all the witnesses humanity needed. The fact that so many have not heard is not His responsibility but ours (:18-19)
7. The Lord commented, through Isaiah, that those who desired Him found Him as a result of His sending them preachers (:20).
8. But those who should have known Him, because they were raised up in the culture of His Revelation and Covenant, lost their knowledge of god through their own disobedient and argumentative (gainsaying) behaviour. This is still a common human sin against God.
Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16); He is the Word (Logos) become flesh (John 1:14); He is the image of the invisible God; He is Emmanuel, God with us (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23), and the Mighty God and Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6). He is the One of whom the prophets spoke and wrote when they said of Him, “The Lord Jehovah is become my Yeshua (salvation)” (Exodus 15:2; Psalm 118:14, 21; Isaiah 12:2). It is important that people pursue The Lord Jesus Christ, and not demand that He pursue them any further than He already has.
I hope this is helpful.
Yours for Truth,
CR
I can add another demonstration in the Scripture that answers the questions of "what about this man..." scenarios. In Acts 8 Philip was involved in one of the more significant "revivals" of those days. Yet the Lord sent him out of the center of that revival and down a road with one intersection in the "middle of nowhere." He was sent to reach an honest hearted but ignorant man. The Ethiopian eunuch had several major disadvantages which would have prevented him from ever experiencing the Truth. He was of the Negro race, and the Jews of that age were very much racists, as demonstrated by their attitude even toward the Samaritans. He was also a servant to a woman, and Judaism was very much a sexist social system as well as religion. And, most telling of all, he was a eunuch, and was specifically prohibited by the Law from ever entering the Temple. How could he possibly have ever gotten into a place where he could hear the Truth? Impossible, without the intervention of the Lord. It proves to me that if one of those oft imagined "sincere" people theorized in the "what about" questions exists, the Lord will move angels, devils and men to insure that the Truth becomes available to that person.
It is also interesting to know that there is only one positive promise in the Bible made specifically to eunuchs. It is in the Book of Isaiah, and may explain why the eunuch had obtained (at great expense, i assure you) a copy of the scroll of Isaiah. He may have been searching for that promise. The text he had gotten to could seem like it was written to a eunuch, and provoked the question the eunuch asked, I think. But, Isaiah 53 speaks of the very One the eunuch truly needed to know about, and the prophesy that would fulfill the promise he may have been looking for! For Isaiah 56:3-5 contains a promise to eunuchs that is fulfilled only in Christ the Lord!
