Expert: Phillip Senn - 11/30/2008

Question
I would like to know how the bible deals with people who never had a chance to know GOD. Like the Mayans or the native americans, or other geographically isolated peoples?

Answer
Allissa,

This is such an important question for all believers. It is a call to believers to be actively involved in getting the message of Christ to as many as possible.

Romans 1:16-25 deals specifically with this question. It declares that there is only one hope for man, the Gospel of Christ. The lost are not lost because of their bad deeds, just as the saved are not saved because of their good deeds. Jesus declared that those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the only begotten Son of God (John 3:18). The lost have had revealed to them, through the things that God has made, His eternal power and godhead. Because of this, they are without excuse (Rom. 1:20).

The only hope for these, that are condemned, is that the message of Christ must be preached to them. That is why the question is so important to believers. We must be actively sharing Christ with the world. Those that never hear of Christ cannot believe on Him (Romans 10:14-17).

As believers, we have an awesome responsibility and privilege. God has ordained us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. That is not just for the Pastors, but for every believer. Our responsibility is that many will be lost because we are not seeking to share Christ. The privilege is that we will be used as God's ambassadors for Christ, in that, He uses us to see many come to Christ, and be saved.

Paul declared, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to  the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

Bottom line... Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but that the world, through Him, might be saved. Those that never hear of Him, do not have a chance. We must be diligent in going into all the world and making Him known.

With Love In Christ,
Phillip Senn