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?
To the one willing to grapple with difficult things, there is quite a paradox[1] in this passage.
On the one hand, no one can believe unless someone goes and tells them.
“Faith cometh by hearing“
This provides the impetus for missions and missions giving because:
- No one can go to tell them except someone sends them.
- Churches send those whom God calls to go.
We do that by commissioning them and by financially and materially supporting them.
On the other, the Bible says they have already heard.
- They heard in the original man Adam
- They heard in the witness of creation
- They heard in the conviction of the heart and soul
No one has an excuse. There is not a single soul who hasn’t heard and could have heard more if they had a mind to listen.
There is no soul in hell because God failed to get word to him. No one is in hell because there was no missionary, no sending church, no money to support them. Every soul in hell is there because, Romans 10:16 (KJV)
…they have not all obeyed the gospel. …
God calls missionaries and uses the local churches to send and support them. But the hand of God is never shortened by the unwillingness, disobedience, or lack of supplies of men.
Souls are in hell because they did not respond to the witness God provided.
If they had responded, God would have provided further witnesses.
[1] And a lesson in it.
To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.
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