Romans 3:23

THOSE WHO HAVEN’T HEARD

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Whenever the subject of heaven or hell comes up, a legitimate question often arises: “What happens to the people who have never heard of Christ? Will they be condemned for not believing in Jesus since they never heard of Him?”

Of course not! God is just and would not condemn anyone for rejecting a Christ they never had the opportunity to hear of. But, listen carefully: The person who has never heard of Christ is still not “off the hook” — there is another damnable offense which Scripture presents: Rejecting the knowledge of God as revealed in creation and the conscience of man.

Romans 1:18ff and 2:14-15 make this clear. You see, people will be judged according to the light they have/did have. God has revealed Himself to all men. Since all men distort (e.g. through pagan religion) and reject that knowledge (e.g. Romans 3:23) they are not innocent. God sent Christ to give people an opportunity for redemption from the guilt they already have. To those who respond to the revelation they have by sincerely calling out to know this Creator-God, God sends the gospel, for only in Christ can they be saved (Acts 4:12; Romans 10:1-17).

So we see the imperative nature of Christ’s commission to take the gospel to the ends of the earth: Only through Christ can man be saved; there are people everywhere who are ready to respond!

JESUS IS LORD

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I didn’t grow up in a Christian home per se, so Easter was the time for dyeing eggs and getting candy, and some of it was really gross — like those big, tall bunnies in the yellow boxes; you know, the ones with the blue eyes!

Whatever kind of chocolate that was, it wasn’t Ghirardelli’s! Talking about chocolate bunnies, I read about a woman who, at Easter time, proudly announced a personal victory at her Weight Watchers meeting. She said,

“This is the first year my kids realized that chocolate Easter bunnies came with ears.”

When the title “Lord” is applied to Jesus in the New Testament, it means Sovereign Ruler; Almighty One. The New Testament repeatedly refers to Jesus as the (one and only) Lord Jesus Christ. Christians call Jesus Lord; the New Testament claims He is the one and only Lord. Is He?

There were many things about the life and ministry of Jesus that substantiate this claim. Easter celebrates perhaps the most significant one: Christ’s resurrection. The apostle Matthew writes, “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Him…” Matthew said they saw Him, Jesus. That the disciples actually saw Jesus, risen from the dead, can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, provided the evidence is objectively presented and considered.

For instance:

  • Prior to Christ’s appearance to the Eleven (the Upper Room, Galilee, etc.), they were cowards who deserted Jesus when He was arrested. After they’d seen Jesus and received the Holy Spirit, every one of the Eleven went on to serve the Lord, being witnesses to His claims. How can we explain this change from cowardice to courage? The resurrection!
  • Ten of the original twelve disciples died as martyrs, their testimony being, “Jesus is risen from the dead — we are eyewitnesses to the fact!” This is powerful evidence for Christ’s resurrection because men will die for something they believe to be true, even though it may actually be false [e.g. the 911 terrorists]. They will not, however, die for something they know is a lie.

Christ’s disciples suffered torturous deaths [read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs for the details] because they would not recant their testimony: “We saw Him die; we saw Him resurrected from the dead!” Matthew declares Jesus is Lord by virtue of His resurrection — a miracle no other religion can claim for their founder!

This claim confronts us with a critical question: “Is Jesus, my Lord?” The whole point of Christ’s death and resurrection is that He died then rose again for you and me! The Bible is very clear about our need for a Savior:

“All have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal” (Romans 3:23).

“The wages [result] of sin is death [physical and spiritual], but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Have you received this gift of God, the forgiveness of sin and eternal life through faith in Christ alone? You must first see your need for Jesus — then ask Him to be your Savior.