Burden & Blessing

How to Respond to How People are Saved  Listen at Words of Grace

A question is often raised by people about the love of God and how salvation is only received through faith or believing in Jesus as Savior.

Question: How can God be loving and then demand that salvation is received only by those who believe in Jesus as their Savior? What about those who have never heard about Jesus? Could God really condemn them because they don’t believe if they were never given an opportunity to believe?

Answer: This question is often used to “rationalize” other ways of salvation outside of what Scripture clearly teaches. Let’s begin with what God says clearly in His Word about how salvation is received. Jesus says: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). The Apostle Paul also writes: “But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (Galatians 3:22).
Through faith (believing or trusting) in Jesus we receive the benefit of His perfect life and death in our place. We receive eternal life and salvation.
So what about those who have never heard about Jesus or had an opportunity to believe in Him? Is it fair for God to condemn them for their sins?
First of all, because we are all sinners, we all deserve God’s just judgment because of our sin: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). There are no innocent bystanders. We are all guilty before God.
We also need to realize that every civilization, no matter where it has settled, traces its family tree back to a common ancestor. The Bible reveals this common ancestor as Noah through his three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth (Genesis 6-9). Secular genealogical records confirm this. (Check out the book: “After the Flood” by Bill Cooper for an in-depth study of genealogical records from all over the world confirming the Genesis account.) Every society or tribe which was isolated on some island, left the rest of civilization and arrived there at some point in the past. At one time in their history they knew the truth about God and the salvation that He would bring about through the coming Savior. If that knowledge was lost, it is not the fault of God, but the fault of man.
In addition, the Bible clearly states that God desires the salvation of all people (2 Peter 3:9) and has sent Jesus to live and to die to atone for the sins of all people (1 John 2:1-2). He has also placed within all people a natural knowledge that He exists (Psalm 14:1). When we look at the world around us we know, by nature, that there must be a God who has created us and all the things of this world. Just as we know that someone made our car and it did not happen by chance, so also we know that there is a God who created a world much more complex and intricate than our car! Paul says: “His (God’s) invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they (human beings) are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). This natural knowledge of God reveals that God exists so that we might search for Him and find out more about Him (Acts 17:27).
Finally, God also sends His people (Christians) into the world as witnesses of the salvation Jesus has won for them and for all people. Jesus told His followers to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) so that others would believe through their word. Why should Christians go and preach the Gospel if the lives of unbelievers were not hanging in the balance? Why go if God was going to overlook their unbelief and save them anyway? Paul says: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). It is the preaching of the Word that God uses to create faith, and it though faith that God’s gift of salvation is received.
God desires our salvation, which we receive through faith. He has given to each of us an innate understanding that He exists, so that we might seek after Him, find Him, believe in Him, and receive His salvation. And He has revealed His truth and proclaims this truth through the people of His Church as His witnesses.

As we enter a new season of the Church Year with Epiphany, Pastor Nathanael Mayhew discusses the word Epiphany in our Word of the Week.  The word Epiphany comes from the Greek and means “appearing” or “manifestation” in English.  Epiphany celebrates the incarnation of Jesus into the world for sinners.  But there is a difference between Christmas and Epiphany.  Epipany was known as “Christmas for the Gentiles” and presents the Good News of salvation in Jesus not just for the Jews, but also for Gentiles.  Maybe you are familiar with the account of the Gentile Wise Men who came to visit Jesus in Bethlehem.  Jesus was revealed as the Savior of all people, Jews and Gentiles alike.  Jesus was revealed the the promised Messiah and Savior through His words and miracles throughout His ministry, but also will be manifested as the Savior of all on the Last Day when He comes again.  Let us rejoice during this Epiphany season that Jesus has come and has been revealed as the Savior of all people, including me! 

In this Bible Study episode, Pastors Nathanael Mayhew and Mark Tiefel take us back into the Old Testament and the book of Joshua.  This book picks up where Deuteronomy leaves off, as the Children of Israel prepare to enter into the promised land under the leadership of Joshua.  They discuss the background and history of the book inclunding the conquering of the promised land, and people like Rahab whom God spared.  In addition, Joshua is a picture of Jesus in many ways and share the same name (Joshua and Jesus are the same name, one is Hebrew, the other Greek).  Both lead their people into the promised land (Israel / Heaven), both are powerful leaders (physical / spiritual).  They discuss the way in which God treats the heathen nations and have them destroyed.  First we need to remember that we all deserve to die because of our sin.  We deserve to be judged by God.  While God is love, He is also just.  In order to be just, He must punish sin.  God’s judged the sin of the heathen nations through the nation of Israel, and He did this so that He could accomplish His salvation through the nation of Israel and the coming of the Savior Jesus.  It is here that God’s love and judgment come together in perfect harmony.  May the Lord bless your study of this book which points to the salvation of God for sinners!

As we begin a new year Pastor Mark Tiefel defines the word providence in our Word of the Week. At the very begining of the world God assures us that He will care for His creation and provides for all people.  The knowledge of God’s providence or care for all creation is meant to lead us to a knowledge of God’s love for us and His salvation.  Jesus reminds us that if God cares for the birds and the flowers of creation, we can be sure that He cares for us because we are of more value than they.  We don’t need to worry, but we can be confident that as He cares for us physically, he will also care for us spiritually.  If He gave His own Son for us, what won’t He give for us?  If God is for us, no enemy can stand against us!  May the Lord encourage and comfort you with that truth throughout this new year of His grace!

In this episode Pastors Neal Radichel and Nathanael Mayhew discuss and review Ken Ham and Britt Beemer’s book, “Already Gone.”  This book looks at statistics which show why less people are going to church and give some solutions to this epidemic in the Church.  He points out how churches in Europe have closed at an astounding rate, and this is carrying over into America.  Surveys reveal why people aren’t going to church.  For example: Boring services, chruch is too legalistic, too political, hypocrisy in the church, too far to go; not relevant; etc.  But the problem is that the culture has infiltrated the church and undermined the truth of God’s Word and the church has stopped being the church.  What is the solution?  First, the church needs to reteach and emphasize the authority of God’s Word.  We see this in the creation account and the rejection of God’s desire for marriage, in the truth of the resurrection and the conception of Jesus.  Once you start down the road of rejection of God’s Word, there is a very dark end.  Our purpose is to preach the Gospel which changes hearts.  God’s Word, His Law and His Gospel is always relevant in our world, because it is what we need to hear.  The responsibilty for this lies first and foremost with PARENTS and not with the church!  The solution starts with the Word of God in the home and supported by the church.  This book is a must read for parents and church leaders alike to help see the problem in our society and in our homes and as an encouragement to be faithful in our use and proclamation of God’s Word of Truth to the next generation.      

In our Word of the Week, Pastor Mark Tiefel defines the word Incarnation. The teaching of the incarnation comes to the forefront in the birth of Jesus.  Literally, the word incarnate means to become flesh.  Jesus had to become human because God promised that it would happen this way (Isaiah 7:14).  Jesus would be Immanuel, God with us.  He also had to be human to suffer and die for us as our perfect substitute as Paul says in Galatians 4:4-5.  Jesus had to be born under the law to redeem sinners.  Jesus is true God, but also became true Man for our salvation (John 1:1,14).  If Jesus did not have a human body he could not endure the punishment for our sins.  Jesus had to become incanate, because it is how our Savior offered Himself for our sins.  This is what Christmas is all about.

In this episode of Conservative Pastor Response Pastors Neal Radichel and Nathanael Mayhew discuss the topic of Prayer.  What is Prayer?  Prayer is communication with God, it is not a Means of Grace.  Prayer is the way that God has given to us to communicate with Him.  Prayer is by nature a humbling thing where we admit we can’t do something on our own.  Prayer is for our benefit, not God’s.  He knows what we need, but He invites us to come to Him with what we need.  To Whom is Prayer addressed?  A false god or god that is unreal cannot hear or respond to our prayer.  True Prayer must be addressed to the one True God, the Triune God.  Prayer to saints is not prayer either.  These relatives or loved ones who are with the Lord cannot hear us nor do they know what is going on in our lives (Isaiah 63:16).  What direction do we have in prayer?  The Bible is full of examples of prayer.  We are selfish in our prayers.  We generally focus on physical requests in our lives, but in the example that Jesus gives us (the Lord’s Prayer), He emphasizes spiritual needs and requests.  We should pray according to God’s will.  We don’t know what is best for us physically, but we can be certain about our spiritual needs.  There is no spiritual blessing that God doesn’t want us to have.  The Lord is good and wants what is best for us (Romans 8).  We can trust Him when we come to Him in prayer. 

In our Word of the Week, Pastor Mark Tiefel discusses the word Savior. The Bible talks about the word savior in many different contexts.  God is described as a savior, as were certain kings or judges.  But the central message of the Savior in Scripture points us to Jesus as our Savior.  In Isaiah, God says that there is only one Savior. The fulfillment of that Savior who was prophesied is declared by the angels in Luke 2:11:  “For there is born to you, this day, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”  Jesus who was born for us was sent to save us from our sin.  Paul says that Jesus is our Great God and Savior (Titus 2 and 3).  To call Jesus Savior, is to confess Him as God.  Jesus is both True Man and True God, born to be our Savior.  It is this Savior that we rejoice in and celebrate at Christmas and throughout the year.

In this Bible Study episode, Pastors Nathanael Mayhew and Mark Tiefel take us back into the Old Testament and the book of Exodus.  This book picks up where Genesis left off, and shows how God fulfilled his promise to Abraham to make of him a great nation through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed.  This book records the beginning of the nation of Israel, their enslavement in Egypt for 400 years, and God’s deliverance of that oppressor through the 10 plagues and the devastation of Egypt.  The Lord then leads them to Mt. Sinai where he established His covenant with Israel as a nation and gave them His laws, which they were to follow.  These laws are discussed more in our podcast on Old Testament Laws and Ceremonies.  They also take a closer look at where Christ is seen throughout the book of Exodus, in the passover Lamb, in the manna with gave life, and in the rock that brought water to the children of Israel.  These pictures pointed the Old Testament believers to what Jesus would come to be and accomplish as our Savior.  While the name Jesus is not found in the Old Testament, He is indeed clearly found there!  Join us as we revive our understanding of God’s word in the book of Exodus.  

In our Word of the Week, Pastor Neal Radichel discusses the word Peace. We live in a troubled world. God’s Word describes peace in two ways: what we have and what is given. Peace in the Old Testament is connected with the presence of God. God’s gives peace to those who are troubled or burdened. Jesus calms our troubled hearts and minds. Jesus gives the peace that the world cannot give through His own perfect death. Through His own death, Jesus offers a peace offering for our sin that we might be forgiven. During this Advent season we focus our attention on the coming of the Savior Jesus who is the Prince of Peace. Thanks be to God!