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Implications of the 5 Views
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Chapter: 13.15
(Section 13: What about those "Without the Gospel?")
Copyright © Michael Bronson 1997, 1999, and 2000
BibleHelp.org
Summary
There are 5 views that Christians hold to concerning the heathen. Each of these vies have many implications. Some of these views are not consistent with the Bible. It is important to understand the hidden implications of each of these views, especially your view.
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Because "hidden implications" can cause problems, it is important for you to be familiar with the implications associated with your view. You have already seen the differences in the five views. Now that you have decided which view best describes what you believe, continue reading to see the implications of your view.
Implications of View 1
"Every person is accountable for his sins, and unless he has personally accepted Jesus Christ as his savior, he will go to Hell to be punished for those sins."
| A) | Implies everyone needs to personally accept the gospel to enter Heaven. |
| B) | Implies God has chosen to use humans to deliver the gospel message, as opposed to God using "supernatural" means such as angels, etc. |
| C) | Implies if we do not go and share the gospel with the heathen, they will die in their sins and go to Hell. |
| D) | Implies there will be degrees of punishment in Hell based on how the person lived up to the light that he was given. |
Implications of View 2
"Personal acceptance of Jesus Christ is essential for a person to have his sins forgiven. If a person is seeking (living up to the light that he has) God will bring a Christian to him."
| A) | Implies everyone personally needs to accept the gospel to enter Heaven. |
| B) | Implies God will use humans to deliver the gospel message, as opposed to God using "supernatural" means such as angels, etc. |
| C) | Implies if a person "seeks God," (continually lives up to the light he has from inner conscience and nature) God will provide him with the gospel. |
| D) | Implies everyone who could possibly be saved is getting saved. This comes from the concept that God will give increased light to everyone who is seeking and will continue to increase the light until the unbeliever stops seeking. Therefore, since everyone will be given as much knowledge as his heart desires, everyone who could possibly be saved will be saved. |
| E) | Implies world evangelism is already taking place. Everyone who could possibly get saved is being saved. |
| F) | Implies having more exposure to the gospel will not increase a person’s chance of becoming a Christian. This is because View 2 implies that God has given everyone, through general revelation, an equal opportunity to accept the gospel. Otherwise, according to this view, those who had been heavily exposed to the gospel would have an "unfair" advantage. |
| G) | Implies there should be an even proportion of Christians throughout the world. Acceptance of the gospel is not dependent on the amount of opportunities presented or geographic location, but on an inner attitude toward God and truth. |
| H) | Implies the non-Christian who stays in his religion (or cult) is not sincere or not living up to the light given him. This view implies God will provide the gospel to any person who is sincere and continually lives up to the light that he has. Thus, if the non-Christian is truly sincere, God must offer him the gospel, thereby forcing him to leave his religion or cult. |
| I) | Implies that if we do not go and bring to the heathen the gospel, someone else will. |
| J) | Implies when a person is born, his inner nature or attitude is already established concerning whether he will or will not "live up to the light" given him. Since God will give light to those who are seeking, we must assume that the reason most of the world has not heard the gospel is because they were not seeking. If they were seeking, God would be forced to enlighten them. Because the desire to seek is not increased by a person’s surroundings, our only option is to assume the person was born with no desire to seek. |
Implications of View 3
"Same as view 2, except if there are no Christians available, God will send the gospel message to the "seeker" via a "supernatural" method (i.e. an angel or a voice from Heaven)."
Same as View 2, except for Implication B.
| B) | Implies God will deliver the gospel message to anyone who is seeking. He will use any method available, whether it is a human or some "supernatural" means. |
Implications of View 4
"If a person "lives up to the light that he has," God will allow him into heaven. Personal acceptance of Jesus Christ is not essential for the Heathen."
| A) | Implies if a person is sincerely seeking and "living up to the light he has," God will then honor that quality and let the person into Heaven. |
| B) | Implies that personal acceptance of the gospel of Jesus Christ is not essential for the heathen to enter Heaven. |
Implications of View 5
"Every person who has not heard the gospel will be allowed into heaven. Personal acceptance of Jesus Christ is not essential for the Heathen. "
A)
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Implies if a person has never had a chance to hear the gospel, he is not responsible for personally accepting the gospel. Since he has not rejected the gospel, he can enter Heaven. This basically means that personal acceptance of the gospel of Jesus Christ is not essential to enter Heaven. |
| B) | Implies it would be better not to send missionaries to the heathen. If the heathens are already going to Heaven, sending them a missionary would only give them the opportunity to reject Christ, and thus, go to Hell. |
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Quick Visual Aid of View 1
Quick Visual Aid of View 2
Quick Visual Aid of View 3
Quick Visual Aid of View 4
Quick Visual Aid of View 5