gnarley said:
What is God's method of reaching the vast multitudes who have never heard the gospel.
God's main method is through the preaching of the word. That's why we read: "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? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? (Romans 10: 14,15) That's why Paul tells us in Romans 10:17
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."gnarley said:
Is the "no excuse" of romans one the means? And if so, do those that have heard the gospel numerous times get a better shot at salvation than those afore mentioned who have never heard the "how shall they then hear if we do not preach"
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)
The quote in Romans 1:20 is referring to the forensic evidence that God exists and that mankind is without excuse because God is revealed through the visible medium of creation. All people are naturally inclined to some form of religion, yet they fail to worship their Creator, whose general revelation makes Him universally known. Sinful egoism and aversion to our Creator's claims have driven humanity into idolatry, the error of giving worship and homage to any other power or object other than God (See Is. 44:9-20; Rom. 1:21-23; and Col. 3:5).
God will not allow human beings to suppress entirely their sense of God and His judgment. Some sense of right and wrong, as well as of accountability to God, always remains. Even in the fallen world everyone is endowed with a conscience that from time to time condemns them, telling them that they ought to suffer for wrongs they have done. When conscience speaks in these terms it speaks with the voice of God.
In one sense, fallen humanity does not know God, since what people believe about the objects of their worship falsifies and distorts the truth about God. In another sense all human beings do know God, but in guilt, with uncomfortable inklings of the judgment they cannot avoid. Only the gospel of Christ can speak peace to this aspect of the human condition.
So they must hear the gospel for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes.
Wes
(I've included some notes from my Geneva Study Bible in my reply)
