I've noticed that some believers are worried about loved ones not being in the kingdom because they did not (as far as can be judged) get to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour in their lives.

This situation can seem even worse if it is thought that they were dissuaded by the words or actions of others who were not good examples of christians!

So, are people going to be lost and go to hell because they were mis-informed by others?

This is not what a good God would envision or plan for, so let's see what God says about non-believers in the bible. There are so many of them it seems reasonable that God would have a plan! Let's first have a look at what God says through the apostle Paul in the book of Romans.

Romans 1:19-20 For what can be known about God is plain to them (non-believers) , because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Many don't appreciate it, but God has ensured that everyone in the human race (above the age of reason) will have an understanding of His divine nature, power, and indeed all His attributes. God is "LOVE", and He loves all the world, so no-one is left out of His plans. No-one could love you more! God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ to die for us all and reconcile us to Himself.

And, having died for all, Jesus went into hell taking our punishment. On His resurrection He brought out the captives that God had authenticated but who could not go to be present with the Lord because Jesus had not yet atoned for our sins.

But now Jesus had died and gone into hell, into "Paradise" or "Abraham's bosom" - the part where the Old Testament period saints, 'captives in Satan's world' who had followed God's leading, had gone on their death.

What happened there, after Jesus explained what He had done for those who followed God's internal guidance, is covered in Ephesians, Chapter 4, verse 8.

Ephesians 4:8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led captive a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

This phrase, "led captive a host of captives," is referring to Jesus liberating all the Old Testament period saints/believers. These believers, Israelite and Gentile who died, went to the "Paradise/Abraham's Bosom" part of a place in the center of the earth called "Sheol" in the Hebrew language or "Hell" in English.

They had not believed on the name of Jesus in their lives but nevertheless, as King David is an example, they could now accept Jesus and inherit eternal life. And, having accepted Jesus' sacrifice, He could lead these captives out, captive now to eternal life in Him!

The ungodly also went to Sheol on death, but Jesus teaches us in Luke, Chapter 16, verses 19-31 that there was a great gulf fixed between these two areas. Those in torment envied those who were enjoying the blessings of the Lord in the part of Sheol that was called "Abraham's bosom or Paradise", and the two groups could not inter-mix.

So to recap, even though the Old Testament followers of God were blessed, they were not able to enter into the presence of the Lord, because the atonement of Christ had not been completed. So, in that sense, they were captives. At the death of Jesus, He descended into Sheol and took these captives captive. He then took them to heaven, into the very presence of God, and emptied that part of Sheol. The space could have been added to the Sheol that the lost occupy but in any case it's a place from which you cannot see those who are with God since they are no longer in that Paradise area that was next to hell. They are now in the presence of God.

So now that we see what happened to those people, Israelite or Gentile, who died as God's followers, we can understand what Paul is saying in Romans, Chapter 2, verses 19-20.

Romans 2:19-20 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

Can you see that Paul says non-believers who, having received an insight into the existence of God, aligned their minds so that they followed the guidance of their God-directed conscience, will be excused in the Judgement Day of Christ. So although no Christian reached them to preach the Gospel they will be excused from Hell if they followed the guidance of Holy Spirit when they were convinced of the existence of God and He showed them how to order their lives.

We don't have to worry about those people that Christians may not reach. God wants us to take the Gospel to all nations, but those we miss are not thereby lost! Our God of love will give them the opportunity to share eternity with Him.

Why would anyone think otherwise? We serve a GOOD God! ....

Best wishes for Grace and The Peace of Jesus.

Attlee.

Creation-VS-Evolution 2 Click Here
Mt St Hellens Eruption Fallout Click Here
Creation videos- Surtsey, etc. Click Here
Fossil Thorns and other things (Video) Click Here
Creation Snippets on YOUTUBE (Videos) Click Here
Cosmology, Constants & The Big Bang Click Here
Seeing Distant Stars In A young Universe See 'Chapter 5' Here
Sauropod Dinosaurs Sculpted by Earlier Men Click Here
Historical Support For Dinosaurs Pt 1 Click Here




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