I was listening to Adrian Rodgers, a great preacher and teacher of God's word. He was making several points about our audience, the lost, the unbeliever, mankind; which may be helpful as we continue to spread the seeds of the word. The gospel of our salvation!
You know how we have all been asked the question. What if a person never hears the gospel or the name of Jesus spoken? It's the old man on the deserted island scenario.
Rodgers while referring to
Romans 1 used the analogy of a court room where one day the judge, God, will call witnesses against us. The 1st witness is our conscious.
Romans 1:18,19 says, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them (conscious, with knowledge) for God has shown it to them." See also
Romans 2:12-16. The 2nd witness is the creation.
Romans 1:20 says, "For since the (creation) of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made (creation), even His eternal power & Godhead so that they are without excuse."
He pointed out how our conscious was the inward, subjective witness and the creation is the outward, objective witness.
Psalms 19:1 says, "the heavens declare the glory of God." Notice also, how this old testament scripture dovetails beautifully with the Romans passages.
Deuteronomy 30:19 says, "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life that both you and your descendants may live."
John 1:9 says, "He, Christ was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world." Another passage demonstrating that God has given every man an adequate measure of light to respond to God in faith.
He said that the opposite of proof is not error but sin. This validates the passage that we often use in
John 3:19, "and this is the condemnation that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness (sin) rather than light because their deeds were evil." It also validates the passage above that says "men suppress the truth in unrighteousness." or (sin).
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 says, "For this reason God will send them strong delusion that they should believe the lie that they may be damned because they believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (sin). Is God doing this apart from their will? Certainly not. This is only the consequences for rejecting the truth in unrighteousness, (sin).
Well, I hope this information will encourage, build up and make us better defenders and preachers of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.
