The apostle Peter declares that believers are “born again” by the word of God. (See I Peter 1:23). He goes on to say that a believer is nurtured by the word of God and is prompted to grow spiritually by feeding on that word. (See I Peter 2:2). James wrote “Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth” (See James 1:18). He goes on to say that it is “the engrafted word which is able to save your souls” (See James 1:21). Well, what if someone doesn’t have access to the word of God? What if I am a South American Indian living in the Amazon in the 15th Century! How can I be saved and nurtured and brought into spiritual maturity? I do not have the word of God available to me. I have no written language. I cannot read. My observation of created things around me cannot bring me into a relationship with the Creator of those things. How would I know that the Creator of life and earth and all things on it is a benevolent and kind Creator who wishes to impart eternal life to me? How can it be said that I am without excuse for failing to worship the true God? How can I know what or who is the true God? The mighty sun in the heavens that gives light, and warmth, and growth to the trees and plant life around me, surely that is a god, perhaps the only true god!
The apostle Paul wrote that the church is sanctified, washed and nourished by the word of God. (See Ephesians 5:26, 29). He also says that the word of God is “the sword of the Spirit.” (See Ephesians 6:17). It is the tool provided to us by God in which we fight error and falsehood. How would the ancient Babylonian fare spiritually without the word of God available to him? How about someone born in Japan or China in the third of fourth century, hundreds of years before the first Christian missionary visited their land? Do such billions just live and die without hope, steeped in ignorance through no fault of their own? That’s what many preachers ignorant of God’s inspired prophets think.
Paul wrote, “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed, for there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 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 except they be sent?” (See Romans 10:11-15).
Those that were without excuse for submitting themselves to God were the Jews, to whom God had revealed Himself and given to them “the oracles of God” – His Word! If one reads Romans 1 and 2 slowly and carefully, paying close attention to every declaration made in those two chapters, it will become abundantly clear that Paul is not saying all mankind are without excuse for rejecting God. It is his fellow Jews of whom he writes in those two chapters, those who had known God but were unthankful and turned to idolatry, forsaking the one true God. Paul actually states this as a fact in verse 17 of Romans 2. God help you to understand.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley