Will God Excuse The Heathern That Have Never Heard About Him ?

WILL GOD EXCUSE THE HEATHERN THAT HAVE NEVER HEARD ABOUT HIM?

Here in Romans 1:18-32

Paul has both good news and bad news for the world. The good news is that God has provided atonement for lost mans sins. The bad news, which he writes of first, is that all men need atonement for their sins.

· First of all what is atonement someone may be wondering

ATONEMENT is the act by which God restores a relationship of harmony and unity between Himself and human beings. The word can be broken into three parts that express this great truth in simple terms: “at-one-ment.” Through God’s atoning grace and forgiveness, we are reinstated to a relationship of at-one-ment with God, in spite of our sin.

The word is found only one time in the NEW TESTEMENT AND 80 times in the Old Testament.

ROM. 5:11 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the atonement

Because of Adam’s sin (Rom. 5:18; 1 Cor. 15:22) and our own personal sins (Col. 1:21), no one is worthy of relationship with THE HOLY GOD (Eccl. 7:20; 20For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Rom. 3:23 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Since we are helpless to correct this situation (Prov. 20:9) and can do nothing to hide our sin from God (Heb. 4:13), we all stand condemned by sin (Rom. 3:19).

It is human nature (our sinfulness) and God’s nature (His holy wrath against sin) that makes us “enemies” (Rom. 5:10 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.).

God’s gracious response to the helplessness of His chosen people, the nation of Israel, was to give them a means of Reconciliation through Old Testament covenant Law. This came in the sacrificial system where the death or “blood” of the animal was accepted by God as a substitute for the death (Ezek. 18:20) that the sinner deserved: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls” (Lev. 17:11).

In the Old Testament, God Himself brought about atonement by graciously providing the appointed sacrifices.

Although Old Testament believers were truly forgiven and received genuine atonement through animal sacrifices, which were pointing to the LAMB OF GOD that was to come, the New Testament clearly states that during the Old Testament period God’s justice was not served: “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Heb. 10:4).

Atonement was possible “because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed” (Rom. 3:25 25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation {an atoning victim} through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; {tolerance}

God’s justice was served in the death of Jesus Christ as THE SUPREME SACRIFICE & Substitute: “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12).

Christ loved us and gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5:2), so that those who believe in Him (Rom. 3:22) might receive atonement and--- “be saved from [God’s] wrath” (Rom. 5:9) through “the precious blood of Christ” (1 Pet. 1:19).

No believer who truly understands the awesome holiness of God’s wrath and the terrible hopelessness that comes from personal sin can fail to be overwhelmed by the deep love of Jesus for each of us, and the wonder of God’s gracious gift of eternal atonement through Christ.

Through Jesus, God will present us “faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).

Listen as I read today’s text found in Romans 1:18-32

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19Because that which may be known of God is manifest{publicly,apparent} in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.