Without Excuse

by Pastor Eddie Hughes

May 20, 2004

A few years ago, a member of the church I was pastoring, approached me with the following question:

I was a little surprised, and it motivated me to do a series of teaching on basic Bible doctrine. It didn't take very long to discover there were others who were also unlearned in some of the most basic truths.

I was reminded of the sharp rebuke delivered to pastors through the prophets -- the reprimand for not properly feeding the flock (Jer. 23 1 Eze. 34). I was also reminded of what the New Testament apostles (and prophets) warned would happen in the latter times, not only as a result of the failure of pastors to feed the sheep; but also due to the loss of love for the truth on the part of the church as a whole.

Universalism/Inclusion

An example of one of the most popular, fast-rising, and dangerous doctrines of today, is the so-called “Doctrine of Inclusion” It is also referred to as “Universal Salvation”, or simply the Universalist doctrine.

Essentially, the ‘Universalists’ believe . Since Jesus died for the sins of whole world, and the scripture says He is the ‘savior of the world’ to say there will be people who will never be saved, is the same as saying Jesus failed. They (the Universalists) deny the basic Bible truth of eternal damnation, which is coming to those who do not receive Jesus as their own personal Lord and Savior.

It is definitely not a new doctrine, but it has had a recent increase in popularity, and it has crept into mainline Christian circles and major denominations.

The ‘Only’ sin that condemns?

The popular idea that the ONLY sin that condemns, is the sin of “rejecting Christ,” lies at the root of the error of the doctrine of “Inclusion”. The Bible does NOT teach that the sin of rejecting Christ is THE sin that sends someone to hell. Not only the person who rejects Christ, but also the one who never heard of Him will be judged according to his works. And any who are thus judged will be condemned because of those works... Not merely because they rejected Christ.

It is ‘because of’ any of the sins of the individual, that the wrath of God abides upon them and they face eternal damnation. Only by believing in, and receiving Jesus as Lord, does one escape the Judgment due him, and receive deliverance from the wrath to come. (I Thes. 1:10).

Through the erroneous idea that the intentional rejection of Christ is the only sin that condemns, people have come to reason, that if one does not “reject” Christ, then he will be saved. And so. . . If one never hears the gospel of salvation, they reason, one cannot . Therefore, those who never hear the gospel to begin with, would also be saved. But you see, the Bible never says those who “reject” the truth will be condemned. It says, those who “do not believe” will be condemned. There is a difference.

Why would Jesus have commissioned the church to go into all the world to preach the gospel, if only those who have heard the gospel and rejected it could be lost? Would it not have been better to simply keep quiet? Wouldn't it be better for all people to die in their ignorance and be saved, than for some to die, having heard and rejected the gospel, and be lost?

It is not the knowledge of the GOSPEL that makes a person accountable for their sins... It is the knowledge of God's LAW... (the knowledge of the difference between right and wrong). And the scripture teaches that even those who have never heard the Law, have the Law written upon their hearts and have become a “law unto themselves”, so that, they are “without excuse” (Romans 1:20 & Romans 2:12-16)

In our modern day of “tolerance” and liberal thinking, it strikes many as unfair of God to allow anyone to be lost, who has not had the opportunity to hear the gospel of the death and resurrection of Christ. But salvation is not about God's being “fair”... Was it “fair” that Jesus suffered for our sins? If God were merely “fair” we would all perish. It IS about the LOVE of God, who gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him would NOT perish.

Salvation comes by faith, when one calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus, believing in his heart that Jesus died for our sins and God raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:9-13)

That saving faith comes only by “hearing” the gospel of the death and resurrection of Christ and His finished work of redemption. . . It doesn't come by “NOT hearing, thus, NOT rejecting.”

Thus, the importance of preaching the gospel to every person is clearly expressed. The only requirement for a person to be eternally lost, is to be a sinner, and to have the inward knowledge of God's law (knowing the difference between right and wrong).

And that person can only be saved if he or she will call upon the Lord Jesus...Which can only happen if he believes the gospel...Which can only happen if he hears...Which can only happen if it is told. Why? Because faith comes by hearing the word of God (the message of Christ).

The preaching of Jesus Christ is not merely so people can enjoy the blessings of a faith filled life here on earth, (as the propagators of the doctrine of “Inclusion” will tell you). It is so men can be saved.