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| Enjoy this delicious birthday dish celebrating the birth. |
May 5, 2016
An
inquiry towards understanding "salvation by grace alone."
Bell
asked:
Can
a man actually be saved without hearing the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Sing
That's
a good question. “Can a man actually be saved” IN WHAT SENSE “without hearing
the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ?”
Tell
me, what is your question inquiring about, then I may be able to attempt an
answer?
The
preaching and hearing of the gospel is very necessary, but only necessary for
the specific purpose for which it was divinely ordained. We need to get that
right.
Bell
Thanks
for responding. In the sense of knowing and understanding how we obtain the
gift of eternal life. Is it possible for someone to die and end up in heaven
without actually knowing how it happened?
Sing
"In
the sense of knowing and understanding how we obtain the gift of eternal
life."
===========
Eternal
life/salvation is bestowed, a completed act, freely by the sovereign grace of
God. A man DOES NOTHING to obtain it. Eternal life/salvation is bestowed to a
man when he is INCAPABLE of knowing and understanding the spiritual truth of the
gospel, being dead in trespasses and sins. [The sad truth is even more
disheartening: a man by nature is in enmity and hostility against God.
Incapability is bad enough! To be in enmity against God is far worse.]
The
gospel is absolutely necessary to inform and enlighten him (one already freely bestowed with eternal salvation) on how the eternal salvation has been freely bestowed on him by God's free and sovereign grace.
A
man does not need to know or understand about his conception and birth in order
to obtain the life he has. His conception and birth are PRIOR and makes
possible [sic] his knowing and understanding of the life he has, of which he
did ABSOLUTELY nothing to obtain. The biological gospel is very useful for him
to understand his life, who his parents are, and how to live that life wisely.
Does
it help?
Bell
Perfect.
Yes, it confirms my thoughts on salvation. So, it's true that a man could be
saved for years, like Abram, before he came to the knowledge, or understanding
of it?
Sing
Yes.
Like a whole lot of people who never had the opportunity to know the deep
mysteries of their conception and birth before they left this world. Some have
no idea who their parents are. That ignorance doesn’t make them any less human
than the most loved and well-brought-up children.
Their
ignorance does not make them any less human than those who may be greatly
enlightened on the matter. But ignorance is no bliss. It leaves men in grievous
lies, errors and superstitions. And instead of living as a man made in the
image of God, he may live his life as a beast, thinking he is a beast!
Bell
Amen,
Thank you for your time and effort. May God bless
==============================
Now
enjoy this delicious birthday dish celebrating the birth.
p/s
The picture above is a traditional birthday dish for the "Foochow" -
a bowl of red rice wine long life noodles with two goose eggs and a pair of
rooster drumsticks! 🙂
