What Happens to People Who Never Heard the Gospel?

Greg answers questions about apologetics resources for young children, the fate of people who never heard the gospel, catering to those who have been historically marginalized, reconciling Romans 3 with the idea that those who seek God find him, and whether the atonement is illogical.   Topics: Do you know of any apologetics resources for children who are ages six and ten? (03:00) What happens to people who never heard the gospel or who lived before the time of Jesus? How do they get saved? (09:00) How would you respond to the idea that people who have been historically marginalized ought to be catered to? (25:00) How do you reconcile the idea that those who seek God find him with Romans 3, which says no one seeks God? (44:00) How is it logical to think that a God-man can die on a cross and absolve you of your moral shortcomings? (51:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Keeping Your Kids on God’s Side: 40 Conversations to Help Them Build a Lasting Faith by Natasha Crain Cold-Case Christianity for Kids: Investigate Jesus with a Real Detective by J. Warner Wallace The Heathen and the Unknown God – Audio by Greg Koukl Eternity in Their Hearts: Startling Evidence of Belief in the One True God in Hundreds of Cultures Throughout the World by Don Richardson The Bible: Fast Forward – DVD (Also available as a digital download or audio) Critical Race Theory: Civil Rights Upside Down by Greg Koukl Related Links: Foundation Worldview – Curriculum for children The “Heathen” and the Unknown God – Part 1 and Part 2 by Greg Koukl Why the Blood? by Greg Koukl

Greg responds to the claim that there’s no proof for God, then he answers questions about whether the parables in Luke 12 indicate salvation can be lost, Sarah sending away Hagar, how sin moved from an angel to a tree, and what it means to say Jesus took on the sins of the world.   Topics: Commentary: Where’s the proof for God? (00:00) Are the parables in Luke 12 specifically directed at believers, and if so, don’t they imply salvation can be lost? (27:00) Can you explain what the story about Sarah sending away Hagar means? (38:00) How did sin go from being within an angel to being within a tree in a garden, and did Jesus’ taking on the sins of the world break some special power of sin for us, or was Jesus just taking away the consequences of sin? (45:00) Mentioned on the Show:  #STRask podcast with Greg and Amy History of Philosophy by Frederick Charles Copleston Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA Submit a question on the Open Mic Line

Greg talks to a caller about whether a church should formulate a specific position on Israel, reviews an AI article on reasons for and against converting to Christianity, and answers a question on whether people are confusing the idea of hearing the voice of God with being led by the Spirit.   Topics: Should a church formulate a specific position on Israel? (00:00) Commentary: Reasons for and against converting to Christianity (19:00) Do you think people are confusing the idea of hearing the voice of God with being led by the Spirit? Are those two different things? (45:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA “I asked Claude If It Would Convert to Christianity—Here’s What It Said” The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl Is God Just an Idea? by Greg Koukl Submit a question on the Open Mic Line

Greg talks about a clip from Wes Huff’s interview on Diary of a CEO and responds to objections to Hell, then he answers a question about whether ancient Greeks viewed their mythology the way we view Christianity now and people in the future will view Christianity the way we view Greek mythology now.   Topics: Commentary: Just tell them the truth. (00:00) What makes Christianity different from the way Greek mythology was seen two thousand years ago, and how do we know it won’t be seen as mythology in the future? (48:00) Mentioned on the Show:  #STRask podcast with Greg and Amy Red Pen Logic with Mr. B Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA Clip of Wesley Huff on Diary of a CEO Full interview with Wesley Huff on Diary of a CEO Greg’s debate with Deepak Chopra Greg’s comments last week about the claim that God is a bad father The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien by John Hendrix Can We Trust the Gospels? by Peter J. Williams Related Links: Don’t Try to Make Christianity Look Good by Amy Hall The Bible among the Myths: Unique Revelation or Just Ancient Literature? by John Oswalt

Greg talks about an argument atheist Michael Ruse made for people to be “moral” even though there are no grounds for being good, then he answers questions about Frank Turek’s claim that the Calvinist God is like Allah, and whether the continued existence of the Jews is evidence for God.   Topics: Commentary: Atheist Michael Ruse’s confused argument for morality (00:00) How would you respond to Frank Turek’s claim that if God regenerates people so that they can believe, but he doesn’t do that for everyone, then God is finite in his love and infinite in his justice, and that’s not the God of the Bible; it’s Allah. (26:00) Frank Turek’s comment about Calvinism seems philosophically wrong, but I need help with it. (29:00) Is there any merit to using the fact that the Jews are still around today as an apologetic? (45:00) Mentioned on the Show:  God Is Dead. Long Live Morality by Michael Ruse C.S. Lewis: The Most Reluctant Convert – Film The Bible: Fast Forward – DVD (Also available as a digital download or audio)

Greg responds to the charge that God is a bad father, then he answers a question from a caller about why we have to go through sanctification when people who die shortly after salvation are immediately glorified.   Topics: Commentary: Is God a bad father? (00:00) Why do some people have to go through sanctification when others will die right after salvation and be immediately glorified? (28:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers Related Links: Does God Love Everyone? by Jon Noyes

Greg argues for the A-theory of time, then he answers questions about whether God did something in the absence of time, how God can know what will happen in an A-theory of time, Greg’s take on church membership, and pastors using other people’s sermons.   Topics: Commentary: Arguments for the A-theory of time (00:00) Regarding your argument for the A-theory of time, didn’t God do something in the absence of time if he made the universe, and how can God know what will happen in an A-theory of time? (13:00) What is your take on church membership? (29:00) How do you view the practice of pastors using sermon series created by someone else? (44:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Submit a question on the Open Mic Line

Greg explains a three-point response to the problem of evil, then he talks to callers about a strategic question to ask someone who doesn’t trust the Bible because he thinks anything touched by man has been tainted, and whether Acts 17:26–27 is a good proof text for Molinism.   Topics: Commentary: A three-point response to the problem of evil (00:00) What’s a strategic question to ask someone who doesn’t trust the Bible because he thinks anything touched by man has been tainted? (36:00) Is Acts 17:26–27 a good proof text for Molinism? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers Related Links: How Can We Condemn Evil if God Is Sovereign? by Amy Hall No “Lost” Books of the Bible by Greg Koukl

Greg answers questions about how to dive into controversial conversations in a sensible way, the proper way of doing missions, whether boxing can be enjoyed to the glory of God, the line between temptation and sin, and whether Luke 20:37–38 points to the B-theory of time.   Topics: When we hear friends discussing topics that touch on our faith, such as abortion, gender issues, or suffering, how do we dive into the conversation in a sensible way? (03:00) What is the proper way of doing missions? Is this something God intended for married couples with children to be doing? (11:00) Can boxing be enjoyed to the glory of God? (26:00) Where is the line between temptation and sin? (40:00) Isn’t Luke 20:37–38 a better justification for the B-theory of time rather than the A-theory? (49:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl Submit a question on the Open Mic Line

Greg talks about the “continental divide” in worldviews, then he answers questions about a possible interpretation of Matthew 18:7–9, how to explain the sovereignty of God when a surgeon’s choice leads to someone’s death, and how a surgeon can find peace with that kind of responsibility.   Topics: Commentary: The continental divide in worldviews (00:00) What do you think about the idea that Matthew 18:7–9 is directed towards a community of believers rather than individuals, possibly even referring to wrong doctrine? (30:00) How do you explain the sovereignty of God in relation to the choices we make that have life-and-death consequences, such as when a girl dies on an operating table due to the actions of a surgeon, and how does a surgeon find hope and peace with that kind of responsibility? (41:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 20–21 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA Greg on The Diary of a CEO