This is a little discussion I’m having with a couple of individuals that assume the non-Christian can be saved without hearing of or believing in the Christ of the Gospel.
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Hello gents,
I was provoked enough to get off my lazy boy lounger and offer up some thoughts on the latest comments. I want to be thoughtful for the sake of clarity in each of the points I mention, so please understand if the response is a little dry and long.

(The indented, italicized, bolded comments are those I am debating against):

Mark’s argumentation looks like Arminian although I guess he is in a between position.

As a word of caution, I would be careful not to jump to broad sweeping conclusions and label someone Arminian simply because their position is not in agreement with yours. In Marks defense, he holds to historical orthodoxy and is pretty competant to throw down on biblical doctrines with precision. I mention this because saying that an argument looks “Arminian” to a reformed theologian is like calling William Wallace a butt pirate (sarcasm added for affect). So let’s not be so quick to start slapping on labels to a piece of an argument that is being ferreted out.

I have no interest in jumping in the dialouge about suicide because it’s already being well discussed and you don’t need my two cents. I am a little concerned about a specific comment that was made regarding how God’s exhaustive sovereignty in bestowing grace upon the undeserving sinner is broadened to include those who have never known Jesus as Lord and Savior, infants, and those who have never heard the Gospel.

whether or not a Christian committing suicide is saved or not, are infants saved, are people that have never heard the Gospel saved, etc. The TRUTH is that God is Absolutely Sovereign and can attribute the atonement of Christ to whom He wills, even if they have never known of Christ. He is totally free to do what He wills.

I think you’re blending two issues and therefore confusing both of them. 1-God is exhaustively sovereign in all things, which of course would include grace. 2- God has provided for us through special revelation an understanding of how that grace is applied. To say God is sovereign therefore He can attribute His grace in whatever way He wants and to whomever He wants without taking into consideration those truths which He has disclosed to us regarding salvation is to leap to premature conclusions. God is sovereign and in His sovereignty He has chosen to communicate in a way that His creature can understand sovereign limitations which He has revealed to us in His word (i.e. the heathen question). There are some principles to keep in mind when dealing with the “who” and “how” God saves. First, we should articulate right questions so we get right answers.

1-Can the heathen be saved by the work of Christ without hearing of or believing in the person of Christ?
2-Is faith in Jesus Christ always a part of the salvation process or can one skip over faith and repentance and still experience regeneration and obtain justification?

I think the best way to sum this up is by asking-Can a sinner be saved from hell even though he does not believe in the true God or in Jesus Christ? Or, upon what grounds can a sinner claim admittance to heaven other than repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Principle 1: All men are lost sinners in need of salvation.

This is so basic to the Christian Gospel that it is impossible to deny it scriptually. If we carefully read Romans 1-6, we will find in this passage a full exposition of the just condemnation of God which rests universally upon all men “for all have sinned; and the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 3:23; 6:23)

Principle 2: General Revelation is not sufficient for salvation.

General revelation is that mute non-verbal witness of the creation that points men to the existence and power of God and to man’s own creatureliness and sinnerhood. General revelation confronts all men at all times through the world around them and the voice of their consciences within them (Rom. 1:18-28; 2:14-15).

While general revelation is sufficient to condemn all men because it leaves all mankind “without excuse” (Rom. 1:20), the scriptures never speak of it as being sufficient to save anyone. All men suppress and reject the light of creation and worship the creature instead of the Creator (Rom 1:18, 21-25, 28). Thus there never has been and there never will be a sinner who lives up to all the light he receives from general revelation (Rom. 3:10-18).

Principle 3: The fact of judgment is determined on the basis of the nature of the person in question.

Because all men are “by nature” sinners, all men are under the wrath of God (Eph 2:3, Rom 1:18). The doctrine of original sin involves the passing of Adam’s sin to all mankind. This passing or handing down is followed by the condemnation of God and the judgment of death (Psa 51:5, 58:3; Rom 5:12-21; I Cor 15:22).

We sin because we are sinners. What we are by nature determines the fact of judgment. Thus it is wrong to teach that we are lost if and when we reject Christ. The Gospel is preached to those who are already lost and perishing (I cor 1:18). You are condemned to hell because of what you are, i.e., a sinner. The heathen are condemned because of what they are, i.e. their nature. They are sinners. Therefore, the are under God’s wrath.

Principle 4: The explicit teaching of Scripture is that the only way to escape the wrath of God is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 10:9 “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Romans 3:25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

I Cor. 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

I Tim. 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

Principle 5: All non-Christian religions are condemned in Scripture because they: (a) are idolatrous-pagan religions and are not man’s search for God but they are mans’ rejection of God (Rom 1:18-25) (b) actually give worship to Satan and his demons (I Cor. 10:19-22), and (c) fail to find God through the wisdom of this world (I Cor. 1:18-31).

The heathen are not worshipping the true God in their religions. We reject the false idea that all religions are just different roads to God. All unbelievers are idolators.

Principle 6: The absence of special revelation does not in any way relieve the heathen from perishing.

The fact that they die physically reveals that God views them as sinners and that they face a Christless eternity in the second death.

For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without law; In the day when God shall judged the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel (Rom 2:11-12, 16).

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

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Rom. 5:12).

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life thorugh Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom.6:23).

Principle 7: The Scriptures teach that all unbelievers will be cast into the lake of fire when Jesus returns in glory and power (Matt. 25:41, 46; Rev. 21:6).

II Thessalonians 1:8 tells us about the fate of those who do not know God.

7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

Principle 8: Unbelievers must hear or read of the Lord Jesus Christ through a human instrument in order to be saved.

The Gospel does not come to us from angels, visions or dreams. God has committed unto the Church the privilege and responsibility of spreading the Gospel.

Matt. 28:19-20 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Romans 10:13-17 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” 14 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? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Principle 9: God will always send the Gospel by a human instrument to those who have been ordained to eternal life. Read the example of Cornelius in Acts 11:13-14).

Principle 10: If salvation is possible through ignorance or neglect of the Gospel, then Jesus Christ died in vain, i.e., for nothing.

His death was unnecessary and a mockery if salvation can be obtained by any other manner than by believing in Him.

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain (Gal. 2:21).

We can ask and answer “who” and “how” someone will be saved if we understand the Gospel and the purpose of the cross of Christ. It is vitally important that we are cautious in our comments on who will or will not be saved. We should give grace when scripture is unclear, but we should be bold and without shame where God has given light for our benefit. There is no arbitrary attributing of the atonement with God. His sovereignty in grace covers the message of the gospel, the vehicle of transporting that message, and full assurance that if God wants to save someone He is certainly able to ensure this Gospel finds its way into the eyes, ears, mind and heart of His elect.