Does God Use General Revelation to Save?

Greg answers the question, "Is general revelation enough to lead to salvation, or is putting your faith in Christ the only way to the Father?"
#STRask #StandtoReason #Apologetics #Christianity #Theology #Salvation #Revelation
----- CALL IN TO THE SHOW -----
Have a question or comment? Call Greg Koukl, live Tuesdays 4-6pm Pacific Time, at [phone].
----- SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION -----
If you'd like to submit your question ahead of time for the broadcast, or if you'd like to submit a question for the #STRask podcast, fill out our form at www.str.org/tr....
----- FIND MORE FREE TRAINING -----
Website: www.str.org/
Stand to Reason University: training.str.org
Stand to Reason Apps: www.str.org/apps
----- CONNECT -----
Twitter: / strtweets
Facebook: / standtoreason93
Instagram: / standtoreason
LinkedIn: / stand-to-reason
----- GIVE -----
Support the work of Stand to Reason: www.str.org/do...

[@bondman21]

Hi, with regards to your $10 illustration what if I accept your $10? A serious question, greetings.

[@freakylocz14]

Yes they can in the sense that it's not entirely impossible, but it's rare for a person to test in the unknown Creator God (who is Jesus Christ) alone for their salvation.

[@bondman21]

Hi, with regards to your $10 illustration, what if I accept your $10. A serious question, thank you. Greetings.

[@charlesgurung842]

Yes

[@NNaadah]

Romans 1:20 talks about the "eternal Godhead" which means Father, Son and Spirit.
Also "without excuse" can be translated in the positive to mean "they have not been left without a witness".
Then in Romans 2:14 Paul talks about those who have not the law, yet obey it are a law unto themselves. The "law of God" is written on the conscience of men because all of humanity as descendants of Adam are created in God's image. So the law is written on the conscience, plus the invisible things of God are seen in the creation. Just as the Old Testament ceremonies were a parable of the coming Messiah, so is the witness of creation.
"How shall they hear without a preacher?" is a rhetorical question. They do have a "preacher". They have creation and they have a conscience. Granted written revelation (The Bible) gives things more clearly explained than the witness of creation does. This does not mean though that God is confined to His ability to save of only those who possess the written word. Lack of a Bible does not automatically eliminate one as a candidate for redemption.
The redemption plan declared in written revelation only translates the plan into understandable human language. The proclamation of the written revelation isn't want actually saves people. The Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration Who makes all those who are atoned for alive.
Even on the New Testament side of the cross, there are whole generations of nations of continents of people who've lived and died, without ever having heard of Jesus. They still have a creation. They still have a conscience. There still is the Holy Spirit and there still in Christ's atonement in effect for those He came to save.
Depending on one's understanding of the time table of Scripture? Biblically speaking this planet can be as old as 13,000 years. That's quite a few generations between Adam and Abraham. And generations of at least 3 mentioned in Scripture. (Enoch, Noah, and Job)
So yes, the Holy Spirit can still use solely general revelation to enlighten someone pre-Pentecost era and to indwell someone post-Pentecost era; and so long a Christ has atoned for their sin; God will do that!

[@keansalzer8364]

If you never hear a valid presentation of the gospel can you be eternally CONDEMNED because you rejected, or more likely didn't understand, General Revelation? My answer is no. So what, are people going to end up in an eternity apart from God despite not understanding the level of the spiritual criminality of their sin, the penalty for that crime, and the opportunity for their guilt to be forgiven? In the same way Jesus went and preached during his 3 days of resurrection and led "good people in Sheol" out with Him, I believe He will do something similar and finally explain to those WHO NEVER UNDERSTOOD, their dire situation and give them an opportunity to receive their pardon. It's not Universalism. It's the RIGHT thing to do for a JUST outcome. Just sayin.

[@John3.36]

We have to trust that God is just. .

[@freakylocz14]

Yes they can.

[@John3.36]

If you are a Calvinist, you just say, God preordained everything. Don't worry about it. Then you feel guilty because the scriptures say all kinds of things as to our responsibility, so you start to make up elaborate explanations about how the two work together.

[@HearGodsWord]

I don't know any Calvinist who would agree with you.
What's the 'right' non-Calvinist position?

[@John3.36]

@@HearGodsWord Of course they wouldn't, then they would have to admit that they were deceived.
The right position is reading Romans 1-5 carefully and examining what it says.

[@Reformados.-yi3fy]

@@John3.36or maybe because you have just misrepresented them ? …

[@vshah1010]

General revelation is not a valid scientific approach, and therefore you cannot know what is real from general revelation.
General revelation requires you to assume the conclusion (e.g. God created it), over possible alternative hypotheses. An assumption is not proof.