One example of an unbeliever receiving an answer to prayer, Naaman the Syrian. God used believers to reach him so we could say that God heard the prayers of them on the behalf of Naaman.
24:37 I need a little help. How does this relate to those that die without hearing the word? I thought they were judged against what was revealed to them? Surely, the heavens proclaims the evidence of the Lord God, but if that is all the revelation they have, would they need someone to bring the Gospel to them that they might be saved?
Thanks for the questions! Greg expounds on this topic at the following links: www.str.org/w/the-heathen-and-the-unknown-god-part-1 www.str.org/w/the-heathen-and-the-unknown-god-part-2 We invite you to call in to our weekly broadcast to discuss your questions with Greg Koukl. He'd love to hear from you. Or you can submit an #STRask or Open Mic question. Visit www.str.org/broadcast for details.
There’s a theme I’ve been noticing recently. Christians tend to conflate relationship with God and moral piety. In doing so, you’re demonizing nonbelievers by leaving out a critical detail: They don’t believe in God, and so can’t have a relationship with Him. They’re reaching out not in selfishness, but desperation. I’m a bit confused why the video never touched on the Problem of Divine Hiddenness. When nonresistant nonbelievers pray to God to be convinced that He exists, what prevents God from responding? After all, according to Christian doctrine and God’s nature, He wants people to be saved. And He would know exactly what to do to ensure this happens.
God isnt a genie to be conjured thats why. You cant summon God after living in sin because God tests the heart. You may think youre nonresistant but God is the judge. This is what it means to have a relationship with God. Youre in constant contact with God praying and giving thanks, reading His word and applying it. It has nothing to do with moral piety, if anything, moral piety is only a byproduct. God will listen when your heart truly desires a relationship and not just a wish to be fulfilled.
@@gptgod Ok, spiritual piety, God’s brownie points, whatever you want to call it. My point is that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Believers have no right to call non-Christians unworthy of God’s salvation. What if I told you that I’m an ex-Christian? The more that I dug into the Bible and Bible history, the less I was convinced. I tried desperately to prove to myself that God exists. Don’t you think that God could have helped me out, and would have wanted to?
@@seanpierce9386 What have you found thats superior to the love of God? It seems to me that you more than anything have a philosophical itch to scratch. Perhaps youre saying: if God is all-loving then why doesnt He guarantee everyone receives what they need to be saved? Meditate on Romans 9:14-23 Life itself is a mercy. Only God could make the inanimate animate, the unintelligent intelligent, summon something out of nothing. With great patience does the Lord endure the rebellion of His vessels and the great mercy is that some of His vessels are saved from destruction. Nature screams that there is a God, and His word reveals His will: love Him and love your neighbor because He first loved you. If there is no God, why bother philosophizing? Your accidental life will end with you as worm food, just endure this meaningless ride. But thats not true, keep seeking Him and shun evil, this is much more than spiritual piety.
@@gptgod My intention was never to replace God. You’re projecting Christian ideas onto atheism as if we do everything the same, but opposite. The issue I had to confront was: Is it really true? So what you’re trying to say is that, whatever God does, we just shouldn’t question it since He knows what He is doing. If moral law is objective and God is perfectly moral, should we not expect God to also be perfectly moral? Would creating robots for the express purpose of torture be morally just? What you are describing is an egotistical dictatorship that is beyond challenge. It’s a “might makes right” scenario. So no, I don’t agree with the premise of your verse because I have accepted that the Bible can be misguided.
@@seanpierce9386 Ok. I cant read the Bible with you. I dont know how youre praying nor can i read the sincerity of your heart. I dont know what sins you commit nor who you havent forgiven yet in your life. I dont know what books and people have influenced you. The variables are incalculable. I can only plant a seed, God is who makes it grow. This is what happened to me, i wasnt born with a Bible in my hand by any stretch; i came to the knowledge of the truth after searching many paths. The Lord has had mercy on me. But let me ask you this: what do you believe? What are your conclusions on the origin of life, the purpose of life, the nature of man?
Yeah sometimes if He wants, there's even stories in the Bible of times God has done so.
Jesus lives! ♥️ and is Yahweh God 🙏🏻 Christ ✝️ and King 👑
One example of an unbeliever receiving an answer to prayer, Naaman the Syrian. God used believers to reach him so we could say that God heard the prayers of them on the behalf of Naaman.
if a person doesn't believe in God why would they pray to Him?
24:37 I need a little help. How does this relate to those that die without hearing the word? I thought they were judged against what was revealed to them? Surely, the heavens proclaims the evidence of the Lord God, but if that is all the revelation they have, would they need someone to bring the Gospel to them that they might be saved?
Thanks for the questions! Greg expounds on this topic at the following links:
www.str.org/w/the-heathen-and-the-unknown-god-part-1
www.str.org/w/the-heathen-and-the-unknown-god-part-2
We invite you to call in to our weekly broadcast to discuss your questions with Greg Koukl. He'd love to hear from you. Or you can submit an #STRask or Open Mic question. Visit www.str.org/broadcast for details.
Prayer
There’s a theme I’ve been noticing recently. Christians tend to conflate relationship with God and moral piety. In doing so, you’re demonizing nonbelievers by leaving out a critical detail: They don’t believe in God, and so can’t have a relationship with Him. They’re reaching out not in selfishness, but desperation.
I’m a bit confused why the video never touched on the Problem of Divine Hiddenness. When nonresistant nonbelievers pray to God to be convinced that He exists, what prevents God from responding? After all, according to Christian doctrine and God’s nature, He wants people to be saved. And He would know exactly what to do to ensure this happens.
God isnt a genie to be conjured thats why. You cant summon God after living in sin because God tests the heart. You may think youre nonresistant but God is the judge. This is what it means to have a relationship with God. Youre in constant contact with God praying and giving thanks, reading His word and applying it. It has nothing to do with moral piety, if anything, moral piety is only a byproduct. God will listen when your heart truly desires a relationship and not just a wish to be fulfilled.
@@gptgod Ok, spiritual piety, God’s brownie points, whatever you want to call it. My point is that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Believers have no right to call non-Christians unworthy of God’s salvation.
What if I told you that I’m an ex-Christian? The more that I dug into the Bible and Bible history, the less I was convinced. I tried desperately to prove to myself that God exists. Don’t you think that God could have helped me out, and would have wanted to?
@@seanpierce9386 What have you found thats superior to the love of God? It seems to me that you more than anything have a philosophical itch to scratch. Perhaps youre saying: if God is all-loving then why doesnt He guarantee everyone receives what they need to be saved?
Meditate on Romans 9:14-23
Life itself is a mercy. Only God could make the inanimate animate, the unintelligent intelligent, summon something out of nothing. With great patience does the Lord endure the rebellion of His vessels and the great mercy is that some of His vessels are saved from destruction. Nature screams that there is a God, and His word reveals His will: love Him and love your neighbor because He first loved you. If there is no God, why bother philosophizing? Your accidental life will end with you as worm food, just endure this meaningless ride. But thats not true, keep seeking Him and shun evil, this is much more than spiritual piety.
@@gptgod My intention was never to replace God. You’re projecting Christian ideas onto atheism as if we do everything the same, but opposite. The issue I had to confront was: Is it really true?
So what you’re trying to say is that, whatever God does, we just shouldn’t question it since He knows what He is doing. If moral law is objective and God is perfectly moral, should we not expect God to also be perfectly moral? Would creating robots for the express purpose of torture be morally just? What you are describing is an egotistical dictatorship that is beyond challenge. It’s a “might makes right” scenario. So no, I don’t agree with the premise of your verse because I have accepted that the Bible can be misguided.
@@seanpierce9386 Ok. I cant read the Bible with you. I dont know how youre praying nor can i read the sincerity of your heart. I dont know what sins you commit nor who you havent forgiven yet in your life. I dont know what books and people have influenced you. The variables are incalculable. I can only plant a seed, God is who makes it grow. This is what happened to me, i wasnt born with a Bible in my hand by any stretch; i came to the knowledge of the truth after searching many paths. The Lord has had mercy on me.
But let me ask you this: what do you believe? What are your conclusions on the origin of life, the purpose of life, the nature of man?