The Lost: Have they heard, or not?

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GOT PROOF #8

Pastor David Staff

The Lost: Have they heard, or not? Acts 4:12, and Scriptural Testimony

Here are some statistics you may find interesting. According to Senior Research Associate Toshiko Kaneda of the Population Research Bureau in Washington, D.C., three estimates of the number of people who have ever been born on the earth have been calculated in the last 25 years. The first in 1995, and then updates in 2002 and in 2011.i To guestimate how many people have ever lived on our planet, the Bureau tried to determine (1) the length of time human beings are thought to have been on Earth, and (2) the average size of human population at different periods. And their educated guesses are these. o o o o o

At the dawn of agriculture, perhaps 8,000 BC, the world population was around 5 million From that time until the year 1 A.D., world population (perhaps) grew to 300 millionii By 1650 AD, 500 million By 1800, population passed the 1 billion mark Today, there are 7.5 billion people living on planet earth

All told, Ms. Kaneda suggests that there have been 108.4 billion people who have been born and lived for some period of time on the planet. She admits that because of the absence of historical records, their approach is semi-scientific, and their estimates are likely low. Today, the 7.5 billion are just about 7% of all the people who have ever drawn a breath on planet earth. Now, why are those statistics interesting? Well, if you are a thinking disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you understand the critical importance of knowing about Christ and believing in Him for eternal life, you immediately begin to wonder. How many of the 108.4 billion people who have lived in the world actually understood and believed in the one true God? There are other ways to state this important question.  How many of the 108.4 billion people will spend eternity in heaven? …or in hell?  Did every one of the 108.4 billion individuals get a chance at the truth? Was each person given a word from God about who He is, and the importance of faith in Him for forgiveness, and a chance at being in God’s forever family?  What about the 7.5 billion living today? Is God giving the truth to each one of them? Do they have a chance to understand about being rescued from sin by the cross of Jesus, and gaining by faith a future home in heaven?  And what about those who, it seems, never have a chance to hear? What will eternity hold for them? 1 | P a g e GOT PROOF #8 The Lost-Have they heard, or not?

It was 30 years ago, in 1984, when our population was at 4 billion people, that Dr. Robertson McQuilkeniii wrote an article entitled “Lost.” Have you ever experienced the terror of being lost—in some trackless mountain wilderness, perhaps in the labyrinth of a great, strange city? Hope of finding your way fades and fear begins to seep in. You have likely seen that fear of lostness on the tear-streaked face of a child frantically screaming or quietly sobbing because he is separated from his parent in a huge shopping center. Lost, alone. The Bible uses the word “lost” to describe an even more terrible condition. Those who are away from the Father’s house, and haven’t found their way back to Him are “lost.” How many are lost in our world…the tragedy of this century of exploding population is that three out of four people have never heard with understanding the way to life in Christ. Even more tragic, half the people in the world cannot hear because there is no one near enough to tell them. One of every two on planet Earth lives in a tribe or culture or language group that has no evangelizing church at all. If someone does not go in from the outside they have no way of knowing about Jesus. iv So…we wonder before God. Are the lost lost forever? God, have they heard from You? Have You given everyone a chance? God’s answer, I believe, today’s teaching truth is this: The JUDGE of all the earth is RIGHTEOUS and FAIR. Throughout history… Everyone has encountered TRUTH about God. Their responses to or rejection of the truth are CRUCIAL. In the moments we have, let’s explore 6 lines of evidence that this teaching truth is true. First, the Judge of all the earth is righteous and fair in that #1 God has always been ENCOURAGING the peoples of the world to SEEK HIM. Acts 17:16-31 (p.926 ESV) The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’;

Acts 17:24

There is Someone who has given all mankind it’s life and breath and everything. There is Someone who has made from the first human beings all the nations of the earth There is Someone who establishes peoples in their habitats and in their kingdoms, and there is someone who brings the times of groups of peoples to an end Who is behind all of this? Someone bigger…someone to find. J. Rawson Lumbyv puts it so well: “The best authorities read ‘that they should seek God.’ This was the lesson which God meant His creation and providence to teach, that through His works men should see Him. The world was to be man’s book in which he should read God’s power and love. Thus stimulated, a desire to know 2 | P a g e GOT PROOF #8 The Lost-Have they heard, or not?

more might grow, and by efforts, which the graphic word of the Apostle compares to the exertion of one groping in the dark, more knowledge would come, and at last the full discovery would be made. God would be found. He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” And then Paul adds (vs.27b)…He is actually not far from each one of us. When someone, anywhere, responds to God’s giving and managing with a groping desire to know more, He can be found. Second, the Judge of all the earth is righteous and fair in that #2 God has always been making clear WHO HE IS through the EVIDENCE of what has been created/made Romans 1:19-23 Romans 1:19 For

what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Of course, we have been in these verses before. God expects men to naturally reason from the creation to the Creator, for the design to a Designer, from the magnitude of what is here logically to the only Being who could make this happen: an eternally powerful and wholly Divine being. “What can be known about God is plain” to us. Every person every where every day has truth about the true God right before his/her eyes. There is, and there will be, no excuse before the Judge of all the earth. Thirdly, when thinking about the righteousness and fairness of the Judge of all the earth, one of the most interesting considerations is what I would call #3 The MELCHIZEDEK factor God has always been reaching people/places of which we are not aware – Genesis 14:17-24 (p.10 ESV) After his [Abram’s] return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet Abram at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him (Melchizedek) a tenth of everything. Gen 14:17

Now you might be inclined to ask, “What’s so special about this?”, the answer is in the context. You remember that Abram was called by the God out of his paganism where he lived in the city of Ur. God moves him to a new land, the land of the Canaanites, and promises that the land will be his. About the land and the people in the land, we have very little information…and no clue whatsoever 3 | P a g e GOT PROOF #8 The Lost-Have they heard, or not?

that there was anyone but Abram who knew and was walking with the true God. Suddenly, after his defeat of the 5 raiding kings, two other city-kings come out to meet Abram. And one of them, Melchizedek, is both the king of Salem (the ancient city of Jersualem)…AND a priest of the Most High God. The questions are:  Where did this guy come from?  How did he know about the true God?  How did he become a “priest” of the most High God?

Kidner: [Melchizedek calls God] God Most High…the title meant to him the true God, selfrevealed in measure, as his blessing of Abram shows…vi Allen Ross: [Melchizedek] brings out refreshment for Abram and pronounces a blessing on Abram and on the one true God – el elyon, “The Most High God,” the Creator of heaven and earth. Abram had here found a true spiritual brother, one who believed in the Spirit God who created matter, the sovereign God who had given Abram the victory, the true God who had promised Abram the blessing.vii Unknown to Abram or even to the Biblical record, God had already been revealing himself in a pagan place through a King who knew the true God, someone who had become his witness to his city and a priest leading people to faith in God. The point – God reaches people and places we don’t know about. Here’s a fourth consideration. The Judge of all the earth demonstrates #4 The extraordinary PATIENCE of God toward sinners – Genesis 18:22-33 (p.13 ESV), 2 Peter 3:8-9 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26 And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Genesis 18:22

27 Abraham

answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place. Perhaps Peter had this in mind when he wrote: 4 | P a g e GOT PROOF #8 The Lost-Have they heard, or not?

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2 Peter 3:8

Fifth, the Judge of all the earth is righteous and fair in that He demonstrates #5 God has demonstrated that A RESPONSE brings about, and makes clear, a NEXT step Acts 10:1-43 (p.918 ESV) Acts 10:1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day[a] he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 The

next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour[b] to pray.

10 And

he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens

opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. 17 Now

while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by

Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation,[c] for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So 30 And

when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before

me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you 5 | P a g e GOT PROOF #8 The Lost-Have they heard, or not?

at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” 34 So

Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who

fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

James (4:8-10) put it this way: Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleans your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded…humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you. God will provide “additional light” to those who respond to the “light they have.” viii The Judge of all the earth is righteous and fair to all…He     

Always provides the nations encouragement to seek Him Demonstrates who He is through what he has created and designed Reaches to places and people we are not aware Is extraordinarily patient with persistently sinful people Offers a next step to those who respond

Finally, this Judge of all the Earth… #6 God often offers the ‘THIEF on the Cross’ OPPORTUNITY Luke 23:39-43 (p.884 ESV) Luke 23:39 One

of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

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Ajith Fernando reminds us of the uniqueness of the Savior we offer to lost people: ix

And what opens the door to pass “from death into life” is this – John 5:24 John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. We love and serve a God who is righteous and fair. No one will stand before God and ever say, “I never had any of the light of Your truth.” But in all of this – as Jesus’ disciples – there is a call to you and to me. 1 Peter 3:15 but

in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. Are you prepared to be used by God to share your hope in Jesus Christ? It is this question we take up next time together. Copyright 2018 © David A. Staff All rights reserved

https://www.prb.org/howmanypeoplehaveeverlivedonearth/ Ibid., The slow population growth over the 8,000-year period—from an estimated 5 million to 300 million in 1 A.D.—results in a very low growth rate of only 0.0512 percent per year. It is difficult to come up with an average world population size over this period. In all likelihood, human populations in different regions grew or declined in response to famines, the vagaries of animal herds, hostilities, and changing weather and climatic conditions. In any case, life was short. Life expectancy at birth probably averaged only about 10 years for most of human history. Estimates of average life expectancy in Iron Age France (from 800 B.C. to about 100 A.D.) have been put at only 10 or 12 years. Under these conditions, the birth rate would have to be about 80 live births per 1,000 people just for the species to survive. To put that in perspective, a high birth rate today would be about 45 to 50 live births per 1,000 population, and it is observed in only a few African and several Middle Eastern countries with young populations. i

ii

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Then president emeritus of Columbia International University, and a former missionary to Japan for 12 years; cf. “Lost,” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement—A Reader (Pasadena CA: William Carey Library, Third Edition), 156-161. iv Ibid., 156-157. v The Norrisian Professor of Divinity at Cambridge, 1879, cf. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Rawson_Lumby, in J.R. Lumby, DD., ed., J.J.S. Perowne, gen.ed., The Acts of the Apostles (Cambridge: At the University Press, 1891), 228-229. See commentary on verse 27. vi Derek Kidner, Genesis, 120. vii Allen Ross, Creation and Blessing, p.300. viii McQuilkin, in “Lost,” Perspectives on the World Christian movement, p. 159. ix Ajith Fernando, “The Supremacy of Christ,” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement-Third Edition, pp.169-178. iii

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