I read in Romans 10:13-21: For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
With the end of the apostles, and nobody sent to replace them, still the message of the gospel must be given. How is that message given if nobody is sent?
I can wish all day long that I knew personally those who were persecuted, tortured, or killed for being a people "of the way." I think there is little comparison between the strength of faith between them and the people who claim to be "of the way" now. Those who profess saving faith now hire someone to present the gospel. My personal thoughts about this message of the gospel is a false one. All that can happen from someone hearing about a Son of God and the things He said is to generate interest enough to search. Finding the true message is difficult if people are hoping to get it from churches. The message from them is doctrines rather that truth.
I can testify that I know that those who will try to lead people to examine scripture and find reason to ask God for truth will be shut down. I'll go out on a limb and say that this is likely the result of every church where the message bearer is paid to do so and inclined to deliver the message that they are paid to deliver.
However, if a true message is to be received, then we know how it arrives:
Jn 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
Jn 14:6: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Thoughts?
With the end of the apostles, and nobody sent to replace them, still the message of the gospel must be given. How is that message given if nobody is sent?
I can wish all day long that I knew personally those who were persecuted, tortured, or killed for being a people "of the way." I think there is little comparison between the strength of faith between them and the people who claim to be "of the way" now. Those who profess saving faith now hire someone to present the gospel. My personal thoughts about this message of the gospel is a false one. All that can happen from someone hearing about a Son of God and the things He said is to generate interest enough to search. Finding the true message is difficult if people are hoping to get it from churches. The message from them is doctrines rather that truth.
I can testify that I know that those who will try to lead people to examine scripture and find reason to ask God for truth will be shut down. I'll go out on a limb and say that this is likely the result of every church where the message bearer is paid to do so and inclined to deliver the message that they are paid to deliver.
However, if a true message is to be received, then we know how it arrives:
Jn 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
Jn 14:6: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Thoughts?
