What about Those Who Have Never Heard?: Three Views on the Destiny of the Unevangelized (Spectrum Multiview Books)
Overview
What is the fate of those who die never hearing the gospel? Do Hindus, Jews, agnostics and others who do not profess faith in Christ really suffer damnation after death? These and similar questions have long been contemplated by people from every religious persuasion and every walk of life. But in a culture of increasing diversity and growing doubt in the existence of “objective truth,” it seems ever more pressing.
In this book three scholars present the span of evangelical conviction on the destiny of the unevangelized. Ronald Nash argues the restrictivist position, that receptive knowledge of Jesus Christ in this life is necessary to salvation. Gabriel Fackre advocates divine perseverance, with the expectation that those who die unevangelized receive an opportunity for salvation after death. And John Sanders sets forth the inclusivist case—asserting that though God saves people only through the work of Jesus Christ, some may be saved even if they do not know about Christ.
As each scholar presents his own case and responds to strengths and weaknesses of differing positions, readers are treated to a lively and informative debate. What About Those Who Have Never Heard? is a truly helpful book on one of today’s—and every day’s—most crucial questions.
Top Highlights
“According to the inclusivist view,16 the Father reaches out to the unevangelized through both the Son and the Spirit via general revelation, conscience and human culture. God does not leave himself without witness to any people. Salvation for the unevangelized is made possible only by the redemptive work of Jesus, but God applies that work even to those who are ignorant of the atonement. God does this if people respond in trusting faith to the revelation they have. In other words, unevangelized persons may be saved on the basis of Christ’s work if they respond in faith to the God who created them.” (Page 36)
“What is significant for determining one’s position on the unevangelized is one’s particular view of the nature of God (especially the relationship between divine law and justice), the nature of the church, the significance of physical death, the value of God’s revelation in creation, the nature of saving faith, the means of grace, and what method is best for doing theology. The stands we take on these issues decisively affect the answer we give to the question of the destiny of the unevangelized.” (Page 17)
“The other biblical teaching that is extremely important to the subject of the unevangelized concerns God’s magnanimous desire to save every human being. Jesus died for the sins of all people (Rom 5:18; 2 Cor 5:15; 1 Jn 2:2). Moreover, God wants the salvation Jesus provides to be made available to all people. It is God’s will for everyone to share in this great blessing (Jn 12:32; 1 Tim 2:4). God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9).” (Page 24)
- Title: What about Those Who Have Never Heard?: Three Views on the Destiny of the Unevangelized
- Authors: John Sanders, Gabriel J. Fackre, Ronald H. Nash
- Series: Spectrum Multiview Books
- Publisher: IVP Academic
- Print Publication Date: 1995
- Logos Release Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Salvation outside the church; Evangelistic work; Salvation after death
- ISBNs: 9780830877645, 9780830816064, 0830877649, 0830816062
- Resource ID: LLS:WHTTHSWHHNVRHRD
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T03:48:33Z