How can people believe in Jesus if they have never heard of Him? The Question Posed—Romans 10:14 “How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? ” The Sweep of Divine Revelation God speaks in two complementary ways. First is general revelation—His fingerprints in creation. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1). Molecular biology confirms that DNA stores digitally coded, language-like information; such specified complexity is statistically inexplicable by undirected processes and constitutes an empirical pointer to an intelligent Author. Geological polystrate fossils, flood-deposited megasequences observable from the Grand Canyon to the Appalachian basin, and worldwide flood traditions preserved in more than 200 cultures reinforce Genesis’ global deluge narrative and display God’s historic activity to every generation. Romans 1:19-20 states that this witness is “clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.” Second is special revelation—Scripture and, supremely, the incarnate Christ. The Lord providentially preserved His word: over 5,800 Greek New Testament manuscripts, the earliest fragment (𝔓52) likely copied within fifty years of the original, and the Isaiah scroll from Qumran (c. 125 BC) matching 95 % of the later Masoretic text testify to textual stability. Archaeological finds—the Tel Dan Stele naming the “House of David,” the Pontius Pilate inscription at Caesarea, and the Nazareth house dated to the early first century—corroborate biblical history, grounding the gospel message in verifiable space-time events. Why Proclamation Is Necessary Though creation shouts that God exists, it does not articulate that “Christ died for our sins … was buried … and rose on the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Therefore God ordains human messengers. From Pentecost onward the pattern is clear: “You will be My witnesses … to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Romans 10:17 concludes, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Historic Illustrations of God’s Prior Work Before a preacher arrives, God is already at work. • Melchizedek (Genesis 14) served as priest of “God Most High” centuries before Moses. • Jethro of Midian rejoiced in Yahweh (Exodus 18). • Nineveh repented at Jonah’s simple warning. • Rahab of Jericho believed on the basis of Israel’s Red Sea deliverance (Joshua 2). • Cornelius, though a Gentile, received an angelic vision; simultaneously Peter was moved to travel and preach (Acts 10). These accounts show God stirring seekers and dispatching proclaimers so that the knowledge of Christ reaches those prepared to receive it. Degrees of Light and Degrees of Accountability God judges righteously. Jesus said, “The servant who knew his master’s will and did not prepare … will be beaten with many blows, but the one who did not know … will be beaten with few” (Luke 12:47-48). Paul affirmed, “Having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). No one is condemned for lacking information; people perish for loving darkness rather than light (John 3:19). Wherever a person responds to the light given—whether through conscience (Romans 2:15) or creation—God, who “is not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9), brings further light, often by sending a believer. Salvation Still Centers on Christ Alone “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Old Testament saints were saved by grace through faith in the promised Redeemer (Genesis 15:6; Galatians 3:8). Today, the content of saving faith includes explicit trust in the risen Jesus. Eternal life is always Christ’s gift; the amount of information prior to Calvary differed, but the object—God’s gracious provision—remains unchanged. Modern Testimonies of Divine Initiative Large-scale field studies among Muslim-background believers report that 25–35 % encountered Jesus first through a vivid dream or vision, later confirmed by Scripture and a human evangelist—mirroring Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road. In the highlands of Papua, anthropologists recorded a tribe anticipating a “man with a message from the Creator” long before missionaries arrived; when the gospel was finally preached, entire villages responded, citing dreams that matched the missionary’s description of the cross. Such accounts align with Acts 16:9–10, where Paul responded to the “Macedonian call.” The Mission Imperative Because God uses proclamation, obedience is urgent. Roughly 3,100 ethnic groups still lack an indigenous church. Yet translation work accelerates: complete Bibles exist in over 700 languages, and portions in more than 3,500. Radio, satellite, and internet streams penetrate closed regions. Christ’s command stands: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Practical Responses for Believers 1. Pray strategically: ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers (Luke 10:2). 2. Give sacrificially: support translation, relief, and church-planting work. 3. Go willingly: cross the street or cross the ocean; the task spectrum ranges from neighborly hospitality to frontier pioneering. 4. Persuade thoughtfully: classical, evidential, and presuppositional apologetics equip conversations. The empty tomb (attested by hostile sources such as Tacitus, c. AD 115) and the martyrdom of eyewitnesses present historically grounded reasons for faith. Conclusion People cannot call on a Savior they do not know, so God commands the Church to herald Christ, while He concurrently awakens hearts through creation, conscience, providence, and, when necessary, extraordinary interventions. All who respond to the light they have are given the light they need, and every true seeker finds that the light leads invariably to Jesus, “the true Light who gives light to every man” (John 1:9). |
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