Did God design the best possible universe?

I am not questioning God's wisdom, I think you are mis-reading what I'm saying, so i'm going to drop it.


Regarding those who have never heard, Dr. Walter is correct. They are not condemned for not believing in Jesus, but for their sin; God is just to do so. He would be just in condemning all of us. However, he sent Jesus as a propitiation "so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (rom 3:26)

 

So should we stop telling people about Jesus, lest they hear and understand and reject him?

 

Not telling people about Jesus is disobedience to God. But according to Paul, God reveals Himself through creation so that no one has an excuse. And according to Jesus, if a man responds to the revelation of God that he has received, God will give him more. So for the man who has never heard of Jesus, yet he knows God the creator and worships Him, God will make a way for him to hear the gospel.

 

I agree with the bolded section above. Where exactly does Jesus say that when someone responds to a little revelation he will give more? This seems to be a very popular idea, I just wonder where it comes from?

 

Don't misunderstand me. I am not charging YOU with questioning God's wisdom. I am saying, that this kind of reasoning does question God's wisdom, whether it is by intention or simply inquisitive in nature.

 

1. You are saying confusing things. If one is only lost after rejecting the good news, then why should we not withhold the good news so they are not lost. Are you saying those who have not heard are therefore not lost, and will be pardoned for never hearing?

2. Are you saying that there are certain people in the world, Elected by God to be regenerated, who are in fact now regenerated, but have not yet heard the gospel? ...and that They may have nieghbors and friends who are not regenerated, and so will not respond to the gospel anyway?

 

How does this fit with the idea that Creation was a "free" act of God. Are you saying God HAD to create the world he created? How does this fit with "The Lord is in the heavens, he does whatever he pleases" (Ps. 115:3). Could not God have created nothing at all?

 

3 questions:

-Do you attend a primitive baptist church?

-Is there any scripture that teaches this?

-Are you saying God does not "send" people to hell as the just punishment for their sin, but rather people send themselves there because they do not want to be where God is?

 

I appreciate CS Lewis as much as the next guy, but there is a real problem with basing our theology on things he, or anyone else says. I have, sadly, also heard Tim Keller make the same argument about people sending themselves to hell; and to make his point he quotes C.S. Lewis as if it has the same authority as scripture. Very sad, and confusing for listeners. For one, Even C.S. Lewis admits the great divorce is merely his imagination of how things might be. Be even then, the ideas put forward are very problematic, for 2 reasons:

1. If the elect are regerate already, and the gospel is only to help them in THIS LIFE, then you have to discount large portions of scripture that connect the gospel with eternal life & salvation.

2. If people are not condemned for their sins, that is, the wrath of God toward sin is NOT what sends people to hell; then it means that Christ's death wasn't really necessary. If there was no wrath to expiate, why come to die at all?

John 3:36 = Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.