I believe you misunderstood the point of my post. Christ did not die for those people--nor for any in the Old Testament. The rules changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament scriptures. While they had to law to push away their sins (for a short time), we have Christ to erase ours.
When I said that Christ died for all men, I was speaking of the present time--from His death til now.
As far as the natives in New Guinea, I don't know about their salvation--I am not their Judge, and the Bible makes no mention of those who have not heard the message--hence (I believe) the purpose of the Great Commission.
Speaking of which--given that God has a purpose in everything He does, why give us the Great Commission if we have no say in whether we are saved or not? If we have no say, and God determines everyone's fate without any input from us, why evangelize? Why purposefully condemn His own creation to Hell through no fault of its own? Why introduce the Tree in the Garden? Why allow Satan free reign on Earth? Why not destroy Lucifer during the initial rebellion?
As you can see, many more questions arise from Calvinism that it cannot answer than to allow for the fact that it is us who ultimately accept His gift of eternal life--not Him.
What? Christ did not die for the OT saints. Huh?
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved."There is only One way; One God, One Body, One Faith alone: if you don't know then you need to be told!Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.
As far as the natives in New Guinea, I don't know about their salvation--I am not their Judge, and the Bible makes no mention of those who have not heard the message--hence (I believe) the purpose of the Great Commission.
I know about the salvation of anybody who has never heard about Jesus:
Romans 10:13-15 For "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"Speaking of which--given that God has a purpose in everything He does, why give us the Great Commission if we have no say in whether we are saved or not? If we have no say, and God determines everyone's fate without any input from us, why evangelize? Why purposefully condemn His own creation to Hell through no fault of its own? Why introduce the Tree in the Garden? Why allow Satan free reign on Earth? Why not destroy Lucifer during the initial rebellion?
See above and add this: All things for the Glory of God. BTW, nobody is condemned to Hell "through no fault of their own!" They are condemned to Hell for hating Him.
As you can see, many more questions arise from Calvinism that it cannot answer than to allow for the fact that it is us who ultimately accept His gift of eternal life--not Him.
Of old, God complained to an apostate Israel, "Thou thoughtest that I was altogether as thyself" (Psalm 50:21). Such must now be His indictment against an apostate Christendom. Men imagine that the Most High is moved by sentiment rather than actuated by principle. They suppose that His omnipotency is such an idle fiction that Satan is thwarting His designs on every side. They think that if He has formed any plan or purpose at all, then it must be like theirs, constantly subject to change. They openly declare that whatever power He possesses must be restricted, lest He invade the citadel of man's "free-will" and reduce him to a "machine." They lower the all-efficacious Atonement, which has actually redeemed everyone for whom it was made, to a mere "remedy", which sin-sick souls may use if they feel disposed to; and they enervate the invincible work of the Holy Spirit to an "offer" of the Gospel which sinners may accept or reject as they please. - A.W. Pink
Just a guess on my part: are you Roman Catholic?
Yes it does. Sorry, Shadow I'm not picking on you. I noticed several posts by different people on this thread that they didn't know or were not sure what would happen to people who have not heard the Gospel. I believe scripture answers this is several places. Romans 15:21 is one example:
Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand."
Peace,
JWinNC