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The Gospel

Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? (Heb. 3:16)

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. (Heb. 4:1-3)

For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (Rom. 10:13-17)

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: “They will all be taught by God.” Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. (John 6:44-45)
From these passages, we learn that faith is caused by hearing the message, the preaching of Christ. We also learn that it is possible to hear and learn, hear and rebel, or hear and not combine learning with faith.

There are many who cannot believe, because it is the gospel that causes belief, and they have not heard the gospel.

There are some (maybe many) who can believe because they have heard the gospel but will not learn, will not combine their hearing with faith, will not come, call, or repent. These are not make up the majority of unbelievers. The majority of the lost are people who cannot believe because they have not yet heard the good news.

I will gladly send you free copies of Letters on Becoming a Christian and other gospel booklets for your distribution. Contact me at jimwilson27@frontier.com.

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