If you have ever tried to preach the word to an acquaintance and have been put to the test by him or her by evoking the question cited above, you are not alone. The attempt to repudiate your conservative views relative to salvation is usually made after you provide scriptures to support what you say about who will be saved. We know that only those who obey the will of God will be among the saved(I). And despite what many denominations assert, it is an unfortunate truth that few will constitute this body of saved people(2). "But", says your acquaintance, "what about those who never heard, or got the chance to obey Him? Will they too be lost?" It is my hope in this brief expose to counter the loaded question with the truth in God's word (see 1n 17: 17) so that you may be "ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence" (I Pet 3:15).

There are always problems with attempting to find loopholes in God's word in order to liberalize His conditions of salvation. One such problem lies in the fact that if it were true that God will save those who never knew Him, this ignorance would then allow for every man to be saved, as long as they never search for or study about Him. But a diligent student of the Bible will quickly affirm that God has not only requested the act of searching for Him, but has required it (II Tim 2: 15; II Pet 3: 18; Acts 17: 10-11). If we, therefore, remain incuriously lethargic with reference to the knowledge of God, being "neither cold nor hot", God will surely "spew (us) out of (His) mouth" (Rev 3: 15-16, see also II Thess 1:8-9).

The foregoing truth aside, there is overwhelming evidence to support the premise that ignorance will not save. Perhaps the greatest example of ignorance revealed within the Bible is that of the Jews, who crucified Jesus. In Acts 3 the writer Luke reveals this very idea. If you will remember, Peter and John "went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer" and found a lame man lying at the gate which is called Beautiful. Peter then proceeded to cure him of his inadequacy by doing so "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth". The lame man got up, "and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God". Once in the temple, those who were inside were amazed at this. Peter then vindicated that it was through the power of Jesus Christ whom they had crucified that this miracle was' accomplished. Note, then, verse 17 which manifests the ignorance of those who "killed the Prince of life"(3, refer to first page). Recognizing their ignorance, did Peter go on to suggest that since they "denied the Holy One" (in ignorance), that God would overlook them and thus make their dealings with Jesus negligible? NO! Quite the contrary...Peter implored that they should, "Repent.. .and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (3: 19). It stands, therefore, that mere ignorance will not save a man. Rather, it is the act of recognizing one's error, repenting of that error, and reforming one's life in such a way that they will mold their will towards that of God's.

Again, Luke stresses the sinfulness of ignorance and the importance of repentance. Luke writes, "Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill" and began to rebuke the Athenians for their ignorant worship (Acts 17:22-23). Paul proclaimed that they were "too superstitious" seeing their altar "to the unknown God". Thus, we have a group of people who had never heard about God, and hence, never had the opportunity to obey Him. Yet, Paul seemed to feel the need to declare the identity of God to them. Might I ask, to what purpose did this serve? If ignorance saves, why feel the need to inform them about the "God that made the world and alJ things therein"? Couldn't Paul have left them oblivious if he really desired their salvation? The answer is told... "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). Paul acknowledged that should they remain in their state of oblivion, they would not be sufficiently prepared for that "day, in the which he will judge the world..."

We cannot stress enough the importance of acquiring knowledge. Without such, we would be destroyed(')' With this in mind, our thoughts and goals should be with evangelism; "to seek and to save that which is lost"; for "if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost" (II Cor. 4:3). Surely, the ignorant, the uniformed, those who have never heard the gospel of our Lord, will not be overlooked by God in that final day. Let us consequently strive, as did the apostles, to "teach all nations...all things whatsoever (Christ) has commanded (us)" (Matt ]6:18) and so fulfill the law. It may be the difference between eternity with God, and the same with Satan. Dear reader, which will you choose?

Aaron Purvis