how do you have faith in something you don't know anything about?

"....People don't go to hell because I/you don't tell them about Jesus. They go to hell because of the sovereignty of God. We are saved by faith. We are all called to the body to speak about the hope that lies within us. We do have a responsibility to those people groups to share the good news...."

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After reading this statement from a friend, I decided I better turn around and ask the kids [during devotions] if there's anything wrong with it (without telling them who it was that made the statement, of course). We had been reading about the Chinese church and going through teachings of the importance of spreading the gospel to the unreached. At this point it seemed a perfect time to make sure they understand why it's so important. Why it should be at the forefront of our thoughts, hearts and prayers. Why we should be directly involved. After all, that's the whole point of why Jesus told his disciples to MAKE disciples. The whole point of discipleship. Why it's at the core of true Christianity.

FAITH COMES FROM HEARING (Romans 10:17). Yes, people do go to hell if they've never heard the gospel. They also go to hell if they have heard the gospel and still reject Jesus. But how can they reject Jesus if they've never heard about him? Sin came into the world by Adam, the first human being. Thus, the perfect fellowship between God and man was broken and God's justice demands his hot white swift wrath. Because of one sin billions upon billions have followed. You, me.... everyone. Thus, ALL have sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). There is no such thing as an innocent person just because they have never heard the gospel either (Romans1). There's only two kinds of people: 1-those who accept what Christ did on the cross to redeem mankind and 2-those who deny/reject God.  One group will live in ETERNITY in perfect fellowship with Christ and his eternal glory [at the end of this earthly life]. The other faces damnation in ETERNAL SUFFERING.  

Yes, God is supremely sovereign. He's sovereign in his INfinite righteousness. Thus, he can have NOTHING to do with sin. Because he's just, it is only by his INfinite mercy that he would make the way for man to still be able to confess of their sinfulness and accept what God did by providing redemption through the sacrifice of Jesus. Every people group and culture in every country knows that they have fallen short of God. That's why they are all constantly trying to find ways to get to God through various religions, the adulterous worship of idols and sacrifices to false gods.  

Our first responsibility is not to the body and then think about the people [on the side] who don't even know the hope of redemption and salvation through Jesus. The body/church of Christ doesn't grow by just talking and sharing amongst themselves the hope of Christ which "lies within us." The gospel isn't just for those who have accepted it. It's for ALL mankind because God desires ALL to be in eternity with him (I Timothy 2:4). The church grows when more are added. More can't be added if more are not being told. Unfortunately, there are still over two billion who don't even have the knowledge that not only can they do nothing on their own to reach God because of their sin but that God has already provided away for them.  

What did Jesus tell the disciples after he had risen from the dead and before he ascended into heaven? Go make disciples of ALL NATIONS (Matthew 28:19). He didn't say, now you guys better increase in your knowledge of me and what I did to give mankind hope...and then think about all the other peoples of the world ..... maybe think about when you should share that knowledge. The Bible never talks about waiting to make disciples. Never talks about waiting to share how God, who righteously and justly condemns mankind for their sinful nature, committed the greatest act of mercy so that man doesn't have to be condemned forever. Thus, the urgency should never be dismissed. Never ever. He said. Go.  Man's knowledge and love for God increases AFTER first hearing the gospel. Growth and knowledge don't need to take a pause in order for another to be told of the gospel. No can one grow in knowledge without first learning what's even there.

What he came to do (make it possible for all mankind to be saved through the cross) he had once and for all accomplished. Now it's our turn. He gave the disciples the task of starting a new chapter in God's plan of bringing man to complete redemption: go and tell all nations what I have done. Discipleship is replicating. Go make disciples....to make disciples.... to make disciples..... in ALL NATIONS. This task STILL applies. Why? ALL nations. There are still over two billion who haven't even heard of the name of Jesus. The name of the one that made it possible for them to reach God, much less eternity with him. Yes, teach the body of the hope that "lies within us". But do so to equip and disciple the body to go out and make disciples. For the sake of the nations. What's the goal? The NATIONS. Most importantly, those who have not yet heard.  

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[c] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” -Romans 10

Whatever you do, don't live and behave like the rest of the world has been promised breath the next day, much less months and/or years before YOU decide it's time to tell them about it. That may be your choice, but it's not exactly your call. Paul's next/final goal was to take the gospel to Spain. He didn't make it. Not because God told him to wait. While God was in the middle of refining Paul's faith and growth through imprisonment and persecution, he took Paul. Paul's task was done. God had someone else in mind to take the gospel to Spain. I'm sure that had God planned, he would have allowed Paul to go to Spain and even further. Two billion still unreached means the task is not done. They are all made by God in his image (no less than you). Don't talk about the unreached like they take less priority.

If God doesn't need us to tell his lost children how to get back to him and stay out of hell's eternal fire, then he certainly wouldn't have commanded anybody to do so. But he has GRACIOUSLY chosen to involve us. In fact, he said that those who love him obey him. Go and be part of the action! You came to Christ because someone else ahead of you was obedient. It's your turn to obey.

So, my daughter answered spot on with a question: how can you have faith in something you don't know anything about? That is why Jesus gave the command. It is the core of Christian living. Athiest, Penn Jillette, was spot on when he asked, "How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?" 

I wish that this was something I had understood long before my forties. Long before marriage and the birth of our first child....so that I could have started equipping/discipling my children from day one the way we are called to (Psalm 78).  I pray that my children, who grow to love and serve the Lord, do so in this manner. I pray they disciple their children to disciple their children to disciple those not yet born, and their children....etc. May this household never have a generation that dismisses the importance of reaching the unreached like it's a side job to Christian living.  God Almighty, make us wise always staying true to your Word and to your call.  God, help us never to become lazy in our attitude towards all people who have never heard of your greatest act of mercy through your  Son.