This is the first of two essays that I wrote for the last exam we had. I should say that I am by no means an expert on this! This is only fallible man trying to explain something that he knows very little about. Read on.
The question of whether or not it is possible for a man to be justified apart from knowledge of Christ is an old question. It has been debated and argued for centuries but even with all of the debates, the answer is unchanged. It is just simply not possible.
Some will point to the Scriptures, specifically the Old Testament, and ask how was it possible then for Abraham to be justified? Christ had not yet come. Could he have possibly known? But this really isn't the issue. Paul addresses this in Romans 4, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Abraham received the promise and had faith that God would do it. He looked forward to the fulfillment of the promise. Maybe he didn't fully understand it but He trusted God.
Today, no one can say that they have such an excuse as it might be argued that Abraham had. Christ has come. He accomplished the work His Father sent Him to do. Now, it is for us to spread the gospel in the name of Christ. Jesus Christ came and brought us redemption through His blood. We now trust in His righteousness for our justification because He took our transgressions upon Himself and was punished for them. While before, the Jews missed the mark by trusting in their good works for their righteousness before God, we now look back to Christ and are saved by faith in Him. Romans 10:4 says, “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness and everyone who believes.” The Law was put forth that we might know of our utter inability to keep it and turn to God for the help provided in Christ. This was a stumbling block to the Jews (Rom. 9:33), but for those who will turn to God, He promises salvation. This is seen in Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
But that does bring us back to condemnation apart from knowledge of Christ. What about the man on the Island? Has he no hope of salvation? Because everyone has the general revelation from God, they are without excuse. Paul explains this in Romans 1:19-20, “Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” This should make us realize the necessity for us to proclaim the gospel. We are called by Christ and scripture to proclaim the truth of Christ to nations. “How then will the call on Him in whom they have not believe? How will the believe in Him they have not hears? And how will they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)
Further, the scriptures say that faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of the Lord (Rom 10:17). This states a strong case for the inability of belief apart from preachment. That's not to say that a person can't pick up the Bible and hear the Word of the Lord through the reading of the scriptures. God works through His Word. But it does not help the man on the Island who doesn't have the Bible. He is still condemned because he cannot obtain the special revelation of God solely from what he sees.
This should spur us on in our zeal to proclaim the gospel of Christ to the nations. How will they hear if we do not go and tell them? It is our responsibility as followers of Christ to obey His command to us, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20a) In doing this, they may hear and turn to faith in Christ for their righteousness before God.
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