Are the Heathen Lost? Romans 2

After Adam sinned, God seems to have given him the plan of redemption. (See E. W. Bullinger, The Witness of the Stars.) Was there any witness to God and this plan of redemption for the first 2,500 years? I believe there was. How did God do this? I believe He used three ways.

He used the stars. Rom 10:17,18 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: ‘Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.’” Paul quoted this portion of Scripture from: Psa 19:1-6 “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. 6 Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.” This is not just a heritage to Israel, it’s for the whole world. Deu 4:19 “And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.”

He used His handiwork, creation: Rom 1:18-23 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”

Isa 40:21-26 “Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23 He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless. 24 Scarcely shall they be planted, Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, When He will also blow on them, And they will wither, and the whirlwind will take them away like stubble. 25 ‘To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?’ says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; Not one is missing.

He wrote His law in the hearts of man. Rom 2:9-16 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

However, from Gen 11:4 it seems that man corrupted the original zodiac God gave to Adam. God gave His written revelation to Moses. Then, He progressively gave further revelation until the canon was closed with the book of Revelation. Gen 11:4 “And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top with the heavens [All the stars of the zodiac; a representation of the heavens. Towers of these types have been found in Babylon.]; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’”

That’s why Psalm 19:7-14 finishes with the written word.

Psalm 19:7-14 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

This showed two ways God revealed His word. The written word seems to be better for evangelism and Christian growth, but remember, there were 2,500 years before there was any written word validated as inspired. The only conclusion I can make at present is that Paul refers to this gospel of the stars in Col 1:23, “if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached in [en] every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” He also referred to the gospel in Col 1:5,6 “because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.”

His handiwork still shows His eternal power and deity. Men are without excuse. They have always had the witness of the stars and God’s handiwork: Rom 1:16-20 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is evident in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible things are clearly perceived, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and deity, so that they are without excuse.”

I must reiterate, even those who have not heard the spoken gospel are mentioned in Rom 2:14-16 “for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” The potential is still there for men who have not heard the written gospel to be accused or excused by the law written on their hearts. However, there is only one name “under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The death of our Lord Jesus Christ has provided redemption for everyone.