Any discussion about the God of scripture and His ways of dealing with mankind must start and end with the word of God. The Bible is the only authoritative voice on this topic. If that’s not true, then this topic is open to endless debate from all who have an opinion. If my favorite author, radio preacher, Uncle Bob, Aunt Sally, the New York Times, my most cherished Christian publication, or even my own ‘gut feelings’ are equally authoritative we will be hopelessly mired in confusion. So, we start and end with scripture.
The words of Christ himself make this abundantly clear in John:14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
See All..., “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” Jesus not only excludes access to the Father, the one and only God of the Universe, but he also excludes the idea that outside of knowing Christ there is access into the presence of the Father. ONLY through Him. Jesus is the exclusive way to access the God of the Universe. In Acts:4:12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
See All..., the apostles voice that same statement.
Romans:1:18-20 [18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
[19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
[20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
See All... states clearly that due to light given to each man via creation and conscience, man is without excuse. Romans:2:15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
See All...,16 teaches us that no man has lived up even to the light given him by his own conscience; we all have earned our way to Hell. We all stand condemned, if only by our conscience that He gave to us and that we all have violated. Interestingly the Iteri people never doubted their forefathers deserved Hell. Even as there are no ‘noble savages’ living up to the light in some far-off jungle, there are no noble moderns living up to their own conscience. There never have been.
—Brad Buser (founder of Radius International, he and his wife, Beth, spent more than 20 years planting a church among the unreached Iteri people in Papua New Guinea).