Dr. Bock:

Don't worry one bit about being "direct." You will note that I anticipated the view you expressed (Cornelius was a condemned sinner, having never turning to God the way Abraham did). I just fundamentally disagree with that. If Cornelius was not a redeemed man before Peter met with him, I think a lot of OT people who worshiped the God of Israel in the OT, like Cornelius had done are likewise not saved.

Nobody enters heaven apart from the work of Christ upon the cross. Some people say babies or imbeciles go to heaven, not by believing in Christ, but by virtue of not being able to. They are not accountable in some sense, or they haven't committed some sins. So, here are people entering heaven who did not believe in Christ. And this is in the NT era. If in fact they are in heaven. I think the majority of even Calvinistic theologians teach that.

Bringing the gospel to those who have not heard the gospel yet does not put them at "risk." Every human being on the earth is responsible for the information they DO have (Rom 1). All people are accountable based on how they responded to the information they DID have. Some have a lot, some have a little, but all are responsible for whatever "amount" of information they do have. The gospel is the final message in a series of revelations to them. God creates them to know him (and they know a lot about him based on Rom 1; they know his power and nature, they know he is to be glorified, they know God is not pleased with sin... again, all of this information is known BEFORE the gospel is presented to them, if ever), and to seek after him (Acts 17), and all of this is before the gospel is known. It is hard for us to understand why God purposely placed people in areas of the world that have no access to the gospel, but God put them there for the very reason. He loves them, and puts them there so they will seek after him (Acts 17).

I'm not sure what you mean by the multiple entry points. You believed in Christ, and you were placed into the body of Christ. My friend's 2 year old daughter died in a car crash. What was her entry point? Surely you don't want to argue "faith in Christ." And surely you don't want to say, "it depends on whether or not she was one of the elect." And those significantly retarded, with less than infantile intelligence, what is there entry point? How about a tribal girl who falls in love with her creator, she wants to glorify him. What if she were to die before someone got the gospel to her? I shutter to think that Christ would say to her: sorry, you didn't hear the gospel. To the lake of fire for you. (You could be like Bob Theime and say that if anyone wants to know the truth, God will keep them alive until the gospel gets there.)

Rom 11.32 God condemned all so that he could have mercy on all. Is that applicable only to the Jews? Why did God condemn the human race? I say, so that he could have mercy on all.

Anyway, I think the book Who Can Be Saved by Tiessen is an excellent book. Tiessen is a Calvinist, but you can see his struggle with this issue and he has many solutions even with his Calvinistic presuppositions. I'm sure he has been castigated for this book, but it looks to me like he is honestly trying to deal with the love of God and the plight of all humanity, all without giving up his Calvinistic presups.

I don't know if you have had the pleasure of knowing godly Muslims. They love the Creator. They interpret Jesus through the lens of the Koran, which distorts who Jesus is. But God judges man's heart, not the outward appearance. To me, many Muslim go to heaven on the basis of the work of Christ on the cross. If they genuinely fear God and do what is right, they will be accepted by the Lord. (I know we will disagree on doing "what is right.")

Anyway, please remember I hold you in the highest regard, and have nothing but respect for you and your desire to glorify our Savior-God. I have learned much about my God and Savior by reading your writings!! Please read my responses with grace and compassion.

Brett