What must a person do for God's pardon and reconciliation to actually count for them?
A person must appropriate God’s finished work of pardon and reconciliation by personal faith like Abraham’s—a relatively simple faith. God has already reconciled and pardoned all through Christ’s death, but that provision counts for an individual only when they receive it by faith, not by Bible mastery or holy living.
Les explains that Gentiles now occupy a place of privilege and blessing, with an opportunity to hear the Gospel and be saved. But privilege alone does not save anyone; the lost will be held responsible at the great white throne and cannot claim they never had a chance. Les stresses that when Christ died, He took care of all the sins of the world. Every human being has already been declared reconciled and pardoned so far as God is concerned. Yet until a person appropriates that provision with the kind of faith Abraham had—a relatively simple faith—it is all for nothing. God does not require cover-to-cover Bible knowledge or a primary example of holy living before He will save.