What percentage of the world population is Christian?

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000

Answers

Mr. Reach.....

Do you mean "Christian" in the broadest sense of the term??

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2000

Mr. Reach:

I cannot even begin to tell you how many Christians are in the world in terms of percentages. I suspect that it is far less than the number that claim to be Christians.

But God does tell us how many he considers Christians. Paul told us by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, "Ye are all Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For(greek word "gar" meaning "because") as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Gal. 3:26,27).

So we can be certian that as many as have by faith been baptized into Christ are in his body and have been clothed with Christ. God only knows that number. But we can rest assured that none other than those who have through faith in Christ yeilded to his command to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38)are recepients of his promise of remission of sins and are born again of "water and the spirit". For he has not promised salvation to anyone other than those who believe and are baptized. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: he that believeth not shall be condemned" (Mark 16:16).

But it is interesting that you ask this question though I cannot comprehend why it is important to know how many are Christians in the world. For we are so certian that that number will be few in comparision to those who are not Christians. For our Lord warned us, "straight is the gate and narrow is way that leadeth unto life and few there be that find it."

Let us ask a more important question. How many have heard the gospel of Christ so that they might be saved. For none will be saved without hearing it. "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him of whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent? Even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet them who who bring glad tidings of good things!" "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:13-15,17).

Let us therefore preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15) so that he that believeth and is baptized can receive the promise of salvation made by Christ. (Mark 16:16). And let god give the increase and let Him keep the count for we shall all be judged in the last day and those who hear the gospel but do not obey will be lost (2 THess. 1:8,9) and those who obey will obtain salvation for Christ is the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey Him. (Heb. 5:8,9). For we are saved through obedience to the gospel of Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4). And in this way we are saved by faith through grace. (Eph.2:8,9). For it was the grace of God that sent Christ to die for our sins and it is the faith of man that responds to this good news of his death burial and resurrection by being obedient to from the heart to that form of doctrine (Romans 6:17) that allows us to die to the world with Him and be buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father we also can be raised with him to walk a new life. (Romans 6:3-6). Therefore if we have been planted in the likeness of His death we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection.

"Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are to who ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16).

For Christ,

E. Lee Saffold

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000