Often, people point to Jesus saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” to show that only belief in Jesus can get you into heaven. But that isn’t what Jesus says. Jesus says that through Him people get to the Father. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is what makes the way for God’s children to return to Him. But could it be that there are different ways for people to return to God and upon seeking Him they find that Christ’s sacrifice has already removed the enmity that existed, even if they didn’t know it? Who will say that the ancients, especially the Jews, are not in heaven? Why not? Because they didn’t know about Jesus? How about those who have never heard of Jesus? Does their ignorance then result in their eternal demise? I can’t believe that to be true. No, I believe God judges humanity based on their faithfulness and their attempts to live rightly. He judges based on our response.
I guess what has gotten me to considering this view of salvation and who is saved stems from a few things in the Bible. I find that people are “saved” based on various circumstances and actions. Hebrews 11 is full of people who were said to be faithful (and one can assume saved), and yet they knew nothing of Jesus. And what were they faithful to? Their revelation of God. There are people whom Jesus would encounter and whom Jesus would bestow salvation upon, and yet His sacrifice had not even been made. Look at the thief next to Him on the cross. All the man did was rebuke the other thief for his mockery. Yet Jesus seemed to promise him salvation.
I don’t believe this view makes light of Jesus’ sacrifice and by no means understands that all people will go to heaven (Universalism). Rather, it shows wideness in God’s mercy that returns salvation to Christ, and not so much to us. There must still be a response on the part of the human to seek God. And we seek God in various ways. In addition, we emulate Christ in various ways. But in the end, salvation is based on Christ’s sacrifice not necessarily on a limited view of a response to the gospel.
This is obviously a work in progress. Though I may speak as if I have bought into it completely, I have not. So you are welcome to critique the allegory or the conclusions drawn from it (in a nice way). But whatever you do, don’t just spout off the party line without considering what I am saying. Thanks. Look forward to your input.
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3 comments:
AS for the faithful in Hebrews 11: Heb 11:39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
As for others who do their best to follow their faith, God has plenty to say in the OT against foriegn nations because of their idolatry.
How would such a position explain a missionary movement to a world that was filled with beliefs? I'm refering to Acts. Why all the bloodshed if Judaism, Jupiter, and Ra were legitimate paths?
Rom 10:8-15
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
1 John 2:22-23
22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist-he denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
1 John 5:1-5
5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
I believe in the wideness of God's mercy... pre-Judgement Day. He gives rain to the righteous and the unrighteous.
Perhaps we misunderstand the missionary movement. Acts tells of the proclamation of the Gospel, to be sure. But in that message is the reconciling work of God, expressed through Christ, manifested in the kingdom. It calls for a change in lifestyle, focused on loving God and others. I believe the 1 John 5 passage actually backs up much of what I am saying. Living a life of love (which fulfills the commands) shows that one is a child of God.
I don’t deny that the Bible says in short, “Believe in Jesus for salvation.” The passages you listed make that clear. I get that. But a passage like the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25) points to more (or perhaps something other) than belief in Jesus. Couple that with a passage like, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 25:21-23). The will of God is to love Him and love others. I believe this is best displayed through Christian love, but is not limited to that.
Yeah, but you can't take the sheep and goats passage or the "Lord, Lord" passage out of their contexts. Jesus is not speaking to a multi-faith assembly. In both instances he is speaking to those who would be his followers.
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