Is salvation in any other name?

One another thread, the following was said:

Left behind slaps Jesus Christ in the face and says to the others who are not of the Christian mindset we are going to heaven to bad for you.

Is that your Bible?... Is that your Lord?... Well it is not mine because mine is a God of purpose and love and he knows exactly who his children are and will save everyone of them in spite of themselves.

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I for one was momentarily surprised.

If a person does not have faith in Christ, he is going to hell. There is salvation in NO other name. Some here feel differently.

True Christians embrace the truth that Christ alone is the source of salvation and all false belief systems are evidenced of an unregenerate person.

Paul boasted only in the cross. He apparently thought it was important. Peter risked his life to proclaim that salvation is found in no other name than Christ. Christ said that he is the way, truth, and life.

Further, Paul said that a false gospel is anathema (accursed). If a person is preaching a false gospel, then he is on his way to hell.

If you don't understand salvation, you don't understand anything. "For the natural does not understand the things of the Spirit..."

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.


Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.


Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.


This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.


Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.


Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.


That about sums it up!

If a person does not have faith in Christ, he is going to hell. There is salvation in NO other name. Some here feel differently.

I'll amend that slightly to say that if a person who has heard the Gospel does not have faith in Christ, that person is going to Hell.

Romans 10:

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

This to me means that people have to hear the gospel and believe in order to be saved.

Those who die without Christ end up in Hell. It's not sugar coated, and I can't say the prospect of anyone going to Hell pleases me, but that's what the word of God says.

PTW there you go confusing what I said again the only reason you have faith in Christ is because of the Faith Of Christ... The Faith Of Christ comes first allowing you to have faith in Christ because of the faith that the Holy Spirit gave you... If not where did you get it because the Bible states all men have not faith... Brother Glen

I am as firm as one comes in Calvinism, but we ought never to preach on predestination and election without preaching "whosever will may come" and all that come will obtain redemption.

Whilst we seek to understand theology, we must never forget the simple gospel message. It is not our job to "elect", it is our job to preach. That was the only commission ever given.....to go into all the world and preach the gospel.

However we determine man arrives at the point of believing, he must still believe. As Paul tells us in Romans, man is without excuse even if he has never heard the gospel. His enquiring mind should be pricked by creation alone if nothing else.

Cheers,

Jim

If a person does not have faith in Christ, he is going to hell. There is salvation in NO other name. Some here feel differently.

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Just what do you mean by such a statement? Are you implying that unless someone is preached to from the Bible, hears "the gospel", and says "I believe in Jesus Christ", they are going to hell?

How were those in the OT saved? For exmaple, did someone go to Rahab the harlot of Jericho, open the Holy Scrolls, preach the gospel, and then hear her say "I believe in Christ"? I don't think so.

As there is an evolution of culture as man advances so there is an evolution of religion. We did not develop fully in our religion anymore than people in the New Testament advanced with a full understanding instantly.

Old Testament peoples were redeemed by the blood covenants looking forward to the cross of Jesus Christ. So, even though the name of Messiah was not mentioned, it was so. There is salvation in NTHER NAME....this is the revelation of the New Testament. It is Divine truth. The gift of salvation was given by God in election as much in the Old Covenant as in the New.

Cheers,

Jim

4Study,
You mention Rehab! Absolutely, the saving gospel of the coming Messiah was indeed preached to her! Scan over in Joshua 2: 8-11, "And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard(underline this)how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath."

OOOOOOOHHHHHHH, don't you see that before earthly Joshua arrived at Jericho--Heavenly Joshua paid a little visit--so that none are without excuse--"For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men, teaching us that denining ungodliness and worldly lust we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ."--Titus 2: 11-13

So, it is clear that somewhere down the line Rahab the whore of the night--became Rahab the Sister of the Light! Whether she heard from the word of God or from the word of God--one is as true as the other!

Blackbird

Why or How does Christ have faith?? He knows all things. He has no need for faith. We are saved because God has given us faith. It is true that those who do not believe will not be saved, even if they haven't heard the gospel. Rom 1 teaches that all men know about God and have rejected him, seeking their own ideas. Acts 4:12 is certainly right when it says that there is not salvation in any other. John 14:6 records the words of Christ himself that said he is the only way. We need to be firm on this because Scripture is firm.

Why or How does Christ have faith?? He knows all things. He has no need for faith.

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Are you suggesting the Incarnate Son did not exercise faith?

It is true that those who do not believe will not be saved, even if they haven't heard the gospel. Rom 1 teaches that all men know about God and have rejected him, seeking their own ideas. Acts 4:12 is certainly right when it says that there is not salvation in any other. John 14:6 records the words of Christ himself that said he is the only way. We need to be firm on this because Scripture is firm.

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While I am an exclusivist, it should be made clear that all inclusivism does not necessarily teach that a person can be "saved" outside of the name of Jesus Christ. There is a large contingency of inclusivists who would argue the sacrifice of Christ is still the means of provision for those who do not hear. I do not agree with them, but they should not be identified with the "all roads lead to God" inclusivism that others embrace.

Yes, there is Karl Rahner's concept of the 'anonymous' or 'unconscious' Christian. Whilst not amounting to universalism, this idea stresses the exclusivity of Jn 14:6 but states that many more people worship or know Jesus than is usually credited without perhaps them realising it.

Yours in Christ

Matt

Originally posted by Matt Black:
Yes, there is Karl Rahner's concept of the 'anonymous' or 'unconscious' Christian. Whilst not amounting to universalism, this idea stresses the exclusivity of Jn 14:6 but states that many more people worship or know Jesus than is usually credited without perhaps them realising it.

Yours in Christ

Matt

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Then why in the world would we mess up such a sweet deal with sending preachers to remote places? In another thread a person posted a very valid point; if all or most who haven't heard the gospel will be saved by ignorance, why mess that up by sending a preacher to them? Because a much smaller percentage is going to trust Christ after hearing the gospel. Why would the Lord say to go and preach the gospel to every creature if they are saved by ignorance?

I'm not picking on you here Mark. Just trying to understand where you're coming from (slang for your point of view).

Actually, I'm Matt! And I didn't say I subscribed to Rahner's view - I fully accept the problem with it that you highlighted it. But there is equally the problem with extreme exclusivity, namely that it smacks of unfairness that someone who is born into a devout Muslim family and a Muslim country, raised a Muslim etc and never hears the gospel (or even if he does he is so brainwashed by his upbringing that he can't adequately consider it)ends up going to Hell thanks to an accident of birth. Yes, I know this is getting close to the whole 'unfairness'problem with election/predestination etc, but it doesn't mean I have to like it!

Yours in Christ

Matt

Please accept my apologies for messing up your name Matt! LOL I haven't had a pepsi yet this morning!

Thanks for your answer too.

I see what you mean about someone raised in a devout faith such as Islam, but the Bible says what God intended and that is faith in Christ the Lord. If someone hears it and rejects it because of their upbringing, they are lost. And if they don't hear it (...and how will they hear without a preacher?)then it seems to me, according to Gods word, they are lost. It may seem unfair to us, but who are we to question God?

God bless you Matt! (see, I got it right this time! )

blackbird,

I agree with your points. Your actually reiterating what I'm trying to say to the opener of this thread. However, I don't think Rahab had a "heveanly visitor". She heard of God's redemption of Israel and all His mighty acts. Its clear she feared Jehovah before the spies visited her in Jericho. IMO, her fear of God was not what most people would call "a New Testament confession". Her fear was simply a matter of giving God "due respect". She knew He was "the God of heaven and earth" and confessed she needed Him. Did she say "I believe in Christ as my personal Savior"? I don't think so. Yet she was certianly justified by faith!

Originally posted by tyndale1946:
PTW there you go confusing what I said again the only reason you have faith in Christ is because of the Faith Of Christ... The Faith Of Christ comes first allowing you to have faith in Christ because of the faith that the Holy Spirit gave you... If not where did you get it because the Bible states all men have not faith... Brother Glen

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I don't see anywhere in my Bible that it says we are saved by the faith of Jesus. What a ridiculous notion.

if all or most who haven't heard the gospel will be saved by ignorance, why mess that up by sending a preacher to them? Because a much smaller percentage is going to trust Christ after hearing the gospel. Why would the Lord say to go and preach the gospel to every creature if they are saved by ignorance?

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For the same reason a Calvinists claims to preach the gospel to every creature even though only a small percentage are a part of the elect. We are to fulfill the Great Commission out of obedience not in some false pretense that if we do not go to those who have not heard the gospel then they will die never having heard the name of Jesus and we are at fault. In other words, God is not handcuffed to our response to his command. God's means (and grace) is larger than anything our finite minds can begin to grasp.

I don't see anywhere in my Bible that it says we are saved by the faith of Jesus. What a ridiculous notion.

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Actually PtW this is not an uncommon debate in NT circles (whether pistis is primarily objective or subjective in certain texts where it is linked with Christ). The distinction definitely gives us something to think about. There is a growing number of scholars who interpret such passages: the "faithfulness of Christ" (or faith of Christ)as opposed to "faith in Christ." It may not be as ridiculous as you initially think. As a matter of fact, most of those who embrace the "faith of Christ" interpretation are Reformed in their theology.

Well, SBC, it is one or the other. Explain why Christ needs faith. As I said, ridiculous. I don't care what "scholars" you know of. There are "scholars" for everything.