Can People of Other Faiths Be Saved?

Man, I would hope that, here on the Baptist Board, that NO one would vote yes, or even, not sure.

 

Marcia, I did vote but I must be honest and tell you I can't back it up with scripture. I will look for proof tomorrow after I get out of classes.

 

well I've got to stick my chin out there on this one Ivoted yes and tomorrow I'll tell you why.

 

I voted Unsure, mainly due to the other options not fitting. I'm quite sure that everyone who is saved is saved by Jesus. There were those before Christ's advent who didn't have full revelation of who their Saviour was, yet trusted in God and what he had revealed to them. I don't think that instantly changed when Jesus was born, when he died, when he rose, when he ascended, or at Pentecost. These events all brought radical changes, but there were many who were not aware of them, and I think those people may have been in the same position as those in Old Testament times (though I don't fully know what that position is). But, I suspect that those people will also ultimately hear about Christ, so that's why I didn't vote Yes.

Regardless, we are commanded to carry out the Great Commission. However God deals with those who never hear of Christ while on this earth, it must be better for a person to be presented with the gospel. Perhaps it is similar to how it is better to live for Christ than to squander one's life and repent on one's deathbed.

 

"...I can't back it up with scripture."
You said well, such a view ie heresy and makes the Lord Jesus a liar.
John 14:6:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 10:1:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
So that there is no mistaking WHO the Door is-John 10:7:
Then Jesus said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

 

I didn't vote because of something Paul says in Romans. He states that sin came into the world through Adam. Not through Eve, although she sinned first. Nevertheless, Paul simply states that she was deceived, meaning Adam wasn't. And sin did not come down to us through Eve.

The reason I mention this is because I wonder how many have lived who have earnestly wanted the truth and believed what they thought was the truth and who were badly deceived? If they counted on the age-old Promise that God would somehow rescue us, that is certainly the simple faith of the Patriarchs, is it not?

From what I have read of missionary testimonies from around the world, it seems God has left something of the ancient truth of the Promise of Salvation in every tribe and culture. A Promise that HE would take care of things.

We know that Christ Jesus is the fulfillment of that Promise. But to believe on that Promise, however vague it may have been or seemed to be, and to have wanted the truth of it -- isn't that what we see all the way through the Old Testament?

The key reason I could not answer, though, was the mention of the idea of adults of other faiths. Not of other religions. I know that sounds funny, but if someone, regardless of what religion they were brought up in, believed in the ancient Promise that God would provide salvation some how, some way, then they are not really of another faith, are they?

But if the person is truly of another FAITH, then they are believing something other than God's Promise, either vaguely or as specifically as Christ Jesus and so of course they cannot be saved.

Of another religion, possibly yes. Of another faith, no.

 

wasn't that hard

 

Helen:
"The key reason I could not answer, though, was the mention of the idea of adults of other faiths. Not of other religions. I know that sounds funny."
Yes it does sound funny. Other faiths is different from other religions?
But let's cut to the chase Helen:
Is it possible for a person to be saved apart from grace through faith in Jesus Christ?
Yes or no?

 

Paul's epistle to the Romans concludes that

All are with sin

All are without excuse

All must confess and believe Jesus as Lord

 

Helen,

Good points. I answered "unsure" for similar reasons. How can someone who has never even heard the gospel be held accountable for it?

The real heart of the pluralist stance however I think is the position that a Hindu or Moslem who has been raised in his religion and tries to practice it as best as possible can be saved, even if he opts for the religion of his upbringing over Christianity (i.e. the person who HAS heard the gospel but chooses to continue with "his own way"). It is pretty near impossible to find biblical support for the notion that these people can be saved.

 

Most of you probably think I voted yes, but I voted unsure.

Jesus can save whoever he wishes to save and is not limited by our demographic separations of people. He is also not under any obligation to save those who have not heard the explicit Gospel message. He is the ultimate judge and will use criteria beyond our perception and understanding.

Although the technical answer is obviously yes since there are many non-Christians before Christianity even existed who we know will be saved. Abraham, Moses David to list a few. But that wasn't the spirit of your question.

[ September 14, 2005, 08:46 AM: Message edited by: Gold Dragon ]

 

Since the cross, the promise has a name. Before the cross all there was to believe was the promise, but the promise became flesh, and has a name.

 

Watchman, Blackbird, are you saying that Abraham, David, Daniel, etc. were not saved?

 

A lot of logic involved here in these answers without much Scripture. Very telling.

The Bible tells us that salvation only comes through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 10; John 3; John 14). The Bible tells us that all people have sufficient evidence so as to be "without excuse" (Rom 1). That plainly answers Helen's objection of "living earnestly." "Living earnestly" is never made the way of the salvation.

What else is there to be said?

 

I NEVER said they 'lived earnestly', Larry. And I repeat, were not Daniel, David, Abraham, and others mentioned in Hebrews 11 saved?

 

YOu said,

That is what I was referring to.

When you ask if Daniel, David, Abraham, and others mentioned in Hebrews 11 were saved, you are not on the topic of the OP. The OP asked about people of "other faiths." Those men were not of other faiths. They believed God and his revelation to that point in time. Now, we have more revelation, and the promises of God are more fully explained. God has been explicit that salvation now comes by believing in Jesus Christ, no other way.