Salvation for non-Christians: which denominations accept it?

[NetSpiker]

I believe that one of the most important aspects of a religion is its attitude to other religions.

Which Christian denominations believe that only Christians will go to Heaven?
Which Christian denominations believe that non-Christians also have the possibility of going to Heaven?

 

[Dark_Lite]

Can't speak for others, but Catholicism accepts the possibility (although not as liberally as you may be thinking).

 

[BondiHarry]

Can't speak for others, but Catholicism accepts the possibility (although not as liberally as you may be thinking).

Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" so by that only Christians will be saved (and by Christians I do mean followers of Jesus Christ).

 

[Lion King]

Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" so by that only Christians will be saved (and by Christians I do mean followers of Jesus Christ).

correct, Jesus Christ is the ONLY one that can save us.

Works without faith is dead and vice-versa.

 

[GhostKid]

Christian is a term used by those outside the Church. In Acts (The early Church) we are referred to as Followers of The Way.... so it is correct to say that all Followers of The Way will enter the Kingdom of God

 

[St_Worm2]

Christian is a term used by those outside the Church. In Acts (The early Church) we are referred to as Followers of The Way.... so it is correct to say that all Followers of The Way will enter the Kingdom of God

Hey GK, you're right of course, but didn't they also refer to themselves as "Christians"? Here's one example from St. Peter:

Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a "Christian", he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. 1 Peter 4:15-16
​

Yours and His,
David

 

[NetSpiker]

One of my favorite books is My Descent Into Death by Howard Storm. This guy was originally an atheist, but became a United Church of Christ pastor after his near-death experience. Here are a few passages from his book about whether non-Christians can be saved:

Question: What is the best religion?
I was expecting them to answer with something like Methodist or Presbyterian or Catholic, or some other denomination. They answered, “The religion that brings you closest to God”.


Question: But which one is that?
There are good people in bad religions and there are bad people in good religions. It is not so important which religion, but what individuals do with the religion they have been given. Religions are a vehicle to take you to a destination. The purpose of religion is to help you have a personal relationship with God. God wants us to love him with all our being and know the truth of God. If we find God in an intimate, loving relationship, then we are going the right way. Too often people find religion to be self-serving, interested in perpetuating itself and controlling people’s lives in order to be dominant. Religion is only a means to find God. Religion is not the destination. True religion is the love of God in every word, thought, and deed of the person. God loves all people and is pleased by religions that seek him in spirit and in truth. God abhors the misuse of religion that creates divisiveness between people, that justifies violence, that promotes pride in self-righteousness. God is far greater than any religion.

In our progression towards God, we will meet the Divine Activity of God who is known to Christians as Jesus Christ. People who were not Christians will know the Christ as well. No one approaches God who does not know the Mediator of God. The Christ is the creative action by which the world was created. This personification of God has been everywhere throughout all time and space – creating, restoring and sustaining us in the divine will. The Christ has been in our world and adopted our human nature to help return us to God.

Jesus said “I am the Resurrection and the life. Those who trust me, even though they die, will live”. Whether people claim they are Christians or not is not what is ultimately important. What is important is whether one loves as he loved. This is loving with the unconditional love of God. A person can love God and love his brother and sister unconditionally without being a Christian. Calling oneself a Christian doesn’t make one a follower of Jesus Christ if one doesn’t love as he loved.

Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life”. No one comes to the Father except through me.” No one will go to God except through the atonement of Christ, the love of Christ, and the way of Christ. Jesus’ teachings and practice were inclusive of all people. Humans have tried to make him into an exclusive cult, but Jesus came for all people, and the Christ reaches to all people everywhere in all time, space, Heaven and Hell.

 

[ricker]

One of my favorite books is My Descent Into Death by Howard Storm. This guy was originally an atheist, but became a United Church of Christ pastor after his near-death experience. Here are a few passages from his book about whether non-Christians can be saved:

Question: What is the best religion?
I was expecting them to answer with something like Methodist or Presbyterian or Catholic, or some other denomination. They answered, “The religion that brings you closest to God”.


Question: But which one is that?
There are good people in bad religions and there are bad people in good religions. It is not so important which religion, but what individuals do with the religion they have been given. Religions are a vehicle to take you to a destination. The purpose of religion is to help you have a personal relationship with God. God wants us to love him with all our being and know the truth of God. If we find God in an intimate, loving relationship, then we are going the right way. Too often people find religion to be self-serving, interested in perpetuating itself and controlling people’s lives in order to be dominant. Religion is only a means to find God. Religion is not the destination. True religion is the love of God in every word, thought, and deed of the person. God loves all people and is pleased by religions that seek him in spirit and in truth. God abhors the misuse of religion that creates divisiveness between people, that justifies violence, that promotes pride in self-righteousness. God is far greater than any religion.

In our progression towards God, we will meet the Divine Activity of God who is known to Christians as Jesus Christ. People who were not Christians will know the Christ as well. No one approaches God who does not know the Mediator of God. The Christ is the creative action by which the world was created. This personification of God has been everywhere throughout all time and space – creating, restoring and sustaining us in the divine will. The Christ has been in our world and adopted our human nature to help return us to God.

Jesus said “I am the Resurrection and the life. Those who trust me, even though they die, will live”. Whether people claim they are Christians or not is not what is ultimately important. What is important is whether one loves as he loved. This is loving with the unconditional love of God. A person can love God and love his brother and sister unconditionally without being a Christian. Calling oneself a Christian doesn’t make one a follower of Jesus Christ if one doesn’t love as he loved.

Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life”. No one comes to the Father except through me.” No one will go to God except through the atonement of Christ, the love of Christ, and the way of Christ. Jesus’ teachings and practice were inclusive of all people. Humans have tried to make him into an exclusive cult, but Jesus came for all people, and the Christ reaches to all people everywhere in all time, space, Heaven and Hell.

Wow, I like that!

 

[Dark_Lite]

Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" so by that only Christians will be saved (and by Christians I do mean followers of Jesus Christ).

It says all salvation comes from Christ and by Christ. If anyone is getting saved, it is by Christ through his power. Doesn't particularly say anything about belief. Now, there are other verses that speak of other requirements for salvation (belief, baptism, etc). However, at the same, Catholicism does not put the omnipotent God in a box. He will save whom he wills. But this in no way diminishes the truth of Christianity or the necessity to evangelize all men to the truth.

Non-Christians at best have a dim hope of salvation. Christians are assured.

 

[MandoosetheGoose]

One of my favorite books is My Descent Into Death by Howard Storm. This guy was originally an atheist, but became a United Church of Christ pastor after his near-death experience. Here are a few passages from his book about whether non-Christians can be saved:

Question: What is the best religion?
I was expecting them to answer with something like Methodist or Presbyterian or Catholic, or some other denomination. They answered, “The religion that brings you closest to God”.


Question: But which one is that?
There are good people in bad religions and there are bad people in good religions. It is not so important which religion, but what individuals do with the religion they have been given. Religions are a vehicle to take you to a destination. The purpose of religion is to help you have a personal relationship with God. God wants us to love him with all our being and know the truth of God. If we find God in an intimate, loving relationship, then we are going the right way. Too often people find religion to be self-serving, interested in perpetuating itself and controlling people’s lives in order to be dominant. Religion is only a means to find God. Religion is not the destination. True religion is the love of God in every word, thought, and deed of the person. God loves all people and is pleased by religions that seek him in spirit and in truth. God abhors the misuse of religion that creates divisiveness between people, that justifies violence, that promotes pride in self-righteousness. God is far greater than any religion.

In our progression towards God, we will meet the Divine Activity of God who is known to Christians as Jesus Christ. People who were not Christians will know the Christ as well. No one approaches God who does not know the Mediator of God. The Christ is the creative action by which the world was created. This personification of God has been everywhere throughout all time and space – creating, restoring and sustaining us in the divine will. The Christ has been in our world and adopted our human nature to help return us to God.

Jesus said “I am the Resurrection and the life. Those who trust me, even though they die, will live”. Whether people claim they are Christians or not is not what is ultimately important. What is important is whether one loves as he loved. This is loving with the unconditional love of God. A person can love God and love his brother and sister unconditionally without being a Christian. Calling oneself a Christian doesn’t make one a follower of Jesus Christ if one doesn’t love as he loved.

Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life”. No one comes to the Father except through me.” No one will go to God except through the atonement of Christ, the love of Christ, and the way of Christ. Jesus’ teachings and practice were inclusive of all people. Humans have tried to make him into an exclusive cult, but Jesus came for all people, and the Christ reaches to all people everywhere in all time, space, Heaven and Hell.

Wow, this has really proved to me that the United Church is the place for me!! I love this attitude and truly believe it!

 

[AndrewH73]

Righteousness can only be obtained through faith in Christ. It is imputed by faith in Christ. It can't be obtained by any other means or through faith in any other individual (Buddha, Muhammed, etc.) or faith system.

Romans 10:8 The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”[e](that is, the word of faith which we preach) 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

To think that anyone can be saved by any other means is just wishful thinking. We all know that person whom we deem to be "good" that isn't a believer. The Bible assures that no one is righteous on their own. If you don't have the righteousness of Christ imputed to you through faith in Him, you can't be saved.

 

[theWaris1]

To answer the OPs question the Universal Reconcilationist believe Yhwh will redeem all men.


Now scriptures they use to bring them to that conclusion are.

1Ti 4:10 for for this we both labour and are reproached, because we hope on the living God, who is Saviour of all men--especially of those believing.


Rom 5:18 Therefore, as on account of the offence of one(Adam), condemnation was to all men; so on account of the righteousness of one(Christ), will the victory unto life be to all men.

They believe that God isn't calling in all men at this time and many will be saved and cleansed by fire after the judgment.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, unless the Father who sent me, shall draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me.

1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

 

[CryptoLutheran]

If we say that Christ alone is the Way, then by logical exclusion my theology isn't the Way.

That's significant because it places all the focus on Christ and apart from myself, failing, faltering, fallible and prone to get just about everything wrong person that I am.

Salvation is God's business. Our business is following Christ, preaching the Gospel, loving our neighbor and going about the things of God as He has revealed them to us in Jesus Christ.

Will the guy on X island in the middle of an ocean who has no inkling of the Gospel of Jesus be saved? That's in God's hands, not yours or mine. Will your Hindu co-worker be damned or saved? That's not for you to know, that's for God to know; it's for you to preach the Gospel, love your neighbor and do good to all around you because God does act through His means which includes the proclamation of the Word.

-CryptoLutheran