- Apr 9, 2018
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Greetings everyone. I am interested in understanding an explanation of how those denominations that accept eternal salvation through one act of faith in Jesus (such as Baptists) address the issue of people who do not do so but whose lives are moral. Is it claimed that they are nonetheless not justified or saved, and are headed for condemnation, whereas a person who accepted salvation once and spent his life in sin goes to heaven (even if he is punished/chastised per Hebrews for his sins without being condemned)?
Second, how were human beings justified and saved before Jesus appeared on the scene? This would even include the vast majority of mankind in the immediate period and centuries after his crucifixion. None of these people, whether Jews or gentiles, had any salvation because either they knew nothing of Jesus, or because he did not yet appear, or because they followed the "wrong" Christian teachings? The New Testament itself says that there would be many false gospels, so what happens to all the people who sincerely followed these teachings believing they were properly saved? We all know that different denominations have different opinions about salvation and justification. So how would the vast majority of self-identified Christians be saved if they are following false gospels but sincerely believe they are doing the right thing?
Finally, traditional Christian doctrine has always blamed "the Jews" for the death of Jesus. But how can this be true since it is only by virtue of his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection that salvation could have ever been introduced into the world in the 1st century? One should argue the contrary, that the Jews who arranged for Jesus to be crucified did the supreme service to mankind according to Christian belief!
Second, how were human beings justified and saved before Jesus appeared on the scene? This would even include the vast majority of mankind in the immediate period and centuries after his crucifixion. None of these people, whether Jews or gentiles, had any salvation because either they knew nothing of Jesus, or because he did not yet appear, or because they followed the "wrong" Christian teachings? The New Testament itself says that there would be many false gospels, so what happens to all the people who sincerely followed these teachings believing they were properly saved? We all know that different denominations have different opinions about salvation and justification. So how would the vast majority of self-identified Christians be saved if they are following false gospels but sincerely believe they are doing the right thing?
Finally, traditional Christian doctrine has always blamed "the Jews" for the death of Jesus. But how can this be true since it is only by virtue of his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection that salvation could have ever been introduced into the world in the 1st century? One should argue the contrary, that the Jews who arranged for Jesus to be crucified did the supreme service to mankind according to Christian belief!