S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

This question presupposes that the ability to be saved is dependent upon where we are born, how we are raised and what we are taught. The lives of millions of people who have come out of false reli...

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July 01 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Seth Freeman Supporter

This is one of those issues that as Christians we can find our answers being more emotionally based as opposed to Scripturally. 

Scripture is actually very clear with regards to Salvation. First off, all of us are born with an inherited sinful nature, destined from the moment of conception to hell (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23). Every living person needs to be forgiven of their sins so that they are made acceptable before God.

Scripture is also clear that there is only ONE way for a person's sins to be forgiven. And that ONE way is through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8) 

People have mentioned that Acts 17:30 is some kind of loophole to the teachings of Scripture that it is through Jesus alone that are sins are forgiven. The problem is that Paul is specifically referring to the time before the Gospel. Paul is saying that now that Christ has come, all men must find their forgiveness through Christ. It's ironic that people see this verse as a loophole to Salvation through Christ alone when Paul is actually doing the opposite - he is affirming that everyone needs Christ to be forgiven!!

Here's the problem - for any of us to suggest that a person can be forgiven of their sins by any means other than Christ is to necessarily teach that Christ's death on the cross was not actually necessary. If anyone can be saved who doesn't know of Christ simply by honestly following their own religion - then there was never any need for Christ to die on the cross. 

Christ came down, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and paid a terrible price for our sins. His atoning work on the cross is the ONLY way that our sins can be forgiven. For ONLY God can forgive sins, and that is why Christ had to be the sacrifice. Following any religious system is worthless and totally ineffective in its ability to forgive our sins.

Hebrews 9:27 is clear that we all live life ONCE, and then when we die, comes judgment. The only chance we have for Salvation comes during this lifetime. Not after we die. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ that our sins can be forgiven. Paul clearly teaches that ignorance is not an acceptable excuse for not believing in Christ. Only Christ can forgive us our sins, there is no other way for our sins to be forgiven.

God sees us as righteous after we become Christians, not because of anything we do, but because Christ IS our righteousness. Galatians 2:20 teaches that we are in some mysterious way crucified with Christ, and it is no longer we who live, but Christ in us. 

As Christians, we are marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).

What we need to do is be willing to accept the hard truths of Scripture as they are taught. With regards to Salvation, Scripture is incredibly clear that it is ONLY through Jesus Christ that we can find forgiveness of sins. There is nothing that we can do on our own to be forgiven. We simply do not have the capacity to forgive our own sins before God. No work, belief system, or ritual can serve to forgive us our sins - only Christ can.

October 31 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Ezra King Supporter Ezra King

Act17:30 says, and the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. This means that if you didn’t know about Christianity you will be judged based on what you did know. If all you knew was Islam or Hinduism, how did you live that life? Having said that, I believe everybody will have the opportunity to hear the gospel. Matt 24:14 says And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. God is a fair God and will not judge someone on something they did not know about. Therefore, the entire world will have the opportunity to be a witness of God’s gift of salvation and repent.

July 27 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Arun Kumar Supporter Engineer, Chennai, India

The question addresses "Non-christian cultures" implying that there is some christian culture. To make something clear, the Bible does not speak about any christian culture. But the truth of the New testament was established among people practicing different cultures. 

Be it a hindu background or an islamic background, if it happens for a person to hear the truth of the salvation and if he denies it, he would be judged upon what he knows (2 Thesslonians 1:7, Romans 10:14).

If, in his entire lifetime, he did never heard about the truth of the salvation, then Acts 17:30 applies. He might be judged according to his conscience. God always judges us based upon what we know.

October 31 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Supporter Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

God is sovereign over all his creation (Isaiah 40: 1-31). He alone has the right to judge the life of every human being according to the standards he has set.(John 5:19-30)

1) God judged Adam and Eve based on the standard he set for them. They rebelled so they became infected with sin and death, they were banished from his paradise and they struggled to survive under God's curse upon the earth (Gen 3: 1-24)

2) God judged the evil and wickedness of the entire human race. He wiped out every human being with a worldwide flood and started over with one righteous man, Noah, and his family (Gen 6:1-22)

3) God judged the evil and wickedness of the nation of Israel and drove them out of his promised land into captivity in Assyria (Israel) and Babylon (Judah). Only the tribe of Judah returned to the land of Israel after 70 years of captivity in Babylon (2 Kings 17: 1-41 - the exile for Israel; 2 Kings 24: 1 to 2 Kings 25; 21 - the exile for Judah)

4) God judged the nation of Israel for rejecting Jesus Christ, his Messiah, by driving them out of the promised land at the hands of the Roman army who scattered them throughout the Roman empire (Matt 24:1-25; 1 Pet 1:1-2)

5) Jesus will judge the living and the dead at his second coming (Matt 25:31-46)

Jesus says that he will put all his sheep on his right. Everyone who knows Jesus personally, who hears his voice and follows his lead during their human life is one of his sheep. See Jesus illustration of the shepherd and sheep in John 10:1-30.

Jesus died to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). God is calling everyone to repentance (John 3:16). He is not willing that any should perish (2 Pet 3:9).

Every human being will be judged by Jesus. The severity of their punishment is based on the specific evil and wickedness they are guilty of. Those who received a greater revelation from God will also be judged more severely. Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 11: 21-24 that people who saw his miracles and still rejected him will be judged most severely. 

In our day and time, I believe the same principle holds true. People who have heard the gospel message and rejected Jesus will be judged more severely than people who have never heard the gospel.

But God makes it clear that no one has an excuse for not seeking him. See Romans 1: 1-16 for Paul's explanation of God's final judgement. Everyone who has not received Jesus as their personal saviour will still perish (2 Pet 3:1-18).

God's righteous judgement is perfect. Our only defence is to throw ourselves upon his mercy and grace and receive his gift of righteousness by faith in what Jesus has done for us.

July 20 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Shelton Seward Supporter

1 Timothy 1:15
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I (Paul) am chief.

Whether it's of different religions, those born and murdered in small villages, in the thick forests of Africa, South America, or in China: Jesus Christ is their God and Savior as well. Acts 4:12 - "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” - God has willed that- 1 Timothy 2:4 - "...all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." Whether there is any religion anyone assumes their under, WE KNOW... - 1 Corinthians 8:6 - "there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we by Him. But the knowledge is not in all". Of course not it is. Yet, our God is the Only one. Nebuchadnezzar and His Son, two heathens, idol Worshippers, did not know God - were a pattern and example for ALL who will be forced to acknowledge God.

Daniel 4:34-35
And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to the heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High. And I praised and honored Him who lives forever, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His rule from generation to generation. And all those living in the earth are counted as nothing. And He does according to His will among the army of Heaven, and among those living in the earth. And no one is able to strike His hand or say to Him, What are You doing?

Daniel 5:23
But you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of Heaven. And they have brought the vessels of His house before you. And you, and your nobles, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine with them. And you have praised the gods of silver, and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, nor hear, and do not know. And you have not glorified the God IN WHOSE HAND your life, breath, and all your ways is.

It need not that anyone acknowledges our God and Savior (now); They will - after the first resurrection of Gods Elect and after their judgment in the Lake of Fire which is the Second death. But because Jesus died for MANKIND, and he is the savior of all men, they will be saved

Philippians 2:9-11
Because of this also God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus "EVERY knee should bow," of heavenly ones, and earthly ones, and ones under the earth, and "every tongue should confess" that Jesus Christ is "LORD," to the glory of God the Father. 

Revelation 1:7
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and EVERY eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him:and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

And when they see our Great God and Savior, they will have the same response as Nebuchadnezzar, they will know.

"for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness." (Isaiah 26:9)

May 04 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Katrichis Supporter

Christians do not die. We leave the world of the flesh and enter the world of the spirit where we stand in front of God sinless and pure of heart like Adam and Eve before the fall. This can only be done through the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. Those that do not believe in Jesus Christ will die. 
On the last day, Jesus will return and judge non Christians that believe in God based on the criteria set forth in Matthew 25. If they are judged sheep, they will forever dwell in the heaven that Jesus will create out of the foundation of the earth.

October 26 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Ben Jones Supporter Retired Professional Photographer

Ephesians 1:4 and 5 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." Every Christian was chosen and predestined by God "before the foundation of the world" because of God's good pleasure of His will. God overrides our "free will" because our free will cannot and will not ever override His absolute sovereign will.

So everyone who God has predestined to be saved, WILL be saved. John 17:2 "For you [God] have given him [Christ] authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him." So Jesus Christ has been given authority by God almighty over everyone (whether saved or unsaved) and only He can give eternal life to whoever He wants to and since Jesus always did God's will, and God's will was to choose the elect therefore only the elect will be chosen. God can choose His elect from former, Hindus, Buddhists, followers of Islam, atheists or even religious (but unsaved) "Christians."

I am thankful that God is absolutely sovereign over absolutely everything and everyone because I would have a hard time believing that Christ died for those that He hoped maybe some day and some how would be able to remove the veil that Satan has placed over their eyes of the unsaved so they could receive Him of their own free will, but I have no problem believing that Christ died for the elect that He chose beforehand.

April 25 2021 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Danny Hickman Supporter Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ

As it pertains to salvation, there is no "christian culture" or nation. There are cultures and countries where a majority of the citizenry claim to be of the christian faith, but it doesn't have any bearing on whom are saved among the people making the claims 

"You must be born again" (Jn 3:3). This Jesus said to a man who was interested in knowing who Jesus was. Nicodemus came to Jesus and said, "we know that you're a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him" (Jn 3:2). That was his way of asking Jesus to state unequivocally who he was. "Who are you," is what brought that on. He wanted to know more about Jesus. Nicodemus was a teacher of Israel and didn't recognize the Messiah that had been the subject of all the prophets, when He had finally come. 

Why did Nicodemus not know that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah? He was an educated man, a man of the higher echelon of theological circles. He was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. That's the crux of the story of him coming to Jesus. He didn't understand the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he was a "high ranking" minister. He came from a good family. He was a good man. He wanted to know. 

He got his answer: "Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Notice that Jesus didn't say 'one WOULDN'T see, He said COULDN'T see the kingdom'. Many think Jesus is talking about a place we call Heaven. I think He's talking about not being able to understand and recognize how we can live as citizens of Heaven while living here on Earth. We won't "get it" except that we are born again of the Spirit of God. 

"The wind blows where it wishes... (in "muslim countries," atheist families, heathen nations, brothels, etc), you hear the sound of it, but don't know where it comes from and where it's going; so it is for them whom are born of the Spirit (Jn 3:8). 

He explained to Nicodemus that He'd told him how the wind operates and it didn't make it any easier for him to understand; that He'd used an "earthly" thing and it didn't help him to believe. "If I tell you earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" The problem is, Nicodemus doesn't have the Spirit of God to help him to believe and understand. Being a member of the Sanhedrin isn't good enough. 

Going to Dallas Seminary won't get you "born again." Being born to a Dallas Seminary graduate, growing up in his or her home won't get you saved. Living in a theocracy, or a state that calls itself "christian" won't cause the Lord to "know" you (Mt 7, Mt 25, Lk 13). 

"Lord I went to church all my life, I grew up singing in the choir, I was an altar boy, I went to confession everyday, I gave alms, I preached, I prayed for sinners...." And He will say 'I never knew you.' 

Peter healed a man and was asked, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth... by Him this man is standing before you" (Acts 4:7 and following). There's no other name given among men by which we must be saved. 

There's healing only in the Power of God through Jesus. Being a citizen of a certain country won't help you. Neither will it prevent you from being healed. Salvation is as available to one unbeliever as it is to the next. There are two kinds of people: believers and unbelievers.

April 26 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Matthews Supporter Retired Professional Singer, Conductor and Seeker

This question presupposes that culture defines one's faith. In some instances, that is true. The statement "have been taught their entire life that their own religion (such as Islam or Hinduism) is correct, and Christianity is wrong?"

This statement also can be phrased coming from another direction. That our own religion, Christianity, also states that all other faiths are wrong.

We have no clue as to how God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, will judge anyone. We have guidelines included in scripture, but I would never presume to know how God looks upon other religions, people, nations, etc. I know that MY salvation is in Jesus Christ. I cannot be sure of anyone else.

The relationship we have with Jesus Christ is personal and not corporate. God blesses me, not my country. He blesses me, not my brother or sister. I try to tell others about Jesus but cannot make them accept Him. No one can make a disciple of Christ. Only the triune God can. 

How God deals with others is not my concern because I cannot save anyone. I pray for all people, regardless of whether or not they are believers. I pray for everyone's salvation in Christ Jesus because I believe that He is the way, the truth and the light. I try to live as a follower of the Word of God. 

I am commanded to treat everyone with love and respect, regardless of their faith, religion or nationality. 1 Peter 2:17 and 1 Peter 3:15 Jesus said we are to love our neighbor. It's hard. But then, He never promised it would be easy.

July 20 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

"He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting punishment and shut out from the presence of the Lord" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

God is just: "For the Lord is a God of justice" (Isaiah 30:18).

He is also loving: Exodus 34:6: "The Lord passed before him [Moses] and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast flove and faithfulness,'" but we need to evangelize the lost. Jesus said in John 14:6, "No one comes to the Father except through me," and Peter preached that "salvation is found in no one else" (Acts 4:12).

Why do those of, let's say, Islam or Hinduism, need to be saved? David says in Psalms 53:3, "Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one." 

Hence we are called to proclaim the gospel and urge that men and women be reconciled to God. "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors... We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20).

--See Mark Pickering's article, "What About Those Who've Never Heard the Gospel?"

January 23 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report