The best and most logical arguement against why the only salvation is through Christ

[Orko]

there were people before christ, people who never heard of christ, people who will die before knowing about christianity. do all of these people are currently burning in hel or will burn in a huge lake of fire because they did not obeyd something they couldn't even think of or guess that exist?
think about it. there are people who cannot get the word of christ and never will, will they burn in hell for not believing in Jesus? even if it's immpossible for them?

[Irishman]

Not exactly an argument against a believer. For thousands of years the church said that those with no knowledge of God went to limbo. It may not make sense to you or I, but to them it is just the way the world works.

There are also people who argue that 'through Christ' means living a life of actions which resemble Christ (in other words being a 'living Christ'). Both these answers defeat your argument.

[13ig_VV]

there are explanations for this. i used to question it as well. Read Dante's The Inferno. In it, those who lived and died before Christ live in a part of hell where they do not suffer, but have really no hope and just sit there. It's a more pleasant place but not Heaven. They will eventually be taken to heaven with the second coming of Jesus.

[Legio XII]

I do not believe that the God of love that sent his one and only son to die for our sins in one of the most painful ways possible at the time would be so judgmental. I believe that every person is judged individually when they die, all things in their life taken into account. If they have not heard the word of the Lord and have not taken Christ as their Savior through ignorance, then that is more of a reflection on the failings of those that are Christian than it is of those who are ignorant. It is our responsibility as Christians to spread the word of the Lord, to make it heard throughout the world. Not to forcibly convert everyone, but to bring the word to them and let them choose.

Not to mention, I think that it would be rather logical to assume that when it has been said that the only way to salvation is through Christ, that the reference was for those who come after his resurrection.

[Strattios]

That is a rather weak argument. If anything, it only attacks some of the Christian ideas about those who don't believe are sent to the under world (you know where I'm talking about). However, that goes against some of the origianal Christian ideas. Those that focus on behavior not purely belief.

[Broken Pope]

It is our responsibility as Christians to spread the word of the Lord, to make it heard throughout the world. Not to forcibly convert everyone, but to bring the word to them and let them choose.

As we discussed in that last big thread, Faith in God is to hold the belief in God's existence against the balance of probability. (God may exist or may not, but the chances are he doesn't.)

Just because I am able to hear people proclaiming God's existence, I am not going to believe it myself. Bertrand Russell was asked how he would respond if at the gates of heaven he was asked to explain his atheism. He will have said: "not enough evidence, God. Not enough evidence". I'll be saying the same.

How can I be punished for behaving rationally? It doesn't make sense.

[Nietzsche]

If you want a good argument on the subject read "Mere Christianity." Follow that up with "The Problem of Pain." Should nail some things down for you.

Sorry, but I would like to add an edit: Read Everlasting Man as well. The three should give you a nice foundation for the discussion of your question.

[Shi Huangdi]

there were people before christ, people who never heard of christ, people who will die before knowing about christianity. do all of these people are currently burning in hel or will burn in a huge lake of fire because they did not obeyd something they couldn't even think of or guess that exist?
think about it. there are people who cannot get the word of christ and never will, will they burn in hell for not believing in Jesus? even if it's immpossible for them?

First of all, there were people before Christ who believed in Him. Read the Bible--you'll find that the Old Testament Jewish nation believed in a coming Messiah Who would save the world from its sins. That was the same thing as believing in Jesus, for them.

Secondly, it's true that many people haven't heard of Jesus and have not believed in Him. It is true that anyone who does not repent and believe in Jesus will go to hell when they die. I'm not saying because I like it. I'm saying it because it's true. There is only one road to God's favor. We are all sinners, and God cannot overlook our sin unless we are "washed in the blood of Christ", as the Bible puts it. Christ is the only way to heaven.

[Playfishpaste]

There are still those who died before judaism, what of them?

Also, ghandi went to hell?

[Shi Huangdi]

There are still those who died before judaism, what of them?

If you'll read the Bible, you'll find that there are accounts of believers in God and the Messiah before Judaism became a cohesive, organized religion. (Nota bene: ancient Judaism was MUCH different from modern Judaism). But anyway, people like Adam, Eve, and Abraham all lived long before the nation of Israel, but the Bible recounts their faith in God. So they would be considered "Christians", although Christ had not been born yet.

Also, ghandi went to hell?

If Ghandi did not repent his sins and believe in Jesus Christ as his only savior, then yes, he did go to Hell. It's unfortunate, I know--but I didn't make it up. And there is hope, if only a small hope. I wouldn't say definitively that Ghandi never believed in Jesus. Who knows what God will do in someone's heart in their last minutes of life?

[Chimera1277]

Jesus himself said that only through him and only him that people can be saved no other name and means can unite us with the Father. as for past people who never heard of Him, they're an exception ( i forgot my pastor's explanation) but today that exception has been remove. i guess that the reason why Jesus instructs every true believer to share the Word with everyone.

[ZayanK]

If you'll read the Bible, you'll find that there are accounts of believers in God and the Messiah before Judaism became a cohesive, organized religion. (Nota bene: ancient Judaism was MUCH different from modern Judaism). But anyway, people like Adam, Eve, and Abraham all lived long before the nation of Israel, but the Bible recounts their faith in God. So they would be considered "Christians", although Christ had not been born yet.



If Ghandi did not repent his sins and believe in Jesus Christ as his only savior, then yes, he did go to Hell. It's unfortunate, I know--but I didn't make it up. And there is hope, if only a small hope. I wouldn't say definitively that Ghandi never believed in Jesus. Who knows what God will do in someone's heart in their last minutes of life?

Tha fact that you think of the Bible as an unspoiled historical document is rather disputable.

[Cúchulainn]

Tha fact that you think of the Bible as an unspoiled historical document is rather disputable.

Laughable I think is a better description.

[Markas]

Tha fact that you think of the Bible as an unspoiled historical document is rather disputable.

I'm sure Beren will come back with his opinion once his parents give it to him.

[Orko]

First of all, there were people before Christ who believed in Him. Read the Bible--you'll find that the Old Testament Jewish nation believed in a coming Messiah Who would save the world from its sins. That was the same thing as believing in Jesus, for them.

Secondly, it's true that many people haven't heard of Jesus and have not believed in Him. It is true that anyone who does not repent and believe in Jesus will go to hell when they die. I'm not saying because I like it. I'm saying it because it's true. There is only one road to God's favor. We are all sinners, and God cannot overlook our sin unless we are "washed in the blood of Christ", as the Bible puts it. Christ is the only way to heaven.

Jesus said that the only salvation is through him. what these Jews did was doing good things to quicken the coming of the Messiah. there is NO connection between ancient Judaism and Christianity.
besides, what abou the belief that you don't go to heaven if you don't get baptized.

[Markas]

First of all, there were people before Christ who believed in Him. Read the Bible--you'll find that the Old Testament Jewish nation believed in a coming Messiah Who would save the world from its sins. That was the same thing as believing in Jesus, for them.

Secondly, it's true that many people haven't heard of Jesus and have not believed in Him. It is true that anyone who does not repent and believe in Jesus will go to hell when they die. I'm not saying because I like it. I'm saying it because it's true. There is only one road to God's favor. We are all sinners, and God cannot overlook our sin unless we are "washed in the blood of Christ", as the Bible puts it. Christ is the only way to heaven.

What about, say, the ancient chinese or ancient Greeks on who's ideas much of our society is built that pre-dated jesus or had never even heard of the land from which he came? Did they all go to hell?

Honesly Beren sometimes I think you simply parrot the views of your parents rather than go to the trouble of thinking things through.

[Mathais]

Well from what i understand is that god has at some point in time had a rep on the earth to teach the pepole about god and his commandments. Now that dosent mean that there where time when he didnt have a rep on the earth but that was only due to the pepole rejecting the teaching of the prophets and usally killed them. Now since god is a loving god he calls another to teach the people his gosple. You will find this repeat throughout the bible. Like moses and abraham are examples of this happening but I know that if you where one who never had a oppertuinty to hear the gosple you will in the next part of this life. So no matter what you have a the power to say yes i will follow thee or no i wont.

[Dayman]

First of all, there were people before Christ who believed in Him. Read the Bible--you'll find that the Old Testament Jewish nation believed in a coming Messiah Who would save the world from its sins. That was the same thing as believing in Jesus, for them.

I wonder what Simetrical has to say about this?

besides, what abou the belief that you don't go to heaven if you don't get baptized.

I think he's an evangelical - someone who eschews two thousand years of tradition and decides that he's a better Bible scholar than say, a Jesuit priest.

[silvercolum]

if i have understood it right, your god seems very irational (no offense),i mean, punishing people just becouse they do not believe in him even if they have been the best person this world will see.
no matter if u have been a volunteer in the red cross , no matter if u have rised your children to be good people, no matter if u are ghandi, only if u believe in him, well, if that is the god we have, i think i prefer believing in myself.
even if he is a god of love he does not look like very fair, so i prefer share the hell with my fellow unbelievers and make our own party down there, u know, succubuss cannot be that bad, and we will have heat enough the next glacial era.

[Rich86]

It doesn't make sense.