Christian Message Boards: Those who have not heard...

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Posted by Chris (Member # 331) on :

Sorry If I'm firing off too many questions too soon, but there's one thing I'm curious about...

What about those who have not been subject to the holy scriptures?

Take for instance, those who lived in Israel and died before Christ's birth...since they were unaware of Christ, but aware of the father, were they saved? I noticed the bible makes a reference to the Patriarchs being in Heaven-at least up to Moses-but I'm curious about the Israelites themselves. Were they justified by the Mosaic law?
Here's also the more tricky part--those in foreign lands-like America until 1492-who were not aware of the God of Israel or Jesus due to being 'cut off' from that part of the Earth by sea, and living a millenia and a half without any knowledge of Christendom(Although they followed their own Pagan Gods).
I suppose you can also put into this category children who die before attaining knowledge, and people with either sensual or mental impairment. I know, personally, that there are those with Autism and mental retardation who have had many problems grasping the scriptures (I've worked with some)....We know God is not fond of unbelievers, but what of those who never were able because missionaries or evangilests did not reach them?

Posted by art (Member # 6) on :

To simplify it, those in the old testament were saved by "looking forward" to the saviour to come and we are saved by "looking back" to the saviour who died on the cross for your sins and mine. Both ways require faith.
As far back as Gen 3:15 there was a promise of a saviour and when you read about all the blood of animals that was shed in the old testament, they were to show us that in order to pay for sin's debt, blood had to be shed. The shed blood of animals could not take away sin but these animals blood were all pointing to Christ who would shed His blood for the sins of the world.
No one ever has nor ever will be saved by keeping the mosaic law.
Jesus said " I am the way"------- He is the only way to God,and that way is the way of the cross.