People born before Jesus?

Question

Christians often talk of giving their lives to Jesus, of being saved, of Jesus dying for our sins etc. What about all those who were born and died before Jesus came on the scene? There is nothing in the bible about this so how can you answer this question? This has always seemed to me to be a great flaw in the whole idea of Jesus - Son of God etc. There are many problems arising in my mind as a result of this - so I will leave it at that and see what you have to say.

Ok so that was the Jewish law, broaden the question to include those who had never heard of the Jewish law - say in China?

What a load of bull! Now I know why I haven't read a lot of stuff in the bible - I have read the Gospels and quite a lot of other stuff, but what I am hearing here and what has been written about this stuff is so contrived and ridiculous that it beggars belief that people can speak seriously about this stuff. For a start it leads to so much ridiculous theologising, I mean why on Earth would God go to all this trouble? Making people sacrifice animals (wow what a great God - slaughtering poor animals willy nilly), then after thousands of years He decides to send his Son (his what?), but meanwhile all the other poor efforts of his creation have to suffer until...oh I can't be bothered - wish I hadn't asked it's all so ludicrous. You might as well believe in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and argue about the meaning of that for the next two thousand years, and the arrogance of people - 'you can always tell someone who hasn't read the bible' Try reading something else!

Answer 1

They went down to the disco, woo hoo

Answer 2

There couldn't have been Christianity before Jesus, since the religion is based on the teachings of Jesus. Perhaps people would use the same ideas then, but give to the God, rather than to Jesus. Also, as different religions believe in different Gods today, the same would have been so then. For example, the Romans believed in many different Gods. So I am not really sure what you are asking. What problems?

Answer 3

Back in Old Testament times there weren't 50 billion people on the planet in such remote locations that no one knew where they were. It is my belief that all people living during the time of the OT were very aware of God and His laws.

As one responder noted, the OT was God's covenent with Israel, and to repent of their sins they followed the laws outlined in the OT. However, when Christ came and died on the cross, He became our "sacrifice" - the atonement of our sins. He began a new covenent with the Jews and Gentiles alike, and the "old" laws no longer applied to us in 'that' way.

I've read several commentaries that discussed those who are living now or who have lived since the time of Christ, who may live in such remote places that they will live and die without ever hearing the gospel of Christ. Although the Bible clearly says that Christ is the only way by which we can enter heaven, I also believe that it's difficult to accept the truth of someone you've never heard of, and just as difficult to deny Him and turn your back on His truth if you've never heard of Him either.

To say what happens to someone who dies without ever having heard the gospel is not for me TO say. It would only be speculation, and judgement. It is not my place to judge any human, regardless of who they are or what they do or don't believe, that is God's right and His alone. I can't even make a statement on whether YOU will or won't go to heaven, because only God knows you in a way in which that decision can be made.

And as a human, I am no better or worse than you or anyone around me. I am a sinner like the next person. However, I'm absolutely positive of where I'm going after this life, as I've been shown.

I pray this for everyone seeking His truth, but not yet knowing that God IS truth.

Answer 4

Yes, God never forget those who lived before Jesus, like Moses, David, etc. The problem is so many christians learn: accep Jesus and you have eternal life in heaven, but.... how about the others??? Those persons don't know Jesus, only JEHOVAH. But read John 3:16, and then Hebrews 11:1-40. Those persons had faith, faith is enough for salvation. In Revelation 7:9 talk about so many persons who have the salvation after Armageddon. I think those persons are Abel , Enoc, Noah, Abraham, David, Moses, etc. Well, you investigate that, cause I study the Bible since I was 9. GOOD LUCK

Answer 5

I can understand some of your frustration, Mick.

There is a curious mix of things in the christian theocracy.

There is this notion of a being that can create the whole universe that then kinda hangs out in one pretty insignificant corner of it, waiting for people to 'believe' in it.

In order to further control of the masses, one particular peripatetic (wandering) preacher/teacher/healer in an area rife with them becomes elevated to a higher status. Firstly for political ends to justify executing him as an example to other possible revolutionary (terrorists - to use the modern vernacular). He make the 'mistake' of causing a rumpus in a 'house of god' and speaking out against the corruption of a church that has leaders who hold power over the people - and who were clearly in league with the percieved physicaloppression of an invading army of occupation.

Later, when the power of that same army was needed for other purposes, the leaders of Rome needed to be converted - so the teacher was raised again.

But the power that created this universe isn't available for comment. If you said that god spoke to you these days, you would be thought of as some kind of abberant. This is proved by the fact that most of those who say that these days want your money - in a 'tele-evangelist' kind of way, or are justifying why they murdered gays/prostitutes/abortion-clinic nurses/muslims etc.

Why bother to create the whole of the universe in all of it's splendor and vast size if all you are interested in is one little tribe of wandering nomads?

And then - perhaps a thousand years later - to go "oops - I know there was something I mean to do... Boy, C'm'ere - you haven't finished your chores just yet - get down there will ya and tell 'em if they don't believe in me they're toast"...

God - the idea of god - has had several evolutionary leaps. Even before Jesus the notion of god had changed with the people of Judah. Jesus was just another step. As people and their society evolved, their gods have to keep pace or die.
Heaven and hell are for christians. If you are not a christian, it doesn't matter. You will have some other system of control.

Answer 6

No joke. The world has been around a lot longer that Jesus. I guess the "good lord" felt it was okay to let millions of people slide through that beaurocratic loophole in his religious laws.

Or how about the people living across the world, and took generations to spread "the" word to them - yep, screwed.

Or maybe the truth is that Jesus was a politician - proclaiming himself as the "answer" in order to become the "elected" leader of his people.

Answer 7

Before Jesus these people were under the Mosiac Law, in which these one's had to offer sacrifices(of their best) to God. This would cover their sins also they celebrated festivals such as the festival of booths that really gave god their best of what they had from their crops. But even Adam after he had sinned was the line that would make the way for Jesus. There were many after Adam that knew through their blood line that Jesus the son of God would be coming through their family line. Now Jesus dying for us was the ultimate sacrifice so that we could go to god directly and recieve forgiveness for our sins. This ransom sacrifice provided by Jesus allows us to have a clean conscience before god and a hope of everlasting life on a paradise earth. These ones that were born before Jesus will recieve that same hope that he had talked about on earth. These one such as Noah, Moses, and many other faithful ones that were classified in the Bible as God's friend, will be able to be ressurected to perfect human life where no conditions of the world we know now will be. These ones that were born and died before Jesus are now in God's memory and will be ressurected to life soon.

Answer 8

Evangelical Christians condemn everyone to Hell if they do not 'accept' Jesus - - - thus in the eyes of a majority of Christians if an Eskimo child who has never ever heard of Jesus dies their soul is thrown into the vilest depths of Hell, the same for anyone anywhere on Earth. The Spanish Conquistadors sent Armies into the Americas and just before slaughtering the locals they would read a proclamation in Latin asking the natives if they accepted Christ as their personal saviors, when the confused locals simply stared and said 'no comprehend' they were killed. Christians have no compassion for anyone but themselves. That is the foundation for their religion. Hatred bigotry fuel the modern Evangelical movement. Peace.

Answer 9

Hmmm lots of 'interesting' yet slightly mis-guided posting here I think!!

To get your answer you have to travel back in time to the beginnings of monotheism. It bagan back in the age of the Egyptians, 20years or so just before Tutankhamen. Anyway im going to end up rambling here and not making much sense but bottom line is that these people lived before jc and were one of the first people to practice monotheism.....

Popular theory is that this Pharaoh was the influence for the bibles Moses......

Answer 10

If you broaden your scope of study beyond the abrahamic desert religions to other cultures rich in wisdom and practical knowledge, then the conclusion will be drawn that Christianity is not an exclusive path to the Supreme and the fundamental groups that claim exclusive rights to God are simply mislead by scriptures that have been altered to suit there own perspective.

Answer 11

Prior to Jesus there werern't any Christians to give their lives.
Pre Christians, Jews, followed the laws of Moses and the "old Testament" which states that God will send his son to enter into a new covenant. some belived, some did not.. there fore the split.