Are there any Christian denominations that believe Christ's death saves even those who don't believe?

Question

The majority Protestant view is that of unlimited atonement, meaning that Christ died for everyone, but salvation requires that one to have faith in Jesus to receive it. A minority view says that Jesus's atonement was limited, and only apples to the "elect" who God has chosen (anyone else, even those who believe, are not saved) - this is the Calvinist view.

I've often wondered why there is a requirement that anyone believe in Jesus to receive salvation. Wouldn't the greatest gift of all to a damnable population be that Jesus died for us, whether we wanted him to or not, or whether we believed in him or not? I.e. -- can't Jesus's death be the salvation of the guy who says, "Pshaw! I don't even believe there was a Jesus!"?

I am wondering if there are any denominations or movements in Christianity, now or in the past, that said that Jesus saved even the non-believers. Anyone?

plastik punk-- I don't get it - what do you mean that immortality is a free gift, but eternal life has certain requirements? immortality is eternal life - that's the same thing.

What's the difference between salvation and redemption?

Answer 1

God's plan for mankind is all encompassing. Here is the Truth of the Bible concerning the future of humanity laid out before you......... The resurrection of the dead is one of the fundamental doctrines leading to perfection and eternal life (Hebrews 6:1-2). Without the resurrection of the dead, Christ would not be risen and our faith would be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). Humans are mortal, with no inherent immortality. Furthermore, man is incapable of giving himself eternal life; thus the need for a resurrection.

In 1 Corinthians 15 that the resurrection is the hope of all mankind. Resurrection means a raising up or rising. Biblically, it refers to the raising of the dead to life again. The Scriptures teach the resurrection of "all who are in the graves" (John 5:28), but there is an order in which all the dead will be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:23). The Bible reveals that some will be resurrected to everlasting life and others are to be sentenced to eternal death (Daniel 12:2-3; Revelation 20:13-15).

Resurrections are possible because God has the ability to give life. God, through the Word, who became Jesus Christ, gave life to the first man, Adam. He has the same power to give life to a human being a second time. Both the Father and the Son have life within themselves (John 5:26). This inherent power of God can produce both physical and spirit life. God has power to resurrect one from the grave in physical or spirit form (1 Corinthians 15:35-38). God has proven He has the power to resurrect to physical life (John 11:43-44; Matthew 27:52-53) and to spiritual life (Matthew 28:6-7). Resurrections are also possible because Christ has been raised (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). His resurrection as a living Savior made possible the salvation of all people; hence, their resurrections. Mankind would die and perish forever were it not for Christ's resurrection (Romans 5:10; 1 Corinthians 15:26, 55).

God's plan for mankind's salvation requires the resurrection of all who die (John 5:28). The apostle John describes three resurrections—one to eternal life (Revelation 20:4-6); one to physical life (verses 11-12); and one to death in the lake of fire (verses 13-15 [although these verses do not mention a resurrection specifically, the incorrigibly wicked, who have rejected God's offer for salvation, will need to be resurrected to be cast into the lake of fire]). John 5:29 is another important verse in understanding God's plan. There are two resurrections mentioned in this verse, but the Bible actually refers to three resurrections.

The first resurrection is called by that name: ". . . They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years . . . Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4-6). This resurrection will take place at the second coming of Christ when the righteous dead will be resurrected to immortality (1 Corinthians 15:50-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17). This is called a "better resurrection" (Hebrews 11:35) because it is to immortality and rulership with Christ during the Millennium.

The second resurrection will take place at the end of the 1,000-year reign of Christ and the saints. "But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished" (Revelation 20:5). This resurrection is further described in verse 12: "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books."

Through the White Throne Judgment, those human beings who have not previously had their minds opened by God’s truth will have their first genuine opportunity for salvation.
This is a resurrection back to physical life (Ezekiel 37:1-14). It will include the vast majority of all people who have ever lived—people who never knew God and His great purpose for them (Inclunding young children and babies). Billions of atheists, sinners and pagans will finally learn from their past suffering, and will be given the opportunity to truly repent, believe the gospel and eventually inherit the Kingdom of God.
It will be an exciting time when virtually all of history comes back to life (Matthew 11:20-24; 12:41-42). These people will have a second chance for physical life but their first opportunity for salvation and glorious immortality in God's family. They will be given ample time for learning and growing in God's way of life. Truly, God's plan includes everyone. He is not willing for any to perish but that all should come to repentance and salvation (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4).

The third resurrection will take place at the conclusion of God's plan for mankind. This will be a resurrection to physical life for all those who have rejected God's offer of eternal life in past ages—a resurrection to death in the lake of fire. "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14-15; Hebrews 10:26-29; 2 Peter 3:10-12).Here is the second death—the eternal death penalty from which there is no resurrection! Those who have sealed their minds never to repent or surrender to Jesus Christ will be totally burned up—destroyed! Those who have sealed their own fate—who have determined never to repent of their evil attitude and nature—will be totally burned up and will become ashes! They will not be tormented forever. They will receive their eternal punishment, not eternal punishing. Their death, their eternal punishment, will last for eternity!
This is what the Bible teaches. The incorrigibly wicked will be totally destroyed—annihilated. But they will not be destroyed capriciously, or unfairly, or because God predestined them never to hear Christ’s message. As we have seen, no one can be saved without accepting the message of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).
Our loving God gives everyone an opportunity to have eternal life and wishes no one to perish. But if they refuse, the punishment is the second death, which ends their lives quickly and forever (Malachi 4:1, 3; Matthew 25:46).

The three resurrections reveal the order of God's marvelous plan and purpose for all of humanity. It is appointed to man once to die (Hebrews 9:27), but afterward there will be a resurrection for everyone who has ever lived.......... "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son" (Revelation 21:7). What does this inheritance include? Hebrews 2:6-8 indicates that our ultimate destiny is to participate in rulership over the entire universe as glorified, immortal children of God!

Answer 2

The resurrection of Jesus Christ defeated death - enabling all men from all time, regardless of religious conviction or lack there of] to be resurrected and reunite the spirit with the body for eternity. This is salvation.
The atonement of Jesus Christ is to satisfy the demands of justice - he paid the price for the sins of all mankind. Through repentence and obedience we have access to this mercy in order to receive forgiveness and a remission of our sins. This enables exaltation [when we have been redeemed from our sins, or made pure].
Many denominations have lost or forgotten the differences between these principles of the gospel of Christ.

Answer 3

Actually by Christ overcoming death, He gave us all the free gift of being resurrected. We will all live again with a perfect body no matter how we live in this life. Immortality is a free gift to all, but eternal life has certain requirements. But the atonement was for all that want to partake in it.

EDIT* Immortality is living forever. Eternal life is living with God forever. They are two separate things. We will all live forever, but we won't all live with God.

Answer 4

Yes, as you pointed out in your opening statement, the majority of Protestants do. I would add that the majority of Christians do.

When I was around nine years old and starting to seriously doubt the existence of Santa Claus, my mom always told me, "you don't have to believe, but only those that believe receive."

And that's like Christ's gift of salvation to all. You must believe to receive.

Cheers.

Answer 5

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that some one who has never heard the gospel or heard of Jesus can be saved but that anyone who knowingly rejects the gospel and Jesus is not saved.

Answer 6

Nope, sorry. Read Romans. Jesus died that all might be saved, but if you don't ask forgiveness, you're lost.

Answer 7

I tend to think this is the abiding belief of lukewarm Christians and atheists alike-that it doesnt matter what you do or dont do, you still get to have what you want and oh what a cruel God that doesnt let you have your cake and eat it too.

Answer 8

I Pray God will accept into his heaven the many of us who for various reasons cannot profess to be Christian.For a lot of us, we just can't escape the questions regarding the literal bible, but we still pray and give thanks to God with all our hearts for life and its many joys,

Answer 9

He died for eveyone bodys sins

Answer 10

We have all been redeemed however redemption and salvation are not the same.