Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation?

Question

I used to believe this but not anymore. If it is true the JC is the only way then most people in history were never saved or will not be saved. Just think about this: most saved people will come from those parts of the world where Christianity has the most influence - not in southeast Asia - not in China- not in many parts of Africa, etc. Furthermore, the knowledge of JC has not reached most people in history and still does not reach billions of people today for a couple of reason but mainly because most people (billions) could not read. Today there are billions of people who cannot read or don't have a bible in their language and have never heard of JC. Yes! Even in 2007 there are people who have never heard of JC.

The simply fact is that most people (not all as there are exceptions) born a Muslim, live a Muslim, die a Muslim; most people born a Mormon, live as a Mormon, die a Mormon; born a Budhist, live a Budhist, die a Budhist, etc. etc.

Answer 1

Your question seems to imply that Mormons do not believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation (you grouped us with Muslims). In reality, Mormons are a denomination of Christianity. Because Mormons are Christian, we believe in most of the things that Christians believe, including:

1) Christ is divine and salvation comes only through Him.
2) The Bible is the word of God.
3) Men ought to love one another.

Mormons are a unique branch of Christianity, however. We are neither Catholic nor Protestant, so naturally we have some different beliefs. Most of the differences are minor. One significant difference is that Mormons believe that those who do not take the steps to come to Christ in this life through no fault of their own will have the opportunity to do so after death. Those who have never heard of Jesus Christ will have the opportunity to learn of His gospel after death.

To learn more about Mormons, visit my site at http://www.allaboutmormons.com !

Answer 2

Gods word says that he wont be back until all have heard the gospel, that is why its our job as christians to go out and spread the word wherever and whenever by the time Jesus comes back all would have heard the truth, but not all will accept it.Before Jesus you either accepted God or you didnt.We have to thank God that today even though we will all make mistakes that through Jesus we can be saved.

Answer 3

There are many ways to connect with God. God allows for that, because God is a good and very moral God. God is closest, to those who do good in this world. One can do a lot of good in this world , if you work real hard at it, and use prayer/meditation, mind-body exercises, and a good diet to increase your focus and direct you in the right path. Finding the best ideas, spiritual or practical, will also help.

Answer 4

Brother: I feel your despair, but you have been lied to.

First of all, in the first century by 70A.D. the gospel had been preached as far as Britain to Japan from East to West and as far as at least Armenia to Ethiopia North to South. These are confirmed reports.

The Catholic Church histories that westerners read are incomplete, inaccurate, and in many cases deceitful.

Second. There is the passage in Exodus 20 about God hating worshippers of Idols down to the 4th generation. There may have been generations that did not hear the name of Jesus, but it is doubtful.

In Europe there was never any people group at any time in the past 2,000 years that did not hear the gospel, period. In the Middle East, Jesus was an honored prophet, and there are pockets of believers whose faith can be traced back to the Apostles interspersed in Muslim countries. They still had the witness of Jesus Christ.

Another fact, is that until the Crusades, Muslims only attacked Catholics who interfered in Politics and had a prideful attitude. The Pure Churches of Jesus Christ were very free to exist and exercise their freedom of conscious from the 600's to the 1300's. It was the crusades that spoiled this witness. Then because of the Catholics, all began to suffer.

There is scant evidence, but evidence that certainly matches the missionary spirit that Irish & Bulgarian preachers reached the New World long before Columbus. From Europe the Irish Monks could make it to Northern Canada in 50 days. Those non-catholic Good Men preached all over the Baltic’s, Europe and many believe in North America in the 5th century before England was forcibly conquered by the Holy Roman Catholic Armies.

The Mongols who ruled Russia for 300 years believed in Religious Freedom. They did not care what you believed as long as you paid your taxes. Gospel preaches from the Paulician line penetrated them, and logically migrated with them to the New World through Alaska.

The Chinese Churches that were very numerous in the 3rd century (1000 years before the Catholic Church finally made inroads to this country) came to the New World and scattered all over the Pacific Islands preaching the gospel with the capable Chinese merchants. Maps Marco Polo brought back with him show detailed maps of the North American West Coast he brought from Chinese merchants. This has recently been accepted as historical fact, even though these maps were long held under suspicion. There are numerous artifacts in China & Japan from this era that point to a very large Christian movement in those countries at that time.

The fact is that genuine preachers of the gospel have been traveling and preaching for 2,000 years.

Do not be depressed by the false Church History that you have read. As one good brother said, "When it comes to History we have been given a stone and a scorpion instead of bread and an egg".

By the way, the last 150 years has simply been a modern revival of missions. But have no fear, the gospel has been spread by either believers seeking relief from persecution, those whose educational, military, or merchant pursuits brought them into contact with believers, or good old fashioned missionary work.

People have had the chance to repent and accept Jesus Christ. Those who have been under the curse of Idol worship are getting their chances again.

Jesus Christ is still on the throne. The Righteous God of heaven is giving people the opportunity to be saved. At the Judgments of God it will be clear that God has indeed worked His plan through the believers in Jesus Christ. Do not give up hope, and instead join the work.

Answer 5

http://www.kingdom-gospel.com/kingdom2.html

The Gospel of Salvation has already been preached to every nation.

Acts 2: NKJV
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven... 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" 14 But Peter... raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.

Here in Acts 2, there were Jews in Jerusalem from EVERY NATION. Yes that's right, every nation.

Toss out your history lessons. Mankind, at least the Jews, were traveling the globe at this time period, at least to those places that had nations. And so, a representative of every nation heard the gospel preached by Peter starting in verse 14. Many of the nations are even listed in verses 9-11. These Jews more than likely went back to their nations to speak about this news. You can't believe it? Want more scriptures? Ok...

Rom 10: NKJV
13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:
"Their sound has gone out to all the earth,
And their words to the ends of the world."

This verse here in 18 says it went into the all the earth/world.

Here's another verse on the subject:

Rom 1:8
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

So the Gospel of Salvation was preached in every nation by the time Romans was written. This was done by the disciples and/or the Jews who heard it in Jerusalem.

Many ministries and churches are taking this verse...

Math 24:14: 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.

...and are preaching the Gospel of Salvation, thinking they are fulfilling that verse. Very few preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. To be in the Kingdom requires more than basic salvation. If you haven't read part 1 of the Gospel of the Kingdom:

Click here

The Gospel of Salvation has been preached in every nation perhaps multiple times through out history. But The Gospel of the Kingdom is finally being preached now. I believe Paul and others attempted to do so, but were unsuccessful in reaching the whole world.

I have recently discovered (as of Oct 21, 04), that there is archeological evidence that indeed the Jews/Israelites/Hebrews were in North America before the founding of the United States. This evidence is in the form of a large rock with Hebrew writing listing the 10 Commandments. This is NOT Moses' list he put in the Ark, but simply a monument testifying to the fact the Jews indeed have proclaimed the gospel to every nation generations ago. Here are some links to this astounding archeological find:

http://our.homewithgod.com/bibletruths/LosLunas.html

http://www.science-frontiers.com/sf043/sf043p02.htm

http://economics.sbs.ohio-state.edu/jhm/arch/loslunas.html

http://www.nmstatelands.org/GetPage.aspx?sectionID=39&PagID=186

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