Question for Christians?

Question

Christians quote this verse and say that the only way to salvation is Jesus. The verse - John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"

Then what about the people that were born and died before Jesus's time, do they never get a chance for
salvation ?

Answer 1

look at this verse and decide for yourself

25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished

Answer 2

Only one person of all those who have answered thus far even MENTIONED the resurrection. This is typical of those many who call themselves "Christian" but do NOT know the will (or Word) of God. Such a sad situation.

Jesus mentioned what will happen:
John 5:28-29 -- "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

This is filled in a little more from Revelation 20:12:
And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

This is what the resurrection is all about -- teaching all who ever existed about Christ and salvation. And AFTER everyone knows about Jesus, THEN they will be judged; and those who have lived the way of righteousness in the time of judgment will be offered salvation and eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

For the judgment is not just a sentencing, it is a time when the Word of God will be taught to all, and will be given a chance to LIVE their lives according to that Word. That is what is being referred to in Revelation 20:12 by "the books were opened." The Books are the Bible, and it will be opened and taught to all.

And just as the people whom God has called out of this world at this time are being judged by how they live their lives (1 Peter 4:17), so too will those in the second resurrection have a opportunity to live their lives according to the Word of God -- the Way that leads to happiness for all.

NO ONE will be condemned without knowing Jesus Christ.

Answer 3

In continuation to what Moshiach now has said, I would add that the interwoveness of the word the spirit and the blood which are witnesses here on earth is demonstrated only by the Savior the annointed, he is the word { and the voice of the word which we know was uttered at Mt. Sinai} and the word has always been with him from the begining, how can anyone make a seperation when there is none?

The origin of the word has always been with G-d and the word was G-d and everything that was made was made because of him and for him.

Edit--------So you ask how they were saved before Yeshua, didn't I just answer this question meaning; He was, He is, and he will be?

Let's be a little more perceptive of the truth and answer the specifics with more conviction and intergrity.

Answer 4

Jesus is really not a hebrew nor an english name that we can identify it's meaning with, for example the name Yeshua in hebrew means Savior in the english not jesus.

Savior is another name of G-d the bible is filled with the quote G-d is our salvation and our help in whom shall we fear? And also; He alone saves etc..etc..etc.

Which means never was there a moment where history lacked the salvation and power of G-d in order to bring salvation, but it was incorporated within the messiah as his persona' for he was the fulfillment of the letter and spirit of the law in his flesh.

And the quote you are reffering to in the hebrew says like this;

ANOICHY HA-DERECH, HA-EMET V'HA-CHAYIM V'ISH LO YAVO EL HA-AV BEELTI AL YADI.

The reasoning behind his statement is that he is conveying a message to the children of Israel on behalf of G-d.

The word anoichy in the hebrew is not a commonly used name for example Ani is the commonly used word for I am, but anoichy is a name that is only used in "lashon ha'kodesh" {the holy tongue} this name anoichy which means I AM was used by G-d to Moses in the burning bush to help Moses reveal to the children of Israel who Moses was operating on behalf of, which was G-d.

So when Yeshua or Savior {in the english} spoke these words I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, he was infact demonstrating the connection between the voice behind the man which was G-d for the same spirit of G-d resided within him, as Moses in order to convince the children of Israel they beleived Moses when Moses introduced the name Anoichy I AM,..... THAT I AM,.... HAS SENT ME TO YOU!


BC----------the answer to the questioneer is not about the ressuerction he is asking a specific question can you give him a specific answer, because none of what you addressed answers his question.

Answer 5

Yes, we come to the Father through faith in Jesus Christ as
our Saviour.

With unmistakable emphasis Paul declares: "By grace are ye saved through faith" Ephesians 2:8; He wants to dispel the notion that salvation is in any sense of "ourselves" and
asserts its gratuitious character as a gift of God.

People before Jesus:
TRANSLATE; In the Bible " translate" means to be moved or changed from one place or condition to another 2 Samuel 3:10; Colossians 1:13. Enoch and Elijah were translated [ Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:1-11 ].
Ascension of Jesus; Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9-11.

Desired by Paul, 2 Corithians 5:4

Answer 6

Abraham believed and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Those who died before Jesus's time were in Abraham's bosom across from Hades. When Jesus defeated Satan at the Cross of Calvary, Jesus descended into the earth and took the keys of death and Hades from Satan and took captivity captive. In Jerusalem after the Crucifixion many people saw the spirits of the dead prophets and elders walking in Jerusalem. When Jesus went to heaven He took them with Him. They are in heaven with Jesus today.

Some believe that Shem Noah's son lived a long time and Abraham was from the lineage of Shem. Ham Noah's son was cursed and his descendants were Nimrod where sprung many false religions and the Canaanites. Even Nimrod's name means "Let Us Revolt."

Noah, Shem and Abraham made sure that people knew the Lord. The High Priest was Melchizedek because Abraham gave tithes to him. Jesus's priesthood was from the order of Melchizedek and not Aaron.

The Book of Genesis is a good book to know and learn in the King James Bible. It will get you far into knowing the Lord.

Answer 7

Jesus may have lived in a specific time in our physical world but the essence of his teachings were meant for all from all eternity. The principles of his teacings were taught in other lands before he came, through other great teachers too. And like other great teachers, he lived what he taught to the full.

Be advised too that Jesus did not give the name Christians. He never had the intention to segregate people from one another but wanted all to be united in one God. He only showed the way; religion later became organized by those who want to have sufficient control of the faithful.

Answer 8

Those who participated in God's Credit System [the blood of bulls and goats] got to enter Heaven after Jesus died and took the keys to Heaven and Hell from Satan. I suspect He explained what was going on at that time.

Answer 9

This is a very complicated question. Will do my best to keep my opinion short and sweet.

Salvation in the Old Testament was not thought of primarily in the terms of “going to heaven”— but in terms of belonging to God”. According to the Old Testament, this covenant between man and God, began with Abraham.

Before Jesus Christ, the faithful were saved through grace and obedience to the law of God.

Peace be with you

Answer 10

I guess so. Didn't Jesus talk to Moses who appeared and was seen by Jesus's apostles while with Jesus on a mountain. It sure wasn't Charles Darwin that they described seeing.

Answer 11

All those who did not have an oppourtunity to know Christ will be given a chance at the second resurrection mentioned in Revelations. They will be resurrected back to physical life and given the same offer that God has given His Elect now, that is to overcome their sins by growing in the grace and mercy and understanding of the truth of God.

http://www.ucg.org/booklets/AD/

Edit: Some folks need to read the whole queston.

Edit 12/25/2007: It is only through the blood of Messiah Yeshua that salvation is possible for anyone, ever. There are a select few mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures that have been chosen to be a part of the first resurrection. There is a list in Hebrews 11 of some of the people who were justified by their faith, and understood and looked forward to the Messiah's coming. However, the writer of Hebrews makes it plain that the sacrifices offered for sin in the OT could not take away sins:

Hebrews 9:27 And because by God’s law death comes to men once, and after that they are judged; 28 So Christ, having at his first coming taken on himself the sins of men, will be seen a second time, without sin, by those who are waiting for him, for their salvation. 10:1 For the law, being only a poor copy of the future good things, and not the true image of those things, is never able to make the people who come to the altar every year with the same offerings completely clean.
2 For if this had been possible, would there not have been an end of those offerings, because the worshippers would have been made completely clean and would have been no longer conscious of sins? 3 But year by year there is a memory of sins in those offerings. 4 Because it is not possible for the blood of oxen and goats to take away sins.(Bible in Basic English)

BC has posted part of the truth about what will happen to those who have died never knowing Christ, here is some more:

Luke 14:13 But when you give a feast, send for the poor and the blind and those who are broken in body 14 And you will have a blessing, because they will not be able to give you any payment, and you will get your reward when the upright come back from the dead.(BBE)

This is better understood in the KJV:
Lu 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation

There is a conflict of having a resurrection of damnation by a loving merciful God of people who never had an opportunity to hear His truth and live His way, this just may show a 3rd resurrection which will be comprised of all those who have ever known Christ and rejected Him (More on this further down).

Revelations 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived NOT again until the thousand years were finished (A second resurrection at the end of the millenium, there is no promise of eternal life attached to this one, so it must be back to physical life.). *****This is the first resurrection.Referring back to verse 4)*****
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The Bible plainly shows that those who never knew Christ (The rest of the dead) will be resurrected, which would include all those who lived before His first advent.

Now, what about the resurrection to damnation? The following verses make it sound like there will be a third, fianl resurrection:

Picking up in Revelations 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired (Remember that the second resurrection was at the end of the thousand years of the vast majority of mankind to physical life.), Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them....

(This most likely includes some people who were born during the millenium, but it would be reasonable to conclude that this would also include some of those who were in the second resurrection.)

......11 ¶ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

http://www.ucg.org/booklets/HD/offeredtoall.htm

http://www.ucg.org/booklets/HD/refusetorepent.htm

http://www.cog21.org/site/cog_archives/booklets/Life%20After%20Death.htm

http://www.lcg.org/cgi-bin/tw/magazine/tw-mag.cgi?category=Magazine9&item=1103909093

http://www.cbcg.org/beliefs_eternjugment.htm