ArchivedWont everyone be saved?Initially, Abraham did not "have faith in the coming Messiah". He was around long before that idea came into common mindset. Secondly, Paul in Romans 4:1-25 critically examines that Abraham was saved by his righteousness, his faith, as you so astutely point out. Paul speaks of that Abraham was justified to God before he had undergone an act of allegiance: circumcision. Therefore, Faith saves before the Law saves. Paul then used this analogy to extend God's grace from the Chosen people (the Jews) to those who were outside the root of Jesse (the Gentiles). Fidelity to biblical tradition then would say that salvation is possibly beyond whatever manmade boundaries we create around it, and we should be critically open as such to Faith that is perhaps after death. For instance, Christian theology states that if Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin (who each killed millions of people to the degradement of humanity) openly and honestly repented of their sins before they died, then they would be in Heaven, because God is forever forgiving. However, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein, and Thich Nhat Hanh are non-Christians who have made very significant contributions to humanity, and since they never expressed a faith in God, then they are in hell. How do we reconcile this with the idea of a good, gracious and just God? By accepting that God will choose whoever God will choose, regardless of our doctrines. |
🌈Pride🌈 goeth before Destruction
When 🌈Pride🌈 cometh, then cometh Shame