Most evangelicals will say
that whoever do not come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and accept him as
savior will go to hell. Is it true? They even quote a few verses from the Bible
to prove it. But, if they had not misquoted the verses, they cannot prove it.
God created all and he is the God of all people. He is not
the God of Christians only and he is not partial towards any person. He tells us
to judge righteously without respecting persons. He also judges righteously
without respecting persons. "Lev 19:15 Ye shall do no
unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor,
nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy
neighbour. 1 Pet 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of
persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your
sojourning here in fear:" Further God judges every man according to his
work, but not according to whether he is a Christian or not.
"Acts
4:10 Be it known unto
you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth….12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Evangelists are
using this verse to preach that the name of Jesus Christ is given for salvation
and it is the only way. However, this verse is not at all given to teach
salvation of the soul. In the context it says that Apostle Peter used the
authority given by Jesus (in the name of Jesus) healed (saved from the long time
sickness) the lame (impotent) man. If we twist the word of God and teach
believers to use the name “Jesus” as a magic formula (mantra) to be saved or to
enter heaven, it is deception.
Please look at the context of the verses:
"Acts 4:8
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the
people, and elders of Israel, 9
If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the
impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people
of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye
crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here
before you whole… Acts 3:6
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee:
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the
right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received
strength. 8 And he
leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking,
and leaping, and praising God." In its context, Peter used the name Jesus
Christ to heal a person from sickness, but not to save him from hell.
However, if we look at verse twelve without the context,
we may prove that the name is given to save people from hell.
"Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
But if we do that it is deception and it is on purpose.
Jesus Christ proclaimed that he is the way, the truth, and
the life. "John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me." Christians believe that this is to accept his
name as the lord and savior in order to go to heaven. But it is not so. It is to
live the way he lived, believe the truth he preached, and to receive his spirit
life to mortify the flesh life. Jesus Christ resent the formal acceptance of his
name for a favor to attain heaven. "Matt
7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father
which is in heaven." Jesus Christ wants his people to obey his
commandments as he has obeyed God. "John
15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in
my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
Salvation is obtained by obedient life such as his, but not by reciting a
religious phrase. "Rom 5:10
… we shall be saved by his life."
God gave His Son for the whole world, not for the
religious Christians only. "John
3:16 For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son... Rom 2:11
For there is no respect of persons with God. 12
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law and
as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law." God
is the most holy and the righteous Judge. It is against God's righteousness to
favor a group of people just because they call themselves Christians or Children
of God. The above verse says that a person 'with law' or 'without law' both will
be punished according to their sins. In other words, Christians or Jews or
anybody else will be judged according to their sins and not according to their
religious affiliations.
Every person in the world is given by nature a heart with
conscience and a mind with thoughts which reflect the law of God. They may
choose to obey or not to obey them. It is their choice.
"Rom 2:14
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things
contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the
work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing
witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or
else excusing one another;) 16
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by
Jesus Christ according to my gospel." Non-Christians may obey or disobey
God as Christians may obey or disobey God. The obedient people will receive the
rewards for obedience and the disobedient people will receive punishment for
disobedience by the judgment of Jesus Christ. "Rom
2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou
keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made
uncircumcision. 26
Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his
uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27
And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge
thee… 1 Cor 7:19
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the
commandments of God." God divides the whole world in two groups, the
Obedient and the Disobedient. Salvation belongs to the Obedient.
Christians have the word of God, the Bible, which the Non-
Christians do not have. The word of God has all instructions that are needed for
a person even to receive the abiding of God. "Luke
12:48 But he that knew
not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few
stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.
Acts 17:30 And the
times of this ignorance God winked at..."
God says, much is required from those much is given,. That is, God
requires more from Christians than he requires from Non- Christians. But
Christians think that God will ignore their sins just because they are called by
his name and God will punish non-Christians because they do not follow his
religion. But the judgment of God is upon everyone in proportion to what we have
received and how much we have obeyed from it. "2
Tim 2:19 ... Let every one that nameth the name of
Christ depart from iniquity. 1 Peter 4:17
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if
it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that
obey not the gospel of God? 18
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner
appear?" Every sinner will face punishment starting with sinning
Christians. It seems Christians are in more trouble than others. But we have the
benefit of the written word of God. We can overcome. God bless you.
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