Saved without the Gospel?
Can one be saved without knowledge of Jesus or scripture?
We have all met fellow Christians who believe God limits the opportunity for salvation to only those who respond to the Gospel of Christ. Their belief is that this is why Jesus told the disciples to share the Gospel throughout the world... so that those who are dead to Christ can have an opportunity to live.
I, like many other Christians, understand that we have a God who wants all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4).
When considering this subject, I'm reminded of the story of Naaman. He was a mighty general of the king of Aram in the 5th chapter of 2 Kings, who, though not a Jew called upon the Lord to heal him. God not only healed him, but did so in a way to make Naaman go back to his country as a believer.
I also think of the great city of Ninevah in Assyria. A city of over 120,000 people for whom the Lord had compassion and sent Jonah to preach. Scripture tells us they believed!
Lastly, think of Paul, an enemy of Christ and Christians. He had a fierce devotion to a God he misunderstood. Jesus intervened for him and, setting him on the right path, made Paul into one of the greatest followers in the Bible.
The balance of this page will share 3 subjects about those who haven't heard the Word, but are still loved by God such that they can be saved. The subjects are:
- Some more examples of believers who did not have the benefit of being under a covenant with God yet were counted as believers with whom God intervened.
- Some more scriptures that point to God allowing salvation for those who don't have access to, nor know the Gospel.
- How I believe at some point before the end of the age all will be accountable to know and follow Christ.
1
Some more examples of believers who did not have the benefit of being under a covenant with God
- Melchezedik
- Abimelek. God told this king of Gerar "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore * I did not let you touch her."
- Nebuchenazar
- Balaam. Prophet of God but was not an Israelite.
- Cornelius, a Roman Centurian
2
Some more scriptures that point to God allowing salvation for those who don't have access to, nor know the Gospel.
...
Acts 17:26-29 - 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' 29 "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
Consideration
In this scripture Paul is speaking to pagans... explaining to them that people who seek God have found Him.
Note Hebrews 8:13 - By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
Note: John 4:23 - Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
Acts 10:34-35 - 34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
Consideration
In this scripture Paul is speaking to pagans... explaining to them that people who seek God have found Him.
Romans 2:6-13 - 6 God "will give to each person according to what he has done." 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)
Consideration
In this scripture Paul is speaking to pagans... explaining to them that people who seek God have found Him.
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1 Timothy 2:4 - 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Consideration
Easy: Since God wants all people to be saved He will then provide a path for them.
Romans 4:12-16 - 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation. 16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham...
Consideration
…faith Abraham had before circumcision was a saving faith.
Romans 2:6-13 - ng them.)
Consideration
In this scripture Paul is speaking to pagans... explaining to them that people who seek God have found Him.
3
At some point before the end of the age all will be accountable to know and follow Christ.
coming soon
What about Jesus? He was baptized, too
Matt 3:13-15- Him.
Mark 1:9- At .
Luke 3:21,22- sed."
Consideration
here
Why was Jesus baptized? A hint to this is that He waited until He was 30 years of age... which is the age in the Jewish law when a man can perform as a teacher or priest at that time. To do this one had to be ceremonially cleansed/consecrated with baptism. (See Num 4:3). Upon His baptism God the Father and God the Spirit joined Him; honoring the beginning of His ministry on earth for which He had just been consecrated.
Was Baptism important to Jesus?
Matthew 28:19- “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”
Mark 16:16- “Whoever believes and is baptized will be
saved, but whoever does not believe will be
condemned.”
Consideration
With His LAST WORDS before His ascension, He spoke of making disciples of all nations and notes that as they baptize those new believers to do so in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Some say that Jesus is speaking of the “baptism of the Spirit”. But we know from John 14:16-17, & John 14:26 that Jesus baptizes with the Spirit…and humans can't baptize with the Spirit. So here Jesus is telling his followers to baptize others with water to make them into disciples.
Was Baptism important to Jesus?
Matthew 28:19- “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”
Mark 16:16- “Whoever believes and is baptized will be
saved, but whoever does not believe will be
condemned.”
Consideration
With His LAST WORDS before His ascension, He spoke of making disciples of all nations and notes that as they baptize those new believers to do so in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Some say that Jesus is speaking of the “baptism of the Spirit”. But we know from John 14:16-17, & John 14:26 that Jesus baptizes with the Spirit…and humans can't baptize with the Spirit. So here Jesus is telling his followers to baptize others with water to make them into disciples.
During His ministry Jesus and His disciples baptized others
John 3:22- After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing.
John 3:26- They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man [Jesus] who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look,
he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
Consideration
Jesus did baptize.
Note that John 4:2 tells us “Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were).
The interpretation for these verses can be that they are both probably describing specific times. At some times Jesus was baptizing and other times He was not.
How was baptism mentioned and described in the New Testament?
Acts 2:37-39- Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.39 "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."
Consideration
A sequence:
- Repent and be baptized for your sins to be forgiven
- …then receive the Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 3:20,21- "…God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ…”
Consideration
Peter describes how, through the flood, the world was cleansed and started fresh. Then he identifies it as a type to baptism which he describes in terms of consecration with the “baptism saving you” … as a “pledge of good conscience toward God”.
Romans 6:4-5- We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection
Consideration
It is baptism that begins the new life. Some would say that this verse references baptism of the Spirit. But the descriptions in the verse lend it to reference an act that imitates crucifixion/death… a physical baptism.
Acts 10:47-48- Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. ...
Consideration
Peter ordered that Cornelius and his brethren be baptized… why would Peter command baptism if it's only optional?
Also, the story is about Gentiles becoming Christian so why did Luke clog it up by talking about baptism?.... because baptism is the last step in coming to Christ... hear, believe, repent, be baptized (consecrated)!
Acts 8:35-38- …Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he ordered that the chariot stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.
Consideration
The scripture sequence is that the Eunuch receives the Gospel and then requests to be baptized. Like Cornelius' story, this is about a person becoming a Christian and Luke puts this focus on baptism... why?... same answer as that for Cornelius... because baptism is the last step in coming to Christ... hear, believe, repent, be baptized (consecrated)!
This is a story that shows how the Eunuch was miraculously presented with the Gospel and responded. He didn’t say a sinners prayer. He had been told about baptism and asked for it. To mention it again… baptism here as in the rest of Acts includes belief, repentance, and baptism.
Acts 9:18- So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized...
Acts 22:16- Ananias prompted Paul to get up and be baptized…. “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”
Consideration
Saul got up and was baptized. The first thing he did because this was the completion of his conversion. Ananias explained to Paul that baptism will “wash your sins away”
Amazing that Paul didn't eat or drink for three days and when the scales fell away the first thing he did was... GET BAPTIZED.
Hebrews 10:19-22- Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water
Consideration
The explanation here is the follower of Jesus as priest being cleansed and is derived from our baptism of the believer.
Eph 5:26- Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word
Consideration
Commentators such as Calvin, Clarke, Coffman, and "Contending for the faith" in their commentaries agree. These all tell us the water reference here means baptism. "Contending for the faith" indicates the correct translation in the verse should be as translated in NASB... "by the washing" and not "with the washing".
See
here
1 Corinthians 6:9–11- Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
Consideration
We were washed, then were sanctified, and justified.
Titus 3:5- He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Consideration
The "washing of regeneration" is baptism per the commentary of many theologians… again, see comments from Calvin and others…
Note that the renewing by the Holy Spirit is mentioned separately from the washing. We are regenerated when we believe, repent and baptize/consecrate ourselves to Christ.
See
here
1 Corinthians 15:29 - Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?
Consideration
The Corinthians misunderstood baptism with their "baptism for the dead". But… the point to be made here is that Corinthians were taught that baptism was required for salvation… so in their hope for their dead they were being baptized for them in hopes that the their dead could also be saved.
Galatians 3:27- ...for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Consideration
Baptism clothes us with Christ… we now have the white garments of the bride… given to us by our Lord.
Luke 7:30 - But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.
Consideration
Jesus says here that to reject baptism was to reject Gods purpose for the baptism of John. What of rejecting baptism of Jesus??
Colossians 2:8-16- See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses…
--- it would be worth your time to read all of Ch1. ---
…Colossians 3:1 continues …If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Consideration
The context of this scripture is that Paul is explaining to the Colossians how no one can challenge their salvation and is describing what happened to them as they were saved. Note that a key point he makes as he describes how they were saved is “…having been buried with him in baptism, which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God”. He then then uses the euphemism “If then you have been raised with Christ” again in chapter 3 to say roughly “so if you are now a Christian” then… “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth…”
This reference to being buried and raised with Christ is also used in Romans 6:4-5 where Paul also aligns this expression with baptism.
The above treatment shows baptism...
- Was performed on all new believers as described in the New Testament.
- Is an act of consecration/spiritual cleansing that was performed by all who were making a new start in a spiritual endeavor… becoming a priest, a fresh start from repentance, and new believers in Jesus the Messiah with a commitment to His new covenant.
- Is required by Jesus for the completion of our covenant commitment with Him. Note: Something that is not specifically mentioned in scripture is that our act of baptism, and therefore consecration, is only needed once... unlike what is found under mosaic law where washings were an ongoing requirement. We're consecrated to our new covenant and the Holy Spirit indwells us; sanctifying us and regenerating us daily as we receive ongoing sanctification (1 Peter 1:2).
One point...Please remember… we are saved by Obedient Faith. There are many in this world who may be saved by seeking and obeying a God whose name they haven’t heard. See the treatment on this site titled “Salvation without the Gospel?” However, once you know of Jesus’ expectations for worshiping Him in spirit and truth with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, you are accountable to obey. This is why Paul had the men whom he met be baptized because they “only had the baptism of John” and hadn't consecrated themselves to Jesus (Acts 19:4-10).