Lonewolf wrote:Native Americans, aborigines, pigmyes, celts, pre-Christian era peoples, etc. How do they fit into the plan of salvation? How are they to attain salvation, if any?
I'm wondering what the core issue is here.
Unfairness? Fairness demands we receive our own penalty according to our sin.
If the consequence of sin is death, and we have sinned, then death is our just dessert.
Or is the issue that "Salvation" (eternal life with God) isn't
attainable by all?
Firstly, salvation isn't something attained or earned.
Those who need salvation are those who have sinned and done wrong.
No one in need of being saved is deserving of eternal life with God who is pure.
If there is any unfairness it is that some are saved.
Such is God's Grace—it is unfair because some deserving of death are saved.
Therefore, we
hope in Christ who reveals God's love and grace.
If this a false hope then we Christians are to be extremely pitied.
BUT, if one accepts that God exists, that God is fully righteous—even Righteousness itself—then I don't see anyone including myself who is compatible with such a Being.
So if there be a cure to this condition—my condition... then how foolish is it that I should pass it up because others did not, could not or had not?
The question is not what others do, have done or had an opportunity to do.
This can always be placed on a theological doorstep that God is fully righteous and loving and wants all to come to Him.
I personally don't see how such is possible without a solution like provided in the grace through faith in Christ.
No other religion in the world provides any such solution to this theological dilemma.
Rather the question for me is what will I do having heard this Gospel ("good news") that Christ brought?
I'm not going to thumb my nose at it. I'll seriously investigate the claims because it has the smell of many spiritual truths that ring true.
What will you do?