Regarding the Athanasian creed, would you say that those who are simply ignorant of certain theological points can be saved, as opposed to those who outright reject those points?
Excellent question. I would first provide the following quote from Acts 17: “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 human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead" (Acts 17:29-31).
All humans are born sinful and are in need of repentance. Those who fail to do so are outside of God's promises, for salvation is only given to those who have repented and believe in Christ, as Peter once preached, "This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:11-12).
Every human born in the flesh is condemned from the moment of conception, but there is grace in Christ Jesus. Not hearing the Gospel does not cause one to be lost, as one is already lost by virtue of not hearing the Gospel.
Scripture implies that all have heard the Gospel in some capacity. Our Lord says in Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Paul states in Romans 1:18-20, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."
It is a difficult doctrine, but there are many who are not called and do not come to repentance due to their sinful nature. Some have willfully denied the Gospel; others have apostatized, having first heard the Gospel and believing it, only to reject it later in life. Some have been deprived of the Gospel, and have thus no consideration for it.
At a practical level, it is nearly impossible to live without hearing a word of the Gospel. Hearing the Gospel does not necessarily have to be intentional preaching; the Spirit works in mysterious ways. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who has never heard the Gospel, albeit even briefly. And again, there are many different ways in which an individual is intentionally or unintentionally deprived of the Gospel or otherwise rejects it.
As ignorance is a vice of the sinful flesh, it is clear that those who are ignorant of the Gospel, by virtue of their unrighteousness in the flesh and opposition of the Gospel, would not be saved. Ultimately, it is a matter of God's judgement, for He alone is Judge; but Scripture has made clear the parameters for salvation, and the fate of those who willfully or otherwise reject the Gospel. I hope this helps.
Your line of thought did evoke Romans 1, so I'm glad that was mentioned! What I muse on is how badly I understood the Trinity as a child, and how much farther we all have to go in our theological development. Yet I do believe the Holy Spirit has been working in my life since my baptism at infancy. When I was too ignorant to call the Holy Spirit "He" instead of "it," was I unsaved? I don't think so. I eventually learned better and I repented of my error. I'm sure I'll make all sorts of similar discoveries in heaven as I grow in the knowledge of an infinite being. This is what I mean by failing to understand the creeds rather than outright rejecting them.
Regarding the Athanasian creed, would you say that those who are simply ignorant of certain theological points can be saved, as opposed to those who outright reject those points?
Excellent question. I would first provide the following quote from Acts 17: “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 human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead" (Acts 17:29-31).
All humans are born sinful and are in need of repentance. Those who fail to do so are outside of God's promises, for salvation is only given to those who have repented and believe in Christ, as Peter once preached, "This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:11-12).
Every human born in the flesh is condemned from the moment of conception, but there is grace in Christ Jesus. Not hearing the Gospel does not cause one to be lost, as one is already lost by virtue of not hearing the Gospel.
Scripture implies that all have heard the Gospel in some capacity. Our Lord says in Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Paul states in Romans 1:18-20, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."
It is a difficult doctrine, but there are many who are not called and do not come to repentance due to their sinful nature. Some have willfully denied the Gospel; others have apostatized, having first heard the Gospel and believing it, only to reject it later in life. Some have been deprived of the Gospel, and have thus no consideration for it.
At a practical level, it is nearly impossible to live without hearing a word of the Gospel. Hearing the Gospel does not necessarily have to be intentional preaching; the Spirit works in mysterious ways. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who has never heard the Gospel, albeit even briefly. And again, there are many different ways in which an individual is intentionally or unintentionally deprived of the Gospel or otherwise rejects it.
As ignorance is a vice of the sinful flesh, it is clear that those who are ignorant of the Gospel, by virtue of their unrighteousness in the flesh and opposition of the Gospel, would not be saved. Ultimately, it is a matter of God's judgement, for He alone is Judge; but Scripture has made clear the parameters for salvation, and the fate of those who willfully or otherwise reject the Gospel. I hope this helps.
Your line of thought did evoke Romans 1, so I'm glad that was mentioned! What I muse on is how badly I understood the Trinity as a child, and how much farther we all have to go in our theological development. Yet I do believe the Holy Spirit has been working in my life since my baptism at infancy. When I was too ignorant to call the Holy Spirit "He" instead of "it," was I unsaved? I don't think so. I eventually learned better and I repented of my error. I'm sure I'll make all sorts of similar discoveries in heaven as I grow in the knowledge of an infinite being. This is what I mean by failing to understand the creeds rather than outright rejecting them.