Indoctrination & Mental Gymnastics

[Full Circle]

You still haven't shown how Jesus' saving act doesn't apply to those who have never heard of him. I wrote of a person who has not heard of Jesus, but understands that he is a sinner and is reliant on God for salvation. He strives to do God's will and asks for forgiveness. Does he not believe in Jesus? He is saved through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice.

The Bible is replete with verses and passages such as:

Mark 16:16 ESV
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Romans 10:9-10 ESV
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

and of course

John 3:16 ESV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

So the answer to your question, as per these verses, is no, unless you believe in Jesus (and how can you believe in Jesus if you’ve not heard of Him) you won’t be saved. His sacrifice opens the door, but unless accompanied by baptism and belief in Him there is no salvation.

Okay. And you're entitled to hold that opinion, even though it's not the consensus of historians and bible scholars.

"Many of the Church Fathers, including Justin Martyr, Athanasius and Augustine incorporate a theory of substitutionary atonement into their writings. However, the specific interpretation as to what this suffering for sinners meant differed to some extent. It is widely held that the early Church Fathers, including Athanasius and Augustine, taught that through Christ’s vicarious suffering in humanity’s place, he overcame and liberated humanity from sin, death, and the devil.” ~ "Doctrine of the Atonement." Catholic Encyclopedia.” http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02055a.htm

The idea of substitutionary atonement or vicarious redemption was accepted by the Church Fathers and history clearly shows that this practice precedes Christianity. From here it is logical to make the connection between the tradition of “scapegoating” and Chrsitian scripture.

So what we have here are two separate but related points. An ancient tradition co-opted by Christianity and the salvation it offers but only to those who know of and accept Jesus as Savior.