I'd be surprised if any modern denomination would put it quite like that: that people who don't know the Gospels WON'T go to hell.
Usually it is something like people who don't know the Gospels will still be judged, but based on their actions/beliefs in conformance to their better judgement, rather than based on their actions/beliefs in conformance to the Gospels. (Obviously knowing the Gospels ensure more knowledge of Heaven-driven actions/beliefs).
So such Christians don't need to be concerned: still a lot of non-Gospel readers will go to Hell!
There has been numerous Christian views on the matter of whether it is works or faith or both or none or whatever asserts the latest charlatan claiming divine knowledge given him directly from the ill begotten son of the ghostly 1/3rd of YHWH.
As far as the charlatans who fabricated the NT are concerned there are
FOUR different rulings on the matter.
Christians of various denominations support one or another of the FOUR rulings.
- Jesus_1 says works only
- Jesus_2 says faith only
- Paul says works count for nothing... even more so it is what god decides so even faith is not that important
- James says that it is both works and faith but seems to think that works are more important than faith.... but just like the body and soul they go soul in body so to speak.
There is even a
FIFTH method by which people can find their way to heaven which I bet would surprise many (not all mind you) Christians today.
James 2:25 informs us that even a prostitute was saved because she betrayed her country and people and helped spy for the Israelites so that they could ethnically cleanse her city and genocide her entire people (
Joshua 2).
Here are the relevant verses.
Matthew claims that Jesus says one's actions is what will determine if one goes to hell or heaven.
Matthew 25:31-46
- 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
- 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
- ...
- 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: ..........
- 25:40 ... I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
- 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
- 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:..........
- 25:45..... I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
- 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Jesus does however
CONTRADICT what he says in Matthew 25. In the verses below Jesus seems to say that unless one believes in him they are bound to hell.... nothing about WORKS here.... it is all about FAITH IN JESUS.
- Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall bedamned.
- John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
- Luke 19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
- Mathew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
And here Paul agrees with the
CONTRADICTORY JESUS.... Paul too is telling us that it has NOTHING to do with works.
Moreover, Paul goes further and asserts that God decides who is damned and who is saved even before they are born so it is not even faith nor works.
It is all up to god whom he decides he wants to save and whom he elects to damn....
neither faith nor works make any difference.
Romans 9:11-16
- 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth
- 9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
- 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
- 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
- 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
- 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
But then we have here Jesus' brother James agreeing with
BOTH VERSIONS OF JESUS where James says that it is both works and faith that would qualify one to heaven.
In other words James is saying that BOTH works and faith are needed.
James 2:20-26
- 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
- 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
- 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
- 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
- 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
- 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
- 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
From the above (2:25) it seems that even a prostitute is saved because she betrays her country and people and helps spy for the Israelites so that they can ethnically cleanse her city and genocide her entire people.
