Can a non-Christian be Saved

Today I will take on a Parishioner’s Pick

Does this verse from Romans suggest you do not have to be a Christian?

“(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. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.”

Romans 2:14-16 NIV

I did preach a sermon on this topic last August - Can Those who Have Never Heard the Gospel Be Saved?

https://www.pacoc.net/podcasts/media/2023-08-06-can-those-who-have-never-heard-the-gospel-be-saved

What is this verse saying? I want to go back to 2:12 and I want to change translations to the NASB.

Romans 2:12–16 (NASB 2020) — 12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; 13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.

Paul is talking to two groups – Jews and Gentiles. In the NT, religiously people were divided into these two categories. Sounds exclusive but God actually made the distinction back in Genesis 12. He selected Abraham to be the father of a nation that would be especially used by God. It’s not that God didn’t love other nations or even work in other nations, it was jus that God chose these people, the Jews, to work in a special way through them in particular bring to the world Jesus Christ would save us all. And one thing God gave the Jews which they treasured was the Law. This included the Ten Commandments but also all the laws we find in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy. This included dietary laws, sacrificial requirements, observation of feasts, and a whole lot more. And the Jews were expected to keep the Law.

The Gentiles didn’t have the Law and they were not expected to keep the Law. But they did have something – a conscience. Paul calls it a Law to themselves. They have an innate sense of what is right and what is wrong. Notice that in the NASB the distinction between Law and law in verse 14. Paul seems to say that the Gentiles will be judged by that universal sense of morality.

So, that’s where the question comes. Can a person be saved by following their conscience? Can a person be saved without Christ? Can a person be saved by keeping the natural law? But Paul is also addressing the question for the Jews – can a Jew be saved by observing the Law?

Well, according to 2:12 it may be possible but only if you have never broken that law – be it Law or law.

Romans 2:12 (NASB 2020) — 12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law.

In 2:13 he is going to focus on the Jews:

Romans 2:13 (NASB 2020) — 13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be justified.

It’s no value to have the Law unless you keep the Law. Pul seems to be leaving open the possibility that if someone perfectly kept the Law they could be justified/saved.

Then Paul will turn the argument onto the Gentiles in our verses today, 2:14-15

Romans 2:14–15 (NASB 2020) — 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.

The Gentiles also have a law but notice what Paul says. Sometimes they keep that law and sometimes they don’t. Has there been anyone who has always followed that innate sense of right and wrong? I suppose it would be possible for a Jew to perfectly keep the Law and I believe that because Jesus did and we believe he was a human just like us. In the same way I suppose someone could perfectly keep the innate natural law and be justified before God.

So, the answer to the question could be yes. If someone lived a perfect life they could be saved. It’s possible but is it probable?

I can go out to the Ark and make a free throw. If I can make 1 free throw, is it possible that I could make 10 in a row? If I can make 1, is it possible that I can make 100 in row? How about 1000? 10,000? Of course, it is possible but for all practical purposes we know I would never be able to do i

So, is it possible to be sinless under the Law or under the law? Yes, but who outside of Jesus has done that? Either a Jew or a Gentile.

This is Paul’s point. If you want to play that game God is willing to play it. If you want to take your chances on judgement day and rely on your perfect record, more power to you. But who among you likes your chances?

That’s what Paul reminds us of in 2:16

Romans 2:16 (NASB 2020) — on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.

There will be a day when God will judge us and not only our actions but also our secret

These verses should terrify us, and I think that is what Paul’s intent is in these early chapters of Romans. But if you haven’t been terrified yet, look what’s coming in chapter 3:

Romans 3:9–20 (NIV) — 9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

Then most of us know 3:23

Romans 3:23 (NIV) — For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Paul holds out no hope for us if we are relying on salvation by observing the Law or law.

James 2:10 (NIV) — 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

Galatians 3:10 (NIV) — 10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

So, where is Paul going to take us from here. He has brought us to the dark recesses of our depravity. Is there any hope for our sinful selves?

Well, there is this thing called grace. There is this thing called faith. And it is in this grace and faith that we are pulled out of the dungeon of despair and brought into the light of hope.

Romans 5:1–2 (NIV) — 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 (NIV) — 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:1–4 (NIV) — 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.

Back to the question – can a non-Christian be saved by being a good person? Maybe but only if they have lived a perfect life. No one can be saved by being good because no one can be good enough. No one can make 10,000 free throws in a row especially in this world our vision has been distorted by sin. Imagine making 10,000 free throws in a row blindfolded. No one can make 10,000 free throws in a row, especially with the sinful world working against us. Imagine making 10,000 free throws in a row with people yelling in your face and people jumping on your back. So, Paul says unless you are perfect (and good luck with that) you need to be in Christ.

Paul will later say this:

Romans 10:9–15 (NIV) — 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

I can’t see in Romans that anyone who is not in Christ can be saved and that includes hearing about Christ and confessing faith in Christ. If you could be saved by being generally good then Paul’s argument would have been different. He would have said, “Just try the best you can with what you know and God will be just fine with you.” If you could be saved without Christ then why is Paul so passionate about preaching Christ?

If we could be saved without Christ, then why did he come? Why did he go through all that pain?

In another of Paul’s letter that addresses a similar theme look what Paul says:

Galatians 2:21 (NIV) — For if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

Did God make a mistake? Did he overestimate the price of sin?

I hate overpaying for things. Seems like every time I get gas the price drops 20 cents the next day and I kick myself. I hate it when I make a large purchase and someone finds out how much I paid and they tell me they get the same thing for a lot less. I hate overpaying!

The price of our salvation, the cost of sending Christ to earth and dying on the cross and suffering for the sins of us all, is beyond our comprehension! If that wasn't necessary, don’t you think God would have found a better deal.

Just do a few more good things people.

Just pray a few more prayers.

Just memorize a few more scriptures.

That would have been so much easier for God, but no. Jesus had to come because that is the only way we can be saved. That God himself become a human being, live a sinless life, and give that life for us. To say that we can be saved by being good enough is to say that God has been fleeced and it was a gross miscalculation on his part to send Jesus.

Now, I’m not God and if God saves people who never had the chance to hear about Christ but did the best they could, I’m in no position to argue with him. If I’m at the pearly gates and by the grace of God they open for me and then the guy behind says he never heard the gospel but did the best he could and God says I knew you would have confessed Christ if you had the chance and the gates fly open for him then I’m not going to argue.

And my heart wants to believe that. But, as I see it, the Bible teaches that only a person in Christ can be saved.

So, what does that mean.

If you are not in Christ, are you willing to count on bringing a perfect record before God on judgement day? I don’t like your odds. Confess faith in Jesus today. Be baptized in Christ today. You have heard the Gospel and, in Paul’s own words, you are without excuse.

If you are in Christ – tell other people. Make it your ambition to invite others into this life of joy and hope and salvation. Let’s be a church who loudly and proudly proclaims salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

If you are in Christ – allow this great gift that you have been given to transform your life. That’s where Paul takes us beginning in chapter 12:

Romans 12:1–2 (NLT) — 1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

And sing Hallelujah! You are saved! You have hope! You have hope in Christ!