One of the questions which has vexed the Church for centuries: Jesus is the savior of the world. Does that mean only those who acknowledge him as the savior will be saved? It does not seem consistent with the vision of God as a loving Father named as such by Jesus that the majority of humanity would be condemned for all eternity because they did not acknowledge Jesus as Lord. One theological answer to this question goes like this: Abraham and Moses and David did not know Jesus since they came before him. The salfivic work of Jesus that they anticipated won for them the grace of redemption. We can apply that same logic to those who do not yet acknowlege Christ. By living in a godly manner — with compassion, forgiveness, love — those who are not yet explicit Christians anticipate the divine grace which Jesus won for them. Jesus is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.
