justbyfaith
Well-Known Member
It is one thing to be ignorant of the doctrine of Christ's Deity and to not believe in it for that reason.I think Jesus excuses those who do not grasp that He is equal with God.
Let me give you an amplified version:
"who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes - the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped," Phil. 2:6
Many didn't grasp it then and still today don't. He'll explain it to them when they arrive.
That said, believing that Jesus died for our sins and rose on the third day does not neccessitate theological depth, otherwise a child could not innocently come forward and receive the Lord on a basic simple level of understanding. Really, how much did the average Christian understand back then? Just the basics I'd say. We have so many resourses that they did not have: Bibles for one _ in many versions and languages, study Bibles, many centuries of brilliant theologians laboring over these doctrines to give us hundreds of commentaries to examine, 24/7 sermons broadcast on TB and radio and oh_ the online laity of various denominations. We are so fortunate yet, still we see dimly and know in part. If we all had to pass a test to get into heaven, then it wouldn't be Grace through faith.
But for those who understand the doctrine and then reject it, I don't believe that they have any excuse...if they die in that state of unbelief, they will die in their sins.
Also, most people are told to read the gospel of John first thing when they become new Christians.
And they are not going to get very far into the book (about verse 14) before they come to the understanding that it is the biblical teaching that Jesus is God.
So, if they see that it is the biblical teaching and reject it, that is a heart issue that amounts to unbelief.
And since we are saved by grace through faith, unbelief on their part might be a condemning factor in their lives, don't you think?