What is the Biblical basis for the belief that Trinitarian belief is “not” required for salvation?
Upvote:4
Protestant answer. Simply, the Athanasian Creed is not Scripture. It is a 'doctrine of men'. We must be careful not to substitute man's teachings for God's, as the Pharisees often did. Creeds are useful summaries of the articles of our faith, and can serve as a litmus test to root out belief in false teachings, to prevent those who believe such from ascending to positions of leadership. But creeds not found within the text of Scripture should not be treated with the authority of Scripture.
Paul the Apostle teaches in New Testament Scripture:
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.
Romans 10:9, NIV. No mention of the doctrine of Trinity here. Jesus is the Way.
Some things are implied here:
- Belief in the God of Israel, the one true God
- The God of Israel (not any other) raised Jesus from the dead
- This confession is public, "with your mouth", not private, in your heart only
- (By the way, 'Lord' in this verse is not the Divine Name and is not equivalent to 'Messiah'; it is a synonym for 'master'. Your confession is to Jesus' authority over you.)
Additionally, repentance as a precondition for salvation was taught by John the Baptist, Simon Peter and the other apostles. (For those two we have quotations of them teaching it.) Paul also taught the baptism of John which follows repentance to his student Apollos. He just doesn't mention it in this verse in Romans.
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
Acts 2:38-40, NIV. Jesus affirms that repentance is required for salvation in his famous dialogue with Nicodemus the judge. "Born of water and the Spirit" refers to the baptism of John; 'born of water' referring to literal immersion in clean water, and 'born of Spirit' referring to repentance as a means of spiritual purification.
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but Spirit gives birth to spirit.
John 3:5-6, NIV. It could be argued what level of understanding of John's baptism is required for it to be an earnest thing. In my opinion, it is sufficient that baptism is accompanied by genuine repentance, given how John and Peter preached; but that is only my opinion.
But to my recollection, no Scriptural source teaches that belief in specific teachings about the Holy Spirit, including Trinity, or even awareness of such, are essential to salvation.
Upvote:5
Both Old Testament and New Testament revelations indicate that there is a way of salvation which does not require the kind of faith described by the Athanasian Creed.
Jesus made this very clear when he was approached by someone who attributed 'goodness' to him. He stated quite firmly that there is none good but God and he reiterated the words of Moses :
... thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, honour thy father and mother. [Mark 10:19 KJV]
And again, to another person, Jesus stated - in strong terms - the way of salvation that requires no faith such as is described in the Athanasian Creed :
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. [Luke 10:25-28 KJV]
This do - and thou shalt live - and live eternally.
Without any faith as is described in the Athanasian Creed.
This is the way which is set forth in scripture that requires no faith in, and no submission to, the doctrine set forth by Athanasius.
This do - and thou shalt live.
More post
- 📝 What was Brigham Young's teaching regarding Adam being God?
- 📝 Did God establish Israel's boundaries from eternity?
- 📝 How are John 18:36 and Matthew 13:41 reconciled according to Protestants?
- 📝 Does Revelation 3:10 really confirm the rapture before beast mark?
- 📝 Does Scripture mention whether it rained before the flood?
- 📝 How is Acts 7:48 reconciled with omnipresence doctrines?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, is the existence of God self-evident?
- 📝 Papal Infallibility and teaching heresy?
- 📝 Why have some conservative Reformed churches objected to the Belhar Confession?
- 📝 Theologians who thought Christ incarnated primarily to reveal the doctrine of the Trinity?
- 📝 Is it true that in Bible certain brothers are favored more than others?
- 📝 Was Jesus a carpenter or a rabbi?
- 📝 Are faith and proof mutually exclusive?
- 📝 Should a Church call out False Prophets who claim to speak with God's word?
- 📝 How did the Virgin Mary's title "Mirror of Justice", used in some Catholic prayers, originate?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for Jesus being God incarnate?
- 📝 Why do Jehovah's Witnesses not pray with people of other faith?
- 📝 Paul Wrote Poems?
- 📝 Does God forgive those who take his name in vain?
- 📝 Apostle John lived in Ephesus - what sources claim that?
- 📝 If Jesus ascended to heaven as Michael the angel why is he still called a man?
- 📝 Do any Church Fathers comment on the merciful Nature of Stoning (Catholicism)?
- 📝 What is renewing of the Holy Ghost?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis used by Reformed theologians to argue that all those dying in infancy are saved?
- 📝 What is meant by the punishment for Satan in Genesis 3?
- 📝 What would a person need to be able to do to be a saint while he was yet alive?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for using fake 'vaccine passes'?
- 📝 Did Joseph Smith create any secular writings?
- 📝 Were Jews allowed to sacrifice to the LORD at altars other than at the tabernacle and temple?
- 📝 What are the soteriological implications of Arianism?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that Michael is not Jesus?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that people do not go to heaven or hell immediately when they die?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that the Lord Jesus Christ does NOT presently possess blood in his incorruptible body?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that Trinitarian belief is “not” required for salvation?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that Jesus is Michael?
- 📝 What is the basis for the belief that the wise men did not arrive in Bethlehem until several months after the birth of Jesus?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that a living person may visit heaven or hell?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that Satan was the serpent in the Garden of Eden?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that Jesus' death made satisfaction for individual sins?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that God likes or feels affection toward us?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief held by Jehovah's Witnesses that Jehovah and Jesus Christ are separate entities?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that God loves individuals?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that there are humans in heaven now?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that some people will live eternally on earth?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that good works are the fruits of faith?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis in the Old Testament for the belief that the Messiah must be God?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that Mary is the mother of God?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the JW belief that only 144,000 go to heaven?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the idea that the 'quality of life' in hell is not the same for everyone?
- 📝 What is the basis for the Christadelphian belief that Satan is not a personal being?
- 📝 What is the biblical & patristic basis for the belief that the saints go to Heaven instead of Sheol after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the idea that the Holy Spirit will sometimes choose not to lead?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that life begins at conception?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that separation from God is in itself sin?
- 📝 What is the basis for the belief among some Protestants that Christ's teachings do not apply to us today?
- 📝 What is the scriptural basis for the belief that a man is not capable of being the Saviour?
- 📝 What is the basis for the belief "It is possible to have free-will and be incapable of sinning, but it is not possible to be created in that state"?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that God foreordained the fall of Adam and Eve?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that destroying a grave or body is an act of desecration?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the theory that Christians should not eat pork?