He was the author of many books and articles but the one I have found most helpful is Christianity and World Religions. In it he addresses how Christianity relates to other faiths, and in what sense Christianity is unique. In particular, he tackles the problem posed by the claims of the Gospel message: if the only way to God is through Christ, and the only basis for forgiveness and acceptance is the atonement effected at the Cross, then what about all those countless millions of people in the world today, and the millions who have already lived and died, who have never heard of Christ?

The Gospel tells us that God "desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim.2:4) and that Jesus Christ "is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). But how can this come about if they have never heard of the only Savior?

Norman Anderson and others suggest that an answer can be found in the description of those in Old Testament times who sought the mercy of God and repented of their sins as a result of God's work in their hearts. "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness... David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 'Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.'" (Rom.4:3,6,7)

David and Abraham, and millions like them in the Old Testament days, were saved because they trusted the living God whom they perceived with varying degrees of unclarity. How could God accept them? Because of what Christ was going to do on the cross. And how could he accept you and me? Because of what Christ has done for us on the cross. That mighty Cross and Resurrection are situated at the midpoint of history. Their shadow is cast both forward and back. They are both retrospective and prospective. That is how we may believe God can with perfect justice and perfect love welcome all, from every religion or philosophy, who genuinely want to find him. (Michael Green, Evangelism Through the Local Church, p.76)

If this is true for Abraham and David then may it not also be true of the follower of some other religion that the God of mercy had worked in his heart by his Spirit, bringing him in some measure to realize his sin and need for forgiveness, and enable him to throw himself on God's mercy? Paul tells us that "there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Rom.10:12,13)

If the One who is Creator and Maker of the whole world is the God of all mankind, He will display His kindness to all by whom He has been invoked... Since His mercy is infinite, it must necessarily extend to all who have sought it... It follows that the grace of God penetrates to the very abyss of death, if only men seek it from there, so that it is by no means to be withheld from the Gentiles. (Jean Calvin, Romans p.229)

Is not this, perhaps, the meaning of Peter's words in the house of Cornelius: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right" (Acts 10:34f.) This cannot mean that the man who tries to be religious and strives to be moral will earn salvation, for the whole Bible denies this possibility. But may it not mean that the man who realizes something of his sin and need, and who throws himself on the mercy of God with a sincerity which shows itself in his life (which would always be a sure sign of the inward prompting of God's Spirit), would find that mercy - although without understanding it - at the Cross on which Christ 'died for all' (2 Cor.5:14)?

My study of Islam, for example, convinces me that one cannot deny that some of the great Muslim mystics have sought the face of God with a whole-heartedness that cannot be questioned; and I do not doubt that in some cases it was God himself whom they were seeking, not self-justification or a mystical experience per se. Like everyone else, they could be 'saved' by grace alone; but may they not have been responding to some initiative of that grace which was uniquely operative in the cross and resurrection on One whose story they had never really heard?" (Norman Anderson, Christianity and World Religions, p.152f.)

No man can earn salvation through his religion. The believing Jew was accepted and blessed because of what God himself was going to do in his only Son at the cross of Calvary. Similarly all those who have never heard or understood the Gospel are wholly dependent of whether the God of grace may so work in their hearts - convicting them of sin and need, awakening a love of the truth, and quickening their faith in whatever he has shown them of his purpose in mercy - that they may be included in the efficacy of the atoning sacrifice, made by a Savior about whom they have never heard, which was offered in some sense for the sins of the whole world.

There may be those, who, while never hearing the gospel here on earth, will wake up, as it were, on the other side of the grave to worship the One in whom, without understanding it at the time, they found the mercy of God.

Does this mean that we should not worry about the urgency of sharing the Gospel with non-Christians? No. First of all, we are under orders to go into all the world with the Good News about Jesus. Second, a man such as we have discussed may indeed have found God's mercy, but desperately needs teaching, heart assurance, and a message he can communicate to others. Third, it is vitally important that we should share with others what we have come to know for ourselves of the good news of what Christ has done for us. Fourth, we cannot deny to others the present experience of joy, peace and power which a conscious knowledge of Christ and communion with him can bring.

We share the gospel with others because of what the love of God in Christ has done for us. If we have discovered the truth of Jesus for ourselves there can be no alternative but to offer knowledge of him to others. We have an obligation to bring the knowledge of the truth of Christ to others. It is through sharing the Gospel that we bring glory to God and extend his kingdom. How can we do that? By prayer for others who do not know what Christmas really means. By invitations to worship and to participate in Bible classes. By gifts of Christian literature and copies of the Gospels.

Ted's blog may be found at www.ameliachapel.com/blog. His new book, SOUL FOOD, DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR THE HUNGRY, may be ordered from tschroder@ameliachapel.com @ $14.99 a copy plus S&H.