There is a reason these books were not in the canon. The fathers of the church plus most of catholic theology has never consented to pagans being saved in their idolatry and ignorance if Jesus christ. Justin martyr may have only been the only exception and it is possible this is taken out of context.
I can see why catholics really don’t share their faith. Every ‘‘good’’ person is going to heaven by the grace if Jesus christ.
This is absurd for any Jew or reader if the new testament in the ancient world.
Ok, lets look at the 18th century invention of invisible ignorance, **oh wait except Justin Martyr, who mentioned it around 150 A.D **
In case you forgot
** St.Justin Martyr**
We have been taught that Christ is the first-begotten of God, and we have declared him to be the Logos of which all mankind partakes [John 1:9].
Those, therefore, who lived according to reason [Greek, logos] were really Christians, even though they were thought to be atheists, such as, among the Greeks, Socrates, Heraclitus, and others like them. . . . Those who lived before Christ but did not live according to reason [logos] were wicked men, and enemies of Christ, and murderers of** those who did live according to reason [logos], whereas those who lived then or who live now according to reason [logos] are Christians.** Such as these can be confident and unafraid."
The invincibly ignorant would not include those who think that all religions are the same. That would be indifference. Jesus said, “I am the way” (John 14:6), not a way. The person who is invincibly ignorant honestly believes, though erroneously, that he is going the right way.
St. Augustine’s position is also consistent with Vatican II. "When we speak of within and without in relation to the Church, it is the position of the heart that we must consider, not that of the body…. All who are within [the Church] in heart are saved in the unity of the ark (On Baptism, Against the Donatists 5:28 [39] [A.D. 394]).
Yet St.Augustine would also argue that there is no salvation outside of the church.
**Clement of Rome, a contemporary of the Apostles, wrote, “Let us go through all generations and learn that in generation after generation the Master has given a place of repentance for those willing to turn to him. Those who repented for their sins, appeased God in praying, and received salvation, even though they were aliens to God” (Letter to the Corinthians, no. 7 [AD 95]).
**
St. Paul teaches that we are judged by our intentions. “Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every man will receive his commendation from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).
**Romans 2:13-16, “For it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be justified. When Gentiles who have not the Law do by nature what the Law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the Law. They show that what the Law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.”
**
St. Thomas Aquinas said one can obtain salvation without being actually baptized, on account of the person’s desire for baptism, which desire is the outcome of faith that works through charity, whereby God, Whose power is not tied to visible sacraments, sanctifies a person inwardly" (Summa Theologiae III, q.68, a.2)
There is a normative way to salvation through the Church and the graces she receives and dispenses through Christ our Lord in a sacramental economy He established!
Those that
may be saved via a non-normative way, but by desire include protestants!
If you want to take the view of none being saved outside the Christian Faith, then you must include yourself and other non-catholic Christians, because the NORMATIVE way is through the Church Christ established, which is One, Holy Catholic, and Apostolic!
amazon.com/Salvation-Outside-Church-Catholic-Response/dp/0809133040
