Question 15: Were, then, all those who lived and died after the time of the early Christians who ...

Question 15: Were, then, all those who lived and died after the time of the early Christians who did not receive baptism in the original form completely lost and damned even though they faithfully observed the rules of Christ and true Christianity in all other respects - some even spending their blood and lives for it - only because they were content with their baptism received in infancy out of ignorance or lack of a higher motivation?

Answer: If they had had the same experience as Abraham when he offered his son, namely, that they had the true faith in Jesus, which is the foundation of all the rules of true Christianity, they were certainly saved. They were certainly saved even if they had not obtained outward baptism, perhaps in times of persecution or because of other circumstances. However, if they thought that their infant baptism was valid, then they were of course ignorant of the fundamentals of the Christian religion. They will probably have lived up to the fundamentals of Christianity to a small degree or not at all. They will scarcely have achieved the new creation which alone is acceptable before God. Still, we will not judge those who lived many years ago, but leave them to their God. However, similar ignorance of men today who perhaps oppose baptism because of lack of knowledge will not help them at all on the Day of Revelation.