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OrthodoxCatholic said:
However, since it is not possible that all men everywhere could have heard the Gospel message, especially those in foreign countries and prior to the coming of Christ, we see that God deals with them in a different manner. This is what the Catholic Church has termed "the baptism of desire", which simply means that God regards the heart of each man, and seeing those who truly desire to find and serve Him, regards that as being the same as if they had been baptized into the covenantal kingdom.
As is so typical, the Roman State Church has fabricated a doctrine which doesn't have a shred of biblical support. God has always dealt with all men everywhere in exactly the same way in regard to salvation; i.e., the requirement of faith, either in the promise of the coming Messiah or in the Messiah that has already come. (Jh 1:12, 13; Jh 10:16; Heb 11:4ff). Those who have believed upon Christ after His departure are said to be like unto Abraham with whom God "cut covenant" and who is the father of all those who believe. (cf. Rom 4:3; Gal 3:6; Jam 2:23) Thus there is no difference between the O.T. economy and the N.T. economy; all are redeemed by grace through faith in Christ, alone.

Secondly, this "baptism of desire" is totally contrary to scriptural teaching. (cf. Gen 6:5; 8:21; Isa 9:13; 53:1; 64:6; Jh 3:19; Rom 3:11; 8:7, 8; 1Cor 2:14; Eph 2:2, 3; 4:17-19; et al) NO MAN seeks after God. The only desire that natural men have is for sin and to serve the lusts of their flesh. The heart of the natural man is deceitful beyond all measure and wholly corrupt. There is absolutely nothing which the natural/unregenerate man can do which is in conformity to the law of God and thus he cannot do anything which is pleasing to God.

In His Grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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