THE FORMULA FOR SALVATION

[GodsGrace]

Theology is the study of God.

Does God show us a formula for how to be saved?
Is this formula found in the Old Testament?
The New Testament?

What do you believe that formula to be?
Would an almighty God even have a formula?

Is it very narrow and allows only a few into salvatiìon,
or is it wider than we would think and allows for more to be saved?

Personally, I believe it's wider than we think.
Jesus stands at the door and knocks...
Jesus is God.
God is knocking...
What if someone opens the door but has never heard of Jesus?

What about those before the bible was written?
Could they be saved?

Romans 1:18-20
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

What does the above mean anyway?
Are we Christians brain-washed into being too narrow-minded?


eddif
Randy
Hopeful
gordon777
Dorothy Mae

sorry if I forgot anyone...

 

[Whatever]

Personally, I believe it's wider than we think.
Jesus stands at the door and knocks...
Jesus is God.
God is knocking...
What if someone opens the door but has never heard of Jesus?

Again, this is mis-translating the scripture.

Rev 3:14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock.

Jesus is standing outside the building of a specific Church and knocking on the door. These are professed believers, not pagans in the jungle.

This is not talking about Jesus knocking on the door of somebody's heart.

 

[GodsGrace]

Again, this is mis-translating the scripture.

Rev 3:14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock.

Jesus is standing outside the building of a specific Church and knocking on the door. These are professed believers, not pagans in the jungle.

This is not talking about Jesus knocking on the door of somebody's heart.

Then what does the next verse mean?

Revelation 3:15...
15‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
16‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
17‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
18I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
19‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
20‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
21‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”


The above seems to show that God is speaking to those in a church....correct.
But are they following God? Or are they just going to church?
They are neither cold nor hot...It's easier to deal with someone like that, than to try to witness to someone who is neither but is lukewarm and does not even pay attention.

The persons God is addressing believe themselves to be rich but are miserable, poor, blind and naked.

God states IF ANYONE hears my voice...anyone means anyone that might hear God's voice.
Most of the NT is for everyone.

We must overcome...perhaps what ails us the most?

 

[jaybo]

Theology is the study of God.

Does God show us a formula for how to be saved?
Is this formula found in the Old Testament?
The New Testament?

What do you believe that formula to be?
Would an almighty God even have a formula?

Is it very narrow and allows only a few into salvatiìon,
or is it wider than we would think and allows for more to be saved?

Personally, I believe it's wider than we think.
Jesus stands at the door and knocks...
Jesus is God.
God is knocking...
What if someone opens the door but has never heard of Jesus?

What about those before the bible was written?
Could they be saved?

Romans 1:18-20
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

What does the above mean anyway?
Are we Christians brain-washed into being too narrow-minded?


eddif
Randy
Hopeful
gordon777
Dorothy Mae

sorry if I forgot anyone...

There is no "formula". One believes in Jesus Christ as her/his Savior and is saved by that belief.

"For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish[al] but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God." John 3:16-18

"For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

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The verses from Romans are complementary to the above. All people have a knowledge of God through His creation, yet some (most?) refuse to acknowledge Him as God and turn to other forms of worship and adoration, including idolatry of all sorts.

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Why do you ask if we Christians are brain-washed into being too narrow-minded?

 

[WIP]

There is no "formula". One believes in Jesus Christ as her/his Savior and is saved by that belief.

"For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish[al] but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God." John 3:16-18

"For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The verses from Romans are complementary to the above. All people have a knowledge of God through His creation, yet some (most?) refuse to acknowledge Him as God and turn to other forms of worship and adoration, including idolatry of all sorts.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why do you ask if we Christians are brain-washed into being too narrow-minded?

What does it mean to believe in Him? Just to believe He exists or existed or does it go much deeper than that? If one truly believes in Him, what does that look like? How does that belief or faith manifest in them? Scripture tells us that we "must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48 ESV) But we are incapable of attaining that kind of perfection on our own. We need our Savior. Can we have that Savior without believing in Him? I don't think so.

 

[GodsGrace]

There is no "formula". One believes in Jesus Christ as her/his Savior and is saved by that belief.

"For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish[al] but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God." John 3:16-18

"For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The verses from Romans are complementary to the above. All people have a knowledge of God through His creation, yet some (most?) refuse to acknowledge Him as God and turn to other forms of worship and adoration, including idolatry of all sorts.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why do you ask if we Christians are brain-washed into being too narrow-minded?

I agree that there is no formula.
I do believe that Christian churches have "invented" a formula.
That formula would be that one accepts Christ and is saved forever.

As to why I ask about being brain-washed...
When I was a new Christian I had been taught that only through Jesus can we be saved.
I soon realized how silly this concept is to an all-powerful being such as God.

My Christian friends however (not all of them) kept insisting that if one had never heard of Jesus, they could not possibly be saved.

I've come to deny this belief because God is not so small...
It is our thinking that is.

By our, I mean anyone who teaches this, including some pastors of churches.

 

[GodsGrace]

What does it mean to believe in Him? Just to believe He exists or existed or does it go much deeper than that? If one truly believes in Him, what does that look like? How does that belief or faith manifest in them? Scripture tells us that we "must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48 ESV) But we are incapable of attaining that kind of perfection on our own. We need our Savior. Can we have that Savior without believing in Him? I don't think so.

If one truly believes in God, then he must live in the way God intends.
Love seems to be the goal here.
Jesus said to love God and to love yourself and to love your neighbor.
A great psychologist He was !
We can love no one if we first do not love ourselves.
And if we do not love God...any kind of love will eventually fade. We will tire of loving others and doing for others.
But God will give us the strength through the Holy Spirit to stop just before we tire out...but can still continue to do our good deeds here.

As to being perfect as Jesus said.
Jesus knew we could not be perfect...HE, of all persons, knows the human nature.
He meant to be perfect as a goal...
Also in the scriptures being perfect means being complete.
But complete in what?

1. In Character
2. In Holiness
3. In Maturity
4. In Love
source: The NLT Application Bible

 

[jaybo]

What does it mean to believe in Him? Just to believe He exists or existed or does it go much deeper than that? If one truly believes in Him, what does that look like? How does that belief or faith manifest in them? Scripture tells us that we "must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48 ESV) But we are incapable of attaining that kind of perfection on our own. We need our Savior. Can we have that Savior without believing in Him? I don't think so.

Believe: accept something) as true. In this case it means that a person is guilty of sin and that he penalty for sin -- death -- has been paid on a person's behalf by the Savior, Jesus Christ.

I don't think that the phrase "must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." applies here. It appears in this context; “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor' and ‘hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Jesus is showing us that we must behave according to a higher standard than others, but being perfectly sinless is impossible. Saying that "Scripture tell us" to be perfect has the flavor of putting people back under the OT law.

 

[eddif]

Got to love Him
6CO2 +6H2O in the Light
yields
C6H12O6+6O2

This is the formula for photosynthesis (the energy in light with chlorophyll makes a carbohydrate / sugar).

This is
where our plant food comes from.

If Jesus is spiritual light, what elements make up spiritual life.?

This is Romans 1:20 in operation.
The breath of the Holy Spirit is likely oxygen.
The fall of man is likely to be CO2

Enough for now. All you that believe Romans 1:20
Now is your chance to contribute.

We can go through animals eating plants too.

Mississippi redneck
eddif

 

[jaybo]

Got to love Him
6CO2 +6H2O in the Light
yields
C6H12O6+6O2

This is the formula for photosynthesis (the energy in light with chlorophyll makes a carbohydrate / sugar).

This is
where our plant food comes from.

If Jesus is spiritual light, what elements make up spiritual life.?

This is Romans 1:20 in operation.
The breath of the Holy Spirit is likely oxygen.
The fall of man is likely to be CO2

Enough for now. All you that believe Romans 1:20
Now is your chance to contribute.

We can go through animals eating plants too.

Mississippi redneck
eddif

Enough for now!

If you're such a scholar, you should know that chapters and verses are not part of Scripture; they were in the late 16th Century, so quoting a single verse is clearly taking it out of context, often to "prove" a doctrinal point.

Even though there were no paragraphs in the early texts, here is that section of Romans with your verse in context...

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts[ap] were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen." (Romans 1:18-25, NET)

Your analogy of God's eternal power and divine nature to indicate photosynthesis is very far-fetched!

 

[eddif]

Enough for now!

If you're such a scholar, you should know that chapters and verses are not part of Scripture; they were in the late 16th Century, so quoting a single verse is clearly taking it out of context, often to "prove" a doctrinal point.

Even though there were no paragraphs in the early texts, here is that section of Romans with your verse in context...

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts[ap] were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen." (Romans 1:18-25, NET)

Your analogy of God's eternal power and divine nature to indicate photosynthesis is very far-fetched!

I truly expected your reply from someone. LOL
A single verse sends (hopefully) a person looking for an answer.

I have heard a call for context, can be a pretext to attack a concepts validity. I don’t do insults well.

I hope someone does benefit from this concept of parallel / parable type study. If a seed is the word of God, then seeing where the energy for life is located may help.

It took me years to fetch His concept this far.

I am dealing with The ending of Revelation 19 possibly being in 20.

Symbolism is a art I kind of mess up at times. Someone else may have the expertise to excel.

eddif

 

[JLB]

Theology is the study of God.

Does God show us a formula for how to be saved?
Is this formula found in the Old Testament?
The New Testament?

What do you believe that formula to be?
Would an almighty God even have a formula?

Is it very narrow and allows only a few into salvatiìon,
or is it wider than we would think and allows for more to be saved?

Personally, I believe it's wider than we think.
Jesus stands at the door and knocks...
Jesus is God.
God is knocking...
What if someone opens the door but has never heard of Jesus?

What about those before the bible was written?
Could they be saved?

Romans 1:18-20
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

What does the above mean anyway?
Are we Christians brain-washed into being too narrow-minded?


eddif
Randy
Hopeful
gordon777
Dorothy Mae

sorry if I forgot anyone...

If we narrow down salvation to its most basic biblical “formula” it will help to come to a common understanding, so discussion can be framed within the boundaries of this basic formula.


And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Hebrews 5:9

• the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.

Here is another way of saying the same thing —


For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Romans 8:14


again


eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; Romans 2:7


Jesus says the same thing as Paul —


Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. John 5:28-29



Finally Paul says it this way to the church at Galatia. —


Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Galatians 6:7-8

• but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

These scripture boil down to the same thing —


He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.




God bless.



JLB

 

[jaybo]

I truly expected your reply from someone. LOL
A single verse sends (hopefully) a person looking for an answer.

I have heard a call for context, can be a pretext to attack a concepts validity. I don’t do insults well.

I hope someone does benefit from this concept of parallel / parable type study. If a seed is the word of God, then seeing where the energy for life is located may help.

It took me years to fetch His concept this far.

I am dealing with The ending of Revelation 19 possibly being in 20.

Symbolism is a art I kind of mess up at times. Someone else may have the expertise to excel.

eddif

What are you trying to say?

 

[eddif]

What are you trying to say?

That a search done by the person wanting an answer might get new information that can be introduced into a thread. I would just provide context I thought contained the only logical answer, and I know there are thoughts beyond mine.

eddif

 

[eddif]

Theology is the study of God.

Does God show us a formula for how to be saved?
Is this formula found in the Old Testament?
The New Testament?

What do you believe that formula to be?
Would an almighty God even have a formula?

Is it very narrow and allows only a few into salvatiìon,
or is it wider than we would think and allows for more to be saved?

Personally, I believe it's wider than we think.
Jesus stands at the door and knocks...
Jesus is God.
God is knocking...
What if someone opens the door but has never heard of Jesus?

What about those before the bible was written?
Could they be saved?

Romans 1:18-20
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

What does the above mean anyway?
Are we Christians brain-washed into being too narrow-minded?


eddif
Randy
Hopeful
gordon777
Dorothy Mae

sorry if I forgot anyone...

The creation itself is a very complex Formula of dark and light, water and dry land, rhe addition of plant life, the placement of stars and planets in the universe, Animal DNA in animals, the mixture of gasses we Breathe, etc.

I suppose we have to decide if addition is a formula of sorts when Eve is added to the Existing Equation of creation?

Do we consider the tree of life as an element that keeps Adam and Eve alive beyond natural life span? Do we consider Subtraction when the tree of life is subtracted from their formula.

How deep or broad our understanding of life is depends on
Our understanding. How does a fly exist in the huge formula of life. How delicate in detail is the life of a fly?

Not even to get a microscope and look into what is not seen with the naked eye.

Do we have formulas?

eddif

 

[eddif]

Theology is the study of God.

Does God show us a formula for how to be saved?
Is this formula found in the Old Testament?
The New Testament?

What do you believe that formula to be?
Would an almighty God even have a formula?

Is it very narrow and allows only a few into salvatiìon,
or is it wider than we would think and allows for more to be saved?

Personally, I believe it's wider than we think.
Jesus stands at the door and knocks...
Jesus is God.
God is knocking...
What if someone opens the door but has never heard of Jesus?

What about those before the bible was written?
Could they be saved?

Romans 1:18-20
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

What does the above mean anyway?
Are we Christians brain-washed into being too narrow-minded?


eddif
Randy
Hopeful
gordon777
Dorothy Mae

sorry if I forgot anyone...

Matthew 7:13 kjv
13. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide isthe gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Even modern riding lawn mowers have a formula of operation.

These formula are taken from Old Testament laws:
You must put a guard rail on a roof.
Cover a pit
etc.

To start mower and turn on blade:
Person has to be in seat
Parking brake is on
Zero turn mower handles have to be disengaged.
Sometimes more items.

These are safety issues.
The safety switches sometimes use
relay logic.

Relay logic - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Similar to the book of the law.
Yes, no, either, or, nor are some of the commands of relay logic. These are very similar to Moses law.

Narrow way to operate a mower safely.

Of course we can take off all safety equipment and operate the equipment in an unsafe manner. But a stranger on the equipment may have an accident.

The small voice ofthe Holy Spirit can help. But warnings still appear in the New Testament.

eddif

 

[WIP]

And if we do not love God...any kind of love will eventually fade. We will tire of loving others and doing for others.
But God will give us the strength through the Holy Spirit to stop just before we tire out...but can still continue to do our good deeds here.

I wonder....if one can tire out from loving others, is that a sign of true love? If we give our life to Jesus, love becomes a state of being, doesn't it? Then, could we possibly tire of loving others?

 

[WIP]

Believe: accept something) as true. In this case it means that a person is guilty of sin and that he penalty for sin -- death -- has been paid on a person's behalf by the Savior, Jesus Christ.

I don't think that the phrase "must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." applies here. It appears in this context; “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor' and ‘hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Jesus is showing us that we must behave according to a higher standard than others, but being perfectly sinless is impossible. Saying that "Scripture tell us" to be perfect has the flavor of putting people back under the OT law.

Throughout Scripture there are references to perfection with and through God.

29 “For You are my lamp, O Lord;
The Lord shall enlighten my darkness.
30 For by You I can run against a troop;
By my God I can leap over a wall.
31 As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
32 “For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
33 God is my strength and power,
And He makes my way perfect.
2 Samuel 29-33 NKJV

Also in Matthew when a man approached Jesus about what he must do to get eternal life, Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:25 NKJV)
Reading this in context, the man didn't ask about being perfect but how to get eternal life. Jesus equate eternal life with perfection. Since we have already failed in achieving perfection, how can we possibly enter into eternal life with Jesus accept through Him, right?

 

[jaybo]

Throughout Scripture there are references to perfection with and through God.

29 “For You are my lamp, O Lord;
The Lord shall enlighten my darkness.
30 For by You I can run against a troop;
By my God I can leap over a wall.
31 As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
32 “For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
33 God is my strength and power,
And He makes my way perfect.
2 Samuel 29-33 NKJV

Also in Matthew when a man approached Jesus about what he must do to get eternal life, Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:25 NKJV)
Reading this in context, the man didn't ask about being perfect but how to get eternal life. Jesus equate eternal life with perfection. Since we have already failed in achieving perfection, how can we possibly enter into eternal life with Jesus accept through Him, right?

Another translation, the NASB, translates Matthew 19:21, "Jesus said to him, “If you want to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” I don't agree with the connotation of "perfect" as in the NKJV; it implies that the young man would be sinless, so we agree about that.

And of course there is no other way to enter into eternal life except through Jesus.

 

[Dorothy Mae]

Theology is the study of God.

Does God show us a formula for how to be saved?

No more than there is a formula for having a great marriage relationship.

Is this formula found in the Old Testament?
The New Testament?

What do you believe that formula to be?
Would an almighty God even have a formula?

Answered above. Eternal life is to know God, not get your ticket for heaven.

Is it very narrow and allows only a few into salvatiìon,
or is it wider than we would think and allows for more to be saved?

There are particulars that God requires but within that there is some latitude. That is why Jesus did not say the same words to everyone.

Personally, I believe it's wider than we think.
Jesus stands at the door and knocks...
Jesus is God.
God is knocking...
What if someone opens the door but has never heard of Jesus?

Since that is not you, you will not be given understanding as to the answer to this. Jesus would say, "what is that to you? You follow me."

What about those before the bible was written?
Could they be saved?

Of course.

Romans 1:18-20
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

What does the above mean anyway?

People know that there is something beyond the physical world. It is within them. The question is if they pursue understanding and finding it.

Are we Christians brain-washed into being too narrow-minded?

Some I suppose.