Yes, it is true. We are saved by God’s grace. Whether or not one explicitly knows that is not the issue. It is by the sacrifice of the Son that we are saved. God didn’t have to do that, but He did. You might thumb your bible for the verse about “doing the WILL of the Father.” God does not just expect you to sit around on your butt. If an atheist consistently does the WILL OF THE FATHER then he too can be saved. We must pray for those who manage, by natural law, to develop an ethos of helping people, and avoiding evil. The atheist, has a harder time to be sure, but don’t assume all are going to hell.
I concur that all are redeemed by the Cross, but not that all have been saved.
Salvation occurs upon forgiveness and forgiveness occurs upon faith in His work on the Cross.
I still am looking for the passage in Mark to which he references his statement.
If an atheist consistently does the WILL OF THE FATHER then he too can be saved.
The thing about works is this: Works do not save, but they are proof of salvation of a BELIEVER. If the person is not a believer, the works are in vain, at least regarding salvation. And the reason is pretty simple: Even the best man on the planet falls short of God’s glory. Works do not save.
I like this comparison using exercise to represent good works: Imagine two guys that are going to train to jump the grand canyon. One guy works and works and works and builds powerful leg muscles. The other guy eats at mcdonalds and sits in front of the TV all day. Which one is going to win?
Neither.
Works don’t get you eternal life. Acceptance of the blood of Christ for attonement of your sins gets you there.
"Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them,This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (John 6:28,29)
For an atheist to do the work of God he must first cease to be an atheist.
You might thumb YOUR Bible and see that the WILL of the Father is " that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life" (John 6:4). You will also find that "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).
You will also see that to deny the Son is to deny the Father (1 John 2:22; 1 John 4:3)...and they shall not see life.
Everything you said (about knowing) and everything the Pope said is contrary to the Holy Scripture and contrary to 2000 years of Christian Doctrine. It is a NEW teaching...and this you cannot deny. This is not something the Apostles taught...the Church Fathers taught...the Church Councils taught. Up until now it is only what heretics have taught.
It is heresy. Again...the WILL of GOD is to believe the SON. That is what God's WORD says. Paul says...IN GOD'S WORD...if anyone preaches a different Gospel...let them be ACCURSED (Gal 1:8).
Let this heresy...and ALL THOSE teaching it be accursed!
"Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins (Rev 18:4)!!!!"