the bible does not teach that non-christians will necessarily be condemned

Well now we have contradictory statements... "For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them. Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse;" I don't possibly see how that can be interpreted any other way than as that God has provided the requisite evidence for knowledge of his existence in the creation of he world. The passage is crystal clear - persons who interact with creation have no excuse for not attributing it to God and believing in him. Thus, the hypothetical man on the island has "no excuse" AS PER GOD'S WORD!!! The bible has several instances where it lists the necessary behavior for salvation. These verses indicate what one must do to be saved, but they also indicate the converse - what will cause one NOT to be saved. It's very simple logic. Either P or Q. P. Therefore not Q. Acts 16:30-31 - "Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved." I don't know how you can make it more clear than that. People who do not believe in Jesus are not saved. Non-Christians be DEFINITION do not believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, the life, the son of god, the resurrection, etc... they believe he was a historical figure or prophet. How can one argue against the word of God? What's more, there is a clear distinction as to how God will separate those to be saved from the others: Matt 25:32b-33 - "And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left." We now have a separation - clearly the sheep are the ones to be saved, as Jesus is the proverbial shepherd. Those who are not sheep or recorded in the Book of Life (Rev. 20:15) will be "cast into the lake of fire." I don't see how that can be separated from condemnation. Matt 25:34 - "Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." The ones on his right are saved. Lets see what happens to those on his left. Matt 25:41 - "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Oops - looks like they got condemned. 1. Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved. 2. If you believe in the Lord Jesus, you are one of the "sheep." 3. Non-Christians do not believe in the Lord Jesus. 4. Therefore, they are "goats." 5. Therefore Non-Christians are not saved and are cast "into the eternal fire." ***************************************************** Furthermore, my opponent argues that lack of possibility of knowledge of God will keep one from being condemned. There's a slight problem with this. 1. Belief is required for salvation (Acts 16:30-31). 2. To believe in God (Lord Jesus), one must necessarily know him. 3. Romans 1:18-20 clearly states that everyone can know God through nature. 4. Therefore, everyone can know, and can believe. 5. The man on the island, who can know and doesn't believe, is condemned. ***************************************************** I'll respond to the smoke-and-mirrors claim that the letters of Timothy and Titus are more valid than Jesus's speech in the gospels. >>""For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe." (1 Timothy 4:10)" This verse claims God is the savior of all people. This is blatantly not the case if we are to believe the Gospel of Matthew - "Matt 25:41 - "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."" This verse actually more clearly illustrates God's inherent bigotry in treating individuals differently - "... especially of those who believe." Interesting... I guess that God loves some of us more than others. >>""For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all." (Titus 2:11) " Again, I quote Matthew - "Matt 25:41 - "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.""