Let me get this straight, bb: you 'know' this because you choose to believe it, or is your 'knowing' it independent of your will? From your posts, it seems to be the former. Here is why:
You write: To me, this says that even the *tribals* will hear the Voice of Christ on Judgment Day, and will thus have the opportunity to embrace or deny Christ — and be judged saved or condemned accordingly
So, the "tribals" will decide if they are saved or not? Salvation is in the hands of men and not God, i.e. their decision! One is saved by "approving" of God, by embracing Christ, by human will and decision and God is simply waiting on them to decide which way they will go, and he will oblige?
I am not saying it's right or wrong, but it's a novel, if not somewhat narcissistic type of soteriology given that all Christians pray "Thy will be done."
I take it, then, that you believe it really doesn't matter what one believes as long as one "approves" and "accept" Jesus as the Savior? In other words, even the Unitarians who deny Jesus is God, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Gnostic, etc., anyone, no matter what their theology or doctrine, are assured salvation as long as they accept Jesus? Coming form someone who claims to be Catholic, that is rather strange, imo. You sound more like a Universalist for sure.
I never said that, nor would I. The *tribals* aren't being asked to "decide," in the sense of making a rational analysis of the pros and cons of a proposition, etc. Rather, they would be offered the opportunity to participate in the Love and Life of God in His New Creation, under the sovereignty of Jesus Christ, Son of God, commencing after Judgment Day. There are only two possible responses to such an invitation: Yes or No. This is not rocket science; nor does it involve the rational weighting of pros and cons....
You wrote:
I take it, then, that you believe it really doesn't matter what one believes as long as one "approves" and "accept[s]" Jesus as the Savior?How you torture the language to make your "point!" It very much matters what one believes. Yet in order to be saved, one must believe directly in Christ — ultimately, there is no salvation outside of Christ, period. Religion per se will not do it; dogma will not do it; doctrines will not do it. In the end, it all boils down to Love, not a "rational" decision.
And that is hardly an argument for universal salvation — for man has no way to salvation but through Christ — "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me." Christ's appeal to man is universal; but man's response to it is particular. If the image of God has died in his soul, if there is no loving response to Christ's appeal, then his particular goose is cooked.
The Father's Will will be done in all things, on earth as it is in heaven, in and through Christ alone. Christ knows his own ... and they know Him.
JMHO, FWIW.