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Question
Will those who have never heard the gospel be condemned to Hell?

Answer
Thanks for the great question.

This is not an easy question to answer because our world is religiously pluralistic. Religious pluralism is that idea that salvation does not belong to one religion, but that essentially all religions are true and all roads lead to salvation. Learn more here.

The Bible, however, clearly teaches a particular view of salvation versus a universal view of salvation. In our cultural climate, it is considered scandalous to say that there is only one way of salvation. Yet, we must not water down the gospel of our salvation or be ashamed of it, for it is the power of God to all who believe (Romans 1:16).

But what about the millions of people who have never heard of Jesus or even had the opportunity to respond to the gospel? How can Christianity indeed say that Christ is the only way of salvation? What is the fate of those who are outside of Jesus Christ?

How do we think through this issue? Here are some principles to guide us:

1. God desires for all to come to salvation. This is the heart of God (1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9). God does not reject people. God has made it possible for all to be saved. Rather, people reject His revelation of Himself and thus are self-condemned.

2. God enlightens every man and draws all men to Himself (John 1:9, 12:32). People are not condemned because they were uninformed about Christ but because they have not responded to God's revelation of Himself.

3. God has determined the time and place where each person would be born in order that they should seek God and find Him (Acts 17:26-27).

4. God has revealed Himself to everyone through creation (Romans 1:20). This is called general revelation. God has revealed Himself to all as creator. If a person rejects this revelation, they are without excuse.

5. God has written His moral law in the heart of every person. If people go against their conscience and break this moral law, they are responsible before the Lawgiver (Romans 2:14-16).

6. All mankind is guilty of breaking God's law. Sin is universal (Romans 3:23) and all are under sin (Romans 3:9).

7. No one can redeem himself by his own efforts at righteousness (Romans 3:19-20).

8. God has provided a way of salvation as a gift through Jesus Christ to all (Romans 3:21-26). There is no salvation outside of Christ (John 14:6, John 3:18).

But what about God-fearing people who have never heard of Jesus? These are people who believe in a creator and recognize their guilt before Him. What happens to them? In Romans 2:7, God promises eternal life to those who persevere to do what is right and are seeking God's glory and honor. In other words, for those who respond to God's general revelation (God as He is revealed in creation) and conscience (they confess their guilt before Him and ask Him for mercy) will find it. They will find it in one of these ways:

1. God will make Christ known to them through the sharing of the gospel or through supernatural means (such as a dream or vision – this is a common occurrence among Muslim peoples).

2. God receives them like he did Old Testament people who were outside God's covenant (Job and Melchizedek are examples). They were not Jews and were outside of God's covenant and yet they responded to the revelation of God that they had.

This applies to God-fearing people who have never heard the gospel. Even though they have never heard of Christ, they will experience the benefits of Christ’s work on the Cross, for no person can be saved apart from Him. In Romans 3:25, God says that He passed over the sins of the people before Christ because He knew that Jesus would be the satisfactory blood sacrifice for the sins of the whole human race. Those who respond in faith to the truth that God reveals to them are justified before Him (Romans 3:25-27).

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

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