Will People Who Never Heard the Gospel go to Hell?
December 18th, 2006 by Stephen
In a discussion, an atheist friend mentioned George Bush, whom we both believe to be responsible for thousands of deaths in Iraq. I made the point that it is not Bush’s works that save him, and if his faith is genuine and his repentance sincere, then of course God can save him (although his works will be consumed).
My friend answered:
See, I find all of that a rather warped logic. What, for example, happens to those who were never given the chance to discover Christ? By your system they are condemned for not having the faith.
I do not think so, but do not have any certain answers here. C.S.Lewis deals with this problem in a few places - most memorably in “The Last Battle” where he tells a soldier who never had a chance to know Aslan that deeds done in faith to Tash were counted as having been done to Aslan. I don’t have any biblical evidence that C.S. Lewis is right here, but neither do I pretend to understand God’s mind on this issue. Instead I trust that He is both just and merciful, and whatever our doctrine tells us here on earth, it will be He who decides in the end.
I have said that one need not believe in justification by faith alone to be justified by their faith alone (indeed I stole that from Richard Hooker, a divine from Kidderminster).
But to me, the salvation to eternal life is a side effect of salvation in any case. Knowing Christ is worth it for the here and now, because in knowing Him we can know our true purpose, and fulfill our goal in life, as well as have our spiritual needs fulfilled. We are here to glorify God and enjoy his presence forever. And that begins on Earth.
So I would tell anyone of the risen Lord Jesus, because I would argue that knowing Christ is the best thing that could happen to them now, and we will leave God to sort out the hereafter. (Although one thing I do know - all who trust in the Lord will be saved).
The way I understand this problem is that there are enough indications in nature that there is a clear presentation of a Creator through the Creation (general revelation), but that it takes a specific revelation (the Scriptures) in order for a person to be saved.
The problem with the whole “if you worshiped another god devoutly it will be counted to God” is wrapped up in John 14:6 where Jesus says that He is the only way to the Father and no one comes but that way. It seems almost hypocritical for Paul to have such an overwhelming desire to preach the Gospel to those who haven’t heard– a compulsion he had– if worshiping another god passionately would suffice.
From what I’ve encountered practically, all those that have sought after the true God have been provided missionaries.
What I have to go back to is that God’s ways are above our ways, and He has the right (as the Creator) to choose whatever standard for salvation (be it 7 ft. tall people only, or those who believe on Christ) and we don’t have the right to question it or try to use our logic to say it’s wrong or unjust.
Min, it does indeed take a specific revelation in order to be saved, but there are scriptural examples of those who were saved not through the revelation of scripture, but through their faith in the revelation that God had provided them. The most notable is Abraham, who was given a promise by God and he believed God. It was his faith in the promise of God that was credited as righteousness.
Who am I to say that no man since Abraham can have such a revelation, and be saved through their faith in God?
Indeed John 14 and elsewhere we see that the only way to the Father is Christ. And yet Abraham’s faith was credited to him as tighteousness. Why? Because of the work of Christ at the median of time.
So could someone be saved without (in this life) knowing Christ? Abraham was, as were all the patriarchs.
As for Paul’s preaching being hypocritical? By no means. For if Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness, does that mean there is no further need for him to know the gospel? If Abraham were somehow to step into a church today, would we not tell him of the glorious work of Christ?
The Christian life is about so much more than just getting into heaven. The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy his presence forever. How could Paul not spread such a gospel?
And whilst I admit only to uncertainty as regards to this issue, I know for sure that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. How can we know we are saved? By our belief and confession of belief in Christ the risen Lord.
Why would I not share such good news? That we have a purpose to our lives. That we can be fulfilled and happy. That we can know the assurance and love of our Creator here and now? That is good news worth sharing.
Once again, thanks for your comments.
Stephen