What about the person in the deepest jungle who has never heard the name of Jesus? Or the man stranded on an island throughout the entirety of his life? I have been asked about similar scenarios more than once. Varying versions of these questions abound, but the heart behind each inquiry is the eternal destiny of those who never hear the gospel. If I may state the dilemma bluntly, do people who know nothing of Jesus and salvation spend an eternity in hell?
The simple answer is yes. But why?
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Biblical Christians have long recognized that persons who reject Christ will face eternal judgment and condemnation.
Some hesitate, however, at the mention of those who with no perceived opportunity to respond to God’s grace. For many, fairness seems to necessitate a redemptive invitation. Without it, some insist, the poor soul who genuinely desires to know God and worship Him will be unjustly anathematized.
What does Scripture say?
The Bible paints a much different picture, though.
The fictional person longing to know the true God if only someone would tell him simply does not exist. How do we know? Because Scripture reveals two forms of revelation that all people in all places reject. In other words, it is no mystery what the heathen will do with fuller revelation when they repeatedly reject the basic revelation they already possess.
In what way do pagans resist the Lord? Scripture indicates that apart from their awareness of the gospel, unbelievers “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18). Creation bears witness not only of God’s reality, but also of His “eternal power” and “divine nature,” leaving all people without excuse (Rom. 1:20). Stated plainly, every ocean horizon, autumn mountainside, and daily sunset celebrates that God is real for anyone paying attention. Intrinsically, all people know this to be true, yet unbelievers reject it, nonetheless.
Despite the physical clues to the most important eternal truth, those without the gospel are not daydreaming about the opportunity to know who God is in order to worship Him. To the contrary, their futile speculations lead to darkened hearts (Rom. 1:21). Practically, this means that primitive humanity elevates creation above the Creator, worshipping what God made instead of God Himself (Rom. 1:23, 25). Idols carved from wood or crafted with gold litter history as evidence of mankind’s common dismissal of the divine Author behind the cosmos.
More recently, the presentation of evolutionary theory as historical fact, though entirely unverifiable, is but the latest atheistic effort to elevate what was made above its Maker. As secularists scoff again and again over the veracity of the Genesis record, these supposed experts reveal the blindness of their hearts. Truly, professing to be wise, they become fools as they ignore the divine fingerprints that adorn nature (Rom. 1:22).
In addition to the beckoning of the universe, the internal conscience written on the heart of every human being is yet another refused witness to God’s existence. Those who never hear the gospel still possess a basic sense of right and wrong. Every culture and society condemns lying, stealing, murdering, etc., as unacceptable due to the common morality God placed within all people (Rom. 2:14).
Yet, time and time again, we do not find anyone who eagerly obeys the internal guidance within us. Quite the opposite, the reoccurring experience of men and women everywhere is the rejection of our inner decency and principles. Thus, on the day of judgment, our consciences will either accuse or defend us as God judges the secrets of men through Jesus Christ (Rom. 2:15–16).
Granted, the general revelation of creation and the human conscience do not divulge the breadth of Scripture’s specific revelatory claims, particularly those about Christ, but the insistence that some people have no opportunity of any kind to respond to God is deceptively false.
Furthermore, our overconfidence that those who never hear the gospel somehow desire to know God and sense a deficiency without Him reveals more about ourselves than our Savior. We are far too quick to dismiss our sinfulness and to call God’s holiness into question.
Some will push back, desperate to find an exception.
What about the person who always obeys his conscience without exception and sincerely longs to worship his Creator as he observes creation?
Will God allow THAT person into heaven if he never hears the gospel? If that person were real, the answer would be yes. But Scripture is thoroughly clear, THAT PERSON DOES NOT EXIST.
No other name
The Lord would never turn those who are truly righteous away, but apart from His grace there are none righteous nor any who seek after God, not even one (Rom. 3:10–11).
No wonder Jesus instructed his followers, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matt. 28:19–20).” If salvation were possible apart from explicit faith in Christ through the proclamation of the gospel, these would be the cruelest words recorded in the Bible. Sending missionaries is an act of hatred instead of an expression of love if salvation is attainable through ignorance.
But, if there is no other name under heaven by which men must be saved (Acts 4:12); and if we must confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, believing that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9), the greatest gift any Christian can share with another person is that Jesus saves!
If those who live in ignorance cannot call on Jesus if they do not believe; and they cannot believe on Him if they have not heard; and they cannot hear unless someone who is sent shares (Rom. 10:14–15), we better get serious about sharing the gospel in every place, every day.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This opinion piece was written by Adam B. Dooley, pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee.
