For thou hast magnified thy word above
all thy name. - Psalms 138:2 KJV
God's Answers
What about those who never heard the gospel?
By YBible
Short Answer
The Bible says they will be judged by their conscience, if they had followed what they knew was right, or if they disobeyed and followed evil.
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness… - Romans 2:15 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. - Jeremiah 17:10
God is near and ready to guide anyone who comes to Him in truth.
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. - Psalm 145:18
God wants all to repent and be saved.
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth - 1 Timothy 2:4 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live. - Ezekiel 33:11
God gives more light to those who follow what light they already have.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth… - Matthew 7:7–8
In the end the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins will be the reason why anyone goes to Heaven. Before Jesus came, some didn’t know this. They just followed what light they had.
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. - Acts 10:35
Now since Jesus Christ has come and died for our sins and rose again, God commands all men to repent and believe on Him.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. - Acts 17:30-31
God will judge everyone with perfect justice.
Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? - Genesis 18:25
Full Answer
They will be held accountable to their conscience. Everyone at least early in their life has a basic understanding of right and wrong. You always could choose to obey or disobey.
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another - Romans 2:15 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. - James 4:17 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. - Jeremiah 17:10 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. - Psalm 98:2
Old Testament saints were saved by believing and obeying the revelation God gave them at that time. They didn’t know everything now revealed in God’s word the Bible, but they obeyed what light they had.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them… - Hebrews 11:13 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. - Galatians 3:6 (cf. Genesis 15:6)
They are to obey the everlasting gospel.
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. - Revelation 14:6–7
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. - Ecclesiastes 12:13
God desires all to be saved.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. - Isaiah 55:7
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live. - Ezekiel 33:11
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth - 1 Timothy 2:4
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 6:23
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. - John 3:16
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. - Revelation 22:17
Creation testifies of a creator, everyone can understand creation doesn’t create itself. Deep down we all know there is a God who will hold us accountable for our decisions.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. - Romans 1:18-20
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world... - Psalm 19:1-4
Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee… Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? - Job 12:7, 9
God gives more light to those who obey what light they have.
When someone responds to the light they have, God sends more light. That is the pattern in Acts:
• Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah - God sends Philip (Acts 8).
• Cornelius, a Gentile who feared God and prayed - God sends Peter with “words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved” - Acts 11:14 (cf. Acts 10).
• Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened (Acts 16:14).
Old Testament Verses
But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. - Deuteronomy 4:29
Job is an example of someone following the light of God they had (Job 23:11-12; 29)
What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. - Psalm 25:12
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. - Psalm 145:18
If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. - Proverbs 2:4-5
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. - Proverbs 4:18
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. - Isaiah 55:6
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13
New Testament Verses
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth… - Matthew 7:7-8
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. - Matthew 13:12
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. - Matthew 13:15-17
...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required… - Luke 12:48
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. - John 3:19-21
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us. - Acts 17:27
According to the Bible the gospel did at one time reach the whole earth. Not only this but all of us had an ancestor who knew the truth of God. It’s a sad reality, but if our ancestors who knew the truth turned from it and did not pass it on, their descendants also reaped the consequences.
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. - John 12:32
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. - Romans 10:17-18
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven… - Colossians 1:23
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. - Titus 2:11
Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. - 1 Chronicles 16:24 (cf. Psalm 96:3)
People will be saved from every part of the earth.
And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 8:11
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb… - Revelation 7:9
What about children who haven’t heard?
The example of David’s infant son.
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. - 2 Samuel 12:23
Conclusion
Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? - Genesis 18:25
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. - Deuteronomy 32:4
Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. - Psalms 89:14
- KJV