What Happens to Those Who Never Heard the Gospel

What Happens to Those Who Never Heard the Gospel?

(Reflecting on a Question)

by Harley Pinon

At various times in my life, I've been asked the question, "What happens to those in Africa who have never heard the gospel? Will they be lost? Will they go to hell¹? Is that fair?" I'm not always sure why the question is asked, but that is beside the point. It is a question that bothers a lot of people. For your consideration, I submit the following:¹[Al Maxey has a very interesting debate with another church of Christ preacher on what hell is all about. If interested, you may click here for a very interesting discussion of two very different views of hell. What about hell?]

I think there are two passages that come to my mind when I consider the subject we are considering.
(Luke 12:47-48 NKJV) "And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. {48} "But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."

The second passage is (Rom 2:11-16 NKJV) "For there is no partiality with God. {12} For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law {13} (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; {14} for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, {15} who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) {16} in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel."

I find both of these scriptures are very challenging, and I know they fill many people with consternation. Some jump to the conclusion that if this is the case, it would be better not to send out missionaries because then the people will have more to answer for.

In the passage in Luke, the Lord doesn't say they won't be beaten at all, but rather they will be beaten with few. That sounds like something I don't want, but it isn't the worst I could get by any means.

The passage in Romans is an even greater challenge. Especially as we move down in the chapter (Rom 2:25-29 NKJV) "For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. {26} Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? {27} And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? {28} For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; {29} but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God."

I am challenged by this conclusion of Romans 2. How about reviewing this verse: Rom 2:16 "in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel." Maybe we leave it at that. Let God be God, and sort this out as He will.
The other real challenge is this statement is Romans 2:26 "Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?"

Now some will say, but circumcision doesn't have anything to do with us since we are to be baptized. Since it is true that we are to be baptized, let's consider a third passage: (Col 2:11-12 NKJV) "In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, {12} buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."

What is my conclusion?
1) I'm going to leave final judgment up to God.
2) It is God's will that we preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15 NKJV) And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
3) Paul extends the hope of a merciful God to those who have lived a good life without the benefit of knowing the truth of the gospel.

And then a final question? How good would I have been without a Bible and without Godly parents? We still need to teach and encourage others. I'm convinced it will make possible a much better life for them. In the mean time, may we all refrain from "Playing God" by deciding what is going to happen to people in different situations. I find Luke 12:48 to be a very sobering challenge for me: "But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." When I think of all I have in terms of Bibles, cars, telephones, computers, and the list goes on. I have much for which to give an account.

What Happens to Us When We Die Welcome to my Web site

Hit Counter