The question lingered in the comments section of a friend's Facebook post with no reply. Then I received a private message. "Hey Don, how do I answer this question my friend asked on my Facebook page?"
How do we answer that question? Well, there is no shortage of thoughts and beliefs when it comes to this question. Some would say that everyone will eventually be saved (Universalism). Others say that all religions lead to the same God (Pluralism). Still, others take an easy way and just say "I don't know" (Agnosticism).
The Bible says salvation is found in only one name, Jesus (Acts 4:12). Jesus said of himself, "I am the way the truth the life no one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). The Bible mentions many, many times that in order to be saved, to have a right standing before God, to have sins forgiven, to gain entrance into heaven... a person must trust in Jesus alone and his work on the cross in their place.
But can they really be condemned for not trusting in Jesus if they haven't ever heard of him?
It seems like a legitimate question, but this is where things go a little sideways... Let me explain. I've heard preachers say, "The only thing that keeps a person out of heaven, is rejecting Jesus." That is a false statement.
Our separation from God, our condemnation to hell is not because of our failure to trust Jesus. We are condemned well before we are ever exposed to the gospel. Our condemnation comes from the fact that we are sinners. We are not condemned because we fail to do one thing (trust Jesus), but because of the many, many, many things (sin) we do against God's character.
Unfortunately, further confusing the issue, many preachers and churches have made a special category out of "rejecting Jesus." They consider it a factor of salvation when in reality, no such factor exists. Let me explain.
Let's say there are 3 people. The first one has never heard of Jesus or the gospel. The second has been exposed to the gospel, but never really confronted to make a decision regarding Christ. And the third has had the gospel presented many times and he has rejected it every time. Even though the first and second did not "reject Jesus," all three of these will pay the penalty of their own sins in hell.* The question is not if they have rejected Christ, but if they have received him. Receiving, or trusting in Jesus for forgiveness is the only factor to be considered when evaluating one's salvation.
So, the reality is that Jesus is the only way to have sins removed and to credit us with the required righteousness to stand before God. And the reality is there are many that haven't heard about Jesus. But that is our fault, not God's. As Christians, we have failed to spread the gospel as we should, and as unbelievers people have run further and further from Him isolating entire cultures, twisting and distorting the truth.
Lastly, we must resist the urge to use the "f" word. The "f" word I'm thinking of is "fair." We must never stand in judgment of God to say that something isn't fair. What truly isn't fair is that God would reach down at great cost to Himself to save people who were in rebellion against him. That is not fair. That is Grace. Grace is what is not fair.
When we start from a point of our own sinfulness and keep a high view of grace, that question becomes a lot easier to answer.
*I do not speak of hell flippantly or irreverently. When I speak of hell, I do so soberly and with a heavy heart, wishing there was some other reality. But God is so holy that a hell is the only fitting punishment for sin.
Lastly, we must resist the urge to use the "f" word. The "f" word I'm thinking of is "fair." We must never stand in judgment of God to say that something isn't fair. What truly isn't fair is that God would reach down at great cost to Himself to save people who were in rebellion against him. That is not fair. That is Grace. Grace is what is not fair.
When we start from a point of our own sinfulness and keep a high view of grace, that question becomes a lot easier to answer.
*I do not speak of hell flippantly or irreverently. When I speak of hell, I do so soberly and with a heavy heart, wishing there was some other reality. But God is so holy that a hell is the only fitting punishment for sin.