Bible Question: What happens to people who have never heard about Jesus when they die? What about the people who don't understand the concept of salvation, or are still seeking Him when they die but have not yet asked Him into their hearts? Will all non-Christians who have knowledge about Jesus' salvation go to hell regardless of how good they are? |
Bible Answer: Dear pgs, Greetings in Jesus' name! 1) Though we may be tempted to think of God as unfair or the spreading of His Good News as uneven or incomplete, one of the first things we MUST do is trust God! He is always just! He knows every sparrow, and the number of hairs on every head (Matthew 10, Luke 12), so nothing 'gets by' Him. All who are to know Jesus will know Him, without fail. We can come up with all kinds of hypothetical situations that throw doubt on God's ability to save, but He is always in charge! 2) All men are equally aware of the concept of salvation. There are only those whose will continues to be hardened against God. We cannot know who has a relationship with the Lord Jesus before they die. Only the Lord is fully aware of this. There can be outward signs, but only God knows the heart, good and bad! "Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart." Psalm 44:21 NASB. Those who are seeking Him, will find Him. Period. 3) Only God is truly good (Mark 10:17-31) All men deserve hell, but God is gacious to save those whose heart will allow faith to abide. Nothing we do can purchase salvation. Only faith in Christ Jesus, which is a gift from God, will release us from this curse. How God choses is up to Him. I am at peace knowing that He alone is able to make the 'right' decision. Friend, these questions spring from the old nature, assuming that we can know, measure, and judge goodness and righteousness. After 15 years of caring for His flock and spreading the Gospel message, I can only say that we are not given this power. Indeed, it is only by the Amazing Grace of God that we can know Him. Though this is an old message, and frustrating to a generation that must 'know' everything (or at least pretend to!), we MUST give this to God! And then move on to serving the Lord and His church, and speaking boldly His Good News to the lost. Blessings and peace to you in Christ Jesus, charis |