Will God Judge Those Who Have Never Heard The Gospel?
What one usually means when asking this is as follows: "Will God condemn accountable persons to hell who have never had the opportunity to hear the gospel message?"
First, all accountable people have sinned against God (Romans 3:23). Sin is the PROBLEM that separates all accountable persons from God and will lead to a person's soul and body dwelling in hell forever - if not remedied (Matthew 10:28; Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:8).
Second, the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ is the only remedy or SOLUTION to the sin problem (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 1:7)
Third, obeying the gospel is the only PLAN of salvation that puts one into the blood of Jesus and solves the sin problem of the accountable person. The New Testament is clear that one who does not obey the gospel is eternally condemned to hell (John 3:5; Acts 17:30; Romans 10:13-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; etc.).
To teach that one can be saved from their sins and live eternally in heaven without the blood of Jesus and without the gospel (that is, hearing and obeying the gospel) is to teach another gospel (that is, another plan of salvation - which the Scriptures do not teach). Study Acts 15:7; Romans 1:16; Ephesians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 11:3-4; Galatians 1:6-10. Whether an accountable person hears the gospel or not does not negate the fact that such a person is a sinner who needs the Savior and must obey the gospel.
If this were the case, the church's mission to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10; Matthew 28:18-20) would actually become a mission of condemnation because, by preaching the gospel to every accountable creature, we would be changing these "ignorant, innocent" souls from a "safe" condition to a "condemned" condition merely by educating them on the gospel message. For the sake of their souls' salvation, it would be better to leave them "ignorant" and "safe." Ignorance does not save a soul from eternal condemnation (Acts 17:30; Romans 1:18-32).
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