Dear Conrad - My question is what happens to people who have never heard the gospel, those who live in secluded areas or places where other religions dominate. I think someone brought this up before. I know scripture says that evidence of God's existence is present in creation. But creation alone doesn’t show us the gospel.- emil K


Dear Emil K,

Great question.

Paul states it best in Romans. First he says, in Romans 3[23] “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Then he says, Romans 6[23] “For the wages of sin is death.”

This all means that we are sent to hell for our sins - not for rejecting Christ. Christ did not have to be sent. If he was - then he would have died for us, not out of love, but out of obligation.

If that were the case and Christ was never sent - then we would all be under sin. And according to God’s justice, we would all go to hell for our sins. We would be in hell, not for rejecting Christ, but for our sins.

The same is with the world today. God is a just and holy God who cannot leave sins unpunished. (Just like how a judge today just can’t let a convicted killer go free).

He didn’t have to send Christ, thus leaving all with no chance. But since he is not just a God of Justice but also of Love - he sent Christ giving those who accept the gospel a chance.

I hope that helps.

[PS. Another passage to consider is… RO 2:12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. [13] For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. [14] (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, [15] since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) [16] This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.]