How about the people (the Unevangelised) who have not ever heard the Gospel of Salvation, will they likewise go to Hell?

by: Romeo B Macale, B.S.E., LL.B., M.Mgt.

 

This question presumes that there are groups of people who are in and are going to Heaven without coming to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. This statement is true if the Bible provides any other ways other than the way it exclusively prescribes, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. At any rate, all the best of men may profit from their exemplary performance and good works. Shall not God credit for their being good men of good standing and exemplary works for salvation, anyway?

It is good that God provided the Book ¾ the Bible as the final authority in matters of faith and Christian living. All arguments supporting the query above should be judged against the Bible. So, let the Bible speaks.

The answer to the question under consideration cannot stand against the principles of the Scripture. The reasons are compelling on three grounds.

 

 

Firstly, that all persons alike are sinners. Romans 3:10-12, 23 says: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; These verses clearly tell there is no one who is not a sinner. It includes all races of mankind, the civilized and uncivilized, every individual of all families, tribes, clans, nations and countries, both the evangelized and the unevangelized worlds. The unevangelized and evangelized people stand all sinners alike before God. Since the time of Creation, all persons who had existed, are existing, and are coming to exist are all sinners individually already. It does not matter what colour, belief, culture, principle, tradition, education, or possession a person may have. They are all sinners individually. Whether or not the person has faith in Christ never changes the fact of his/her condition as a sinner. Even the best person in the community is a sinner.

Secondly, that all persons alike are condemned to Hell already. This point has been dealt with already by this writer in an article: How can a loving God send people to Hell. It is recommended that the reader should read it first.

The Bible repeatedly warns sinners that each person who has no faith in Christ are condemned to death in Hell or eternal Fire (John 3:18; Romans 6:23, Revelation 21:8). The Scripture asserts, He that believeth not the Son is condemned already, John 3:17. This verse does not distinguish any person. That means a Baptist, Methodist, Hindu, Muslim, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Iglesia ni Kristo, Mormon, Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah Witness, or any person holding any belief from any sects, movements, religions, organizations is absolutely condemned to death in Hell or eternal Fire without Christ. It does not exempt whether or not pagans worship nature, objects, ancestors, or any other object of veneration as well, they are altogether condemned to death in Hell or eternal Fire without Christ. Neither can the agnostics skeptics, humanists or persons holding any form of belief or philosophy regardless of educational status, escape the judgement provided for in John. 3:18. All sorts of persons without faith in Christ are absolutely without exception, condemned to death in Hell or eternal Fire already.

Thirdly, that the Bible provides no other way out of Hell except through Christ. This means that good works or exemplary performance, or any other factors such as attendance, involvement or membership of any churches, cults, sects, movements, religious organisations, or associations of any sort are rubbish outside of Christ. Ephesians 2: 8, 9 provides: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Some theologians, pastors, ministers or Bible commentators write that people who are living good, even if they do not have faith in Christ, they can enter Heaven. They say that living a good life or, by being good to others such as helping or giving gifts to charitable institutions is another standard rule to access Heaven for those who are short of Christ. These statements are entirely wrong. There is not a single sinner who can enter Heaven without faith in Christ. The principle of Ephesians 2: 8, 9 is absolute. Heaven can only be accessed through faith in Christ (John 14:6). It is salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone plus nothing minus nothing that saves each sinner from Hell. Any sort of good works does not count before salvation (one is saved).

Now, someone complains, Ephesians 2: 8, 9 is unfair because it includes to condemn the person who has performed well in life, or one who has not heard the gospel of salvation in Christ. How can one have faith in Christ without hearing the Gospel? Ephesians 2: 8, 9 is fair to every sinner including the unevangelized people. The unevangelized person is not condemned because he or she does not have faith in Christ. He is condemned because he is a sinner from the time of Creation (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-24). Since the time of Adam, every person coming to this earth is a sinner by nature (1 Corinthians 15:21, 22). What John 3:18 claims, once a sinner trusts Christ, God's condemnation is unconditionally removed. The condemnation of death in Hell or eternal Fire commenced when the first parents ¾ Adam and Eve transgressed God's one and only one Law (Gen. 2:16, 17).

Again, some theologians, pastors, ministers or Bible commentators contend, the tribe people ¾ one who lives in total darkness of the gospel of salvation can go to Heaven on the basis of innocence. This allegation is untenable. Innocence about the gospel of salvation or, innocence to distinguish between right and wrong does not exempt any person from God's condemnation of death. As a matter of fact the Bible attests that tribe people are not innocent about the concept of the gospel of salvation since they know what is right or wrong. They live according to their own standard of morality ¾ rule of conduct between right and wrong. Apostle Paul states, For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; (Romans 2:11-15). Each individual in the tribe knows when he is right or when he is wrong. Their knowledge of morality is based on the law written in their hearts ¾ that is in layman's language, conscience. But, even granting that the tribe people is innocent because no one told them about the gospel of salvation or, they do not have knowledge about it, the Bible does not admit this exception. The Scripture states, God is no respecter of persons, all under sin, there is none righteous (Romans 2:11; 3:9,10; Galatians 3:22). That all are sinners individually without exception is inevitable. There is no one who is not a sinner. All the tribe people are altogether accountable before God. Accordingly, there is no way out of Hell for every person on earth to access Heaven except through faith in Christ.

Since the Bible provides one and only one Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ for sinners, it must be borne in mind that outside of Him, all sinners individually will die in Hell or eternal Fire. There is no other saviour who can save sinners from eternal damnation other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (Acts 4:10-12). He is the only Saviour sent from Heaven (Matthew 1:20, 21; 3:17; John 3:16; 5:30-37). He is the only Saviour that can wash the sin of the world (John 1:29). He is the only Way to Heaven (John 14: 6; 1 Timothy 2:5). He is the only Saviour who gives eternal life (John 10:27-29). He is the only Saviour who can save all sorts of sinners ¾ civilized or uncivilized, irrespective of race, creed, philosophy, colour, culture, religion or, education (1 John 2:2). All other saviors are rubbish. Outside of Christ, there is nothing that bars every sinner to condemnation of death in Hell or eternal Fire. Without Christ is an endless and hopeless end. The rejection of Christ, every member of all tribes, clans, nations and countries alike will suffer in Hell or eternal fire throughout eternity. However, to have faith in Christ is to escape the damnation of Hell or eternal Fire.

Do you have that assurance in Christ? If not, why not trust Him as your personal Lord and Saviour NOW. If you need help on this area, please send an email to this writer.

 

Table of Contents

Main Page