What About Those Who Have Never Heard The Gospel?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesA querist asks, “What about those who have never heard the gospel – is their fate the same as the disobedient?”
The Bible is clear that (1) only through obedience to the gospel of Christ can anyone be saved (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18), and (2) that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
In his speech to the Athenians, Paul declared that God had once “winked at” (KJV) or “overlooked” (ESV) ignorance, but “now he commands all people everywhere to repent” because God has appointed a day in which he will “judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:30-31). Paul clearly tells us in Romans 1:16-20, that the Gentiles could not plead ignorance of God’s existence nor of their responsibility to Him on the basis of a lack of evidence, because God had revealed Himself to them, not only through His creation, but through His revelation as well.
Thus, the Scriptures plainly tell us that everlasting punishment and separation from God will not only be the eternal fate of those who have never heard the gospel and rendered obedience to it (cf. Matthew 7:21; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Psalm 79:6; Jeremiah 10:25; Isaiah 59:1-2) but for those who are disobedient as well (Romans 2:8-9). Additionally, the following studies are provided by faithful proclaimers of God’s Word:
1) Is Ignorance Bliss?
2) How Will Those Who Never Learn the Gospel Be Judged?
3) Will Those Who Have Never Heard The Gospel Be Lost?