What about those who never heard the Gospel?
The answer bridges the unbreachable cavern between conscience eternal life and death.
Have you ever heard this argument: Not everyone has heard the Gospel, therefore God must have left the door open for salvation through another means other than Jesus. I have! First of all we need to define our terms. What is the gospel? After all, as I wrote in my subhead, the answer bridges the unbreachable cavern between conscience eternal life and death. Considering this, knowing and believing the correct answer is crucial.
Scripture assures us that there is no other name other than that of Jesus Christ which men will be saved from their sins (Acts 4:12). In fact we are warned: I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6) . Clear enough, but there are most certainly remote “tribes” and uncivilized “peoples” who have no access to any written material, let alone a Bible. Who will tell them about Jesus? He most certainly died for them as well, right?
Well for one, missionaries diligently and faithfully labor to this end. Christians who are able are supporting their endeavors through financial support and much prayer. God has not abandoned the lost or unlearned. Here are two reasons why:
1) The evidence for God is clear, so that men are without excuse:
From both the old and new Testaments: The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor language, where their voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1,3).
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. (Rom. 1:20).
Through countless examples we are able to witness that creation itself bears testimony to a Creator. This by no means assumes that everyone seeks after their Creator or even accept who He is. Nonetheless He waits patiently so that no one will perish. I thank Him that He waited for me during my stubborn years.
2) He who seeks, finds:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7)“
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9)
Pretty clear, right? Even a child can comprehend this. I suppose there are as many reasons to be skeptical as there are to believe in God, what with all the chaos in the world and such. Many haphazardly ask “Where is God?”, but how many truly take the time to humbly pray and listen for an answer? There are lots of answers already out there vying for the only sound one, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So what is this gospel?
In a convenient nutshell:
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15)
The simplicity of the gospel is often a stumbling block for many. Thankfully it is not one of works, but entirely by grace. The body of Christ will continue diligently with our missionary efforts in our neighborhoods and around the world until Christ returns. As frustrating as it may be, we are merely seed planters but it is God who gives the increase. Rest assured that where we fall short, He will make a way where there seems to be no other way………as He always does!
Jim
John recorded a teaching of Jesus that I think helps answer this question. "It is written in the prophets, 'and they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me" (John 6:45).
This tells me that God, who is not willing that anyone should perish, has taken it on Himself to teach everyone in one way or another. As you wrote, one way we learn about the Creator is through the creation itself. Ultimately, in Christ "the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11). This all affirms what Jesus says, that no one reaches God apart from Jesus, and no one comes to Jesus apart from the Father. God has ways of reaching even those we think are unreachable.
Thanks for taking on one of the toughest questions in Christianity. God is the One who judges all things, even the innocence of those who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus. However, spreading the Gospel is the motivation of missionaries from day one. One indigenous man attended one of my conferences. His bible was worn and then confessed at break time he didn't know how to read. I asked why does his Bible look so worn. He said it was because he carries it everywhere he goes. He went on to tell me he became born-again after realizing the tribal "Jesus" his people believed is not the real Jesus. Then it happened. He had a vision from Jesus, received the authentic Holy Spirit, and went on to evangelize his people. This is a common story with Muslims and other remote tribes who are forbidden to own a Bible, let alone be able to read one.