What About those Who’ve Never Heard the Gospel?

Chris

Administrator
Staff member
What About those Who’ve Never Heard the Gospel?
By Jack Kelley

A sound biblical answer to an age old question.

This question comes up when I teach about the only path to salvation — Jesus. The Bible says this clearly in John 14:6, where Jesus says, “No one comes to the Father but through Me.” It doesn’t seem fair to us that anyone would be excluded from the Kingdom simply because they never got a chance to hear about Jesus. Right on the heel of that question comes, “And what about the mentally handicapped who can’t understand the need for salvation? Are they condemned?” Let’s handle both of these questions once and for all.

Are You Out There God?​

First, those who have never heard. In Romans 1:20 the baseline is clearly established. Anyone able to look upon the creation is expected to understand that it couldn’t have just happened. Someone had to have made it. If our hypothetical person wonders who it could have been, a promise from Matthew will come true. “Everyone who asks receives, everyone who seeks finds, to all who knock, the door is opened” (Matt 7:7-8). The fact that we don’t happen to observe this happening, or even understand how it could have happened is irrelevant. The Lord promises that if you seek Him with all your heart you will find Him (Jer. 29:13). Period.

No one who couldn’t know will be condemned. But everyone is expected to at least know that there is a Creator. Interestingly, they do. Even pagan religions began with the premise that there is a god. How did they learn that? By looking around!

I am persuaded beyond reasonable doubt that once someone seeks Him, (even without knowing Who He is), God will move heaven and earth to reveal Himself to them. And He will reveal Himself sufficiently to permit an informed conclusion on the part of the seeker. Otherwise, He wouldn’t be just in condemning those who reject Him. Our God loves each of His children beyond measure and wants none to perish.

In Romans 1, Paul does write of condemnation. Not of those who couldn’t know, but of those who did know and then credited something else.

Responsibility and Privilege​

Now, what about the mentally handicapped? The principle in both these cases, by the way, is that responsibility is a function of privilege — where privilege means exposure to knowledge. The more you’ve been privileged to know, the more responsibility you have, and vice versa. Any limits on understanding serve to moderate the responsibility. The principle called “age of accountability” applies here. I think the reason this age is not clearly specified in the Bible is that it’s an intellectual age, not a chronological one.

Scripture teaches that only the Lord knows the thoughts and intents of the heart. He alone can tell if a person is capable of comprehending His offer of salvation. If so, the person is responsible for acting on it—if not, he’s not. The mentally handicapped are often intellectually immature, and like little children, they just can’t comprehend some things. All children, the Bible tells us, belong to the Lord. From their conception until they’re intellectually mature enough to comprehend and choose, they’re His. If they never reach that time, they are always His. Period.

Paul writes, “Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.” (Rom 7:9) He’s talking about belonging to the Lord as a child. When he reached the age of accountability, he became an adult. His “born saved” status expired and he had to consciously renew it (be born again) or be lost. Had he never gained the mental ability to comprehend this, he would never have lost his original status.

Consider the Bar Mitzvah, where a Jewish boy enters manhood and demonstrates his intellectual capability. At the ceremony, his father prays, “Lord thank you for giving me this son and thank you now for relieving me of any further responsibility for him.” The boy is released from his father’s care and now becomes responsible for his own life as a man. Could this be one of the many examples of Jewish tradition illuminating God’s law?

God is Love​

Yes, God is love. But He’s also just and fair, and a ton of other qualities that make Him God. And because of this, He can’t be arbitrary or capricious. This means He can’t express any one of His qualities at the expense of any other. For instance, He had to die for us because He can’t just be love without also being just. His justice restrained Him from loving us as fully as He longed to because it required that someone first pay the penalty for our sins. We couldn’t, so He did, and in meeting the requirements of His justice he offered the greatest expression of His love. Love and Justice both satisfied.

If you’ve ever had an opportunity to hear His Gospel and are intellectually capable of understanding it, then you are responsible for accepting or rejecting it. That’s fair.

Holding people accountable for something they couldn’t know or comprehend wouldn’t be fair, it wouldn’t be just, and it wouldn’t be love. And God is all of those and more. Selah.

https://www.raptureforums.com/tough-questions/whove-never-heard-gospel/
 

kathymendel

Well-Known Member
I so agree with this. We all know that EVERY ONE of us humans have had situations enter our lives, that cause us to question.
What is life all about? Why is this happening to me? Why is a "so-called" God allowing this to happen?
No one escapes this. It is when we turn to God's Word that we find the answers.
It is when we pray, asking Him to show us, that the door is opened to us.
Sometimes, He even hits us over the head to reach us.
I believe that everyone has one time - or many times - that we are led to seek Him in our lifetimes.
Whether we do it or not, is on us.
Whether thru the wonder of God's creation, or life experiences drawing us, or someone sharing the gospel with us, we have the option of seeking.
So, I believe that no one will be able to say they never "heard" the truth of salvation,
Our God doesn't work that way. He gives everyone ample reason and ability to know Him.
He understands those who do not have the mental capacity for choice, and showers them with His love, and saves them.
 

Endangered

Well-Known Member
I expect the mentally incompetent to be taken in the Rapture, along with those too young to make the Jesus decision and unborn babies.
Even though they were not capable of deciding to accept Jesus, there will be another opportunity after a 1,000 years. After that, no more chances.
 

daygo

Well-Known Member
I so agree with this. We all know that EVERY ONE of us humans have had situations enter our lives, that cause us to question.
What is life all about? Why is this happening to me? Why is a "so-called" God allowing this to happen?
No one escapes this. It is when we turn to God's Word that we find the answers.
It is when we pray, asking Him to show us, that the door is opened to us.
Sometimes, He even hits us over the head to reach us.
I believe that everyone has one time - or many times - that we are led to seek Him in our lifetimes.
Whether we do it or not, is on us.
Whether thru the wonder of God's creation, or life experiences drawing us, or someone sharing the gospel with us, we have the option of seeking.
So, I believe that no one will be able to say they never "heard" the truth of salvation,
Our God doesn't work that way. He gives everyone ample reason and ability to know Him.
He understands those who do not have the mental capacity for choice, and showers them with His love, and saves them.
I'm not so sure, used to work on learning disabilities ward and all one girl did was walk up and down the ward with a thimble on her finger Scratching it near to her ear.
 

Brother Albert R.

Jesus loved us and said we should Love our enemies
Paul writes, “Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.” (Rom 7:9) He’s talking about belonging to the Lord as a child. When he reached the age of accountability, he became an adult. His “born saved” status expired and he had to consciously renew it (be born again) or be lost. Had he never gained the mental ability to comprehend this, he would never have lost his original status.
"Bravo"...excellent use of pertinent scriptures to answer the question. Romans 7:9...thanks for posting this Chris.
God bless
Albert
 

twerpv

Well-Known Member
To those I have witnessed to that bring this up, I tell them I’m not sure about this hypothetical person you speak of. However for the here and now, YOU don’t have the excuse of ‘I never heard the Gospel’…
 

JoyJoyJoy

I Shall Not Be Moved
I will say this, I have 2 cousins in their 50's who are mentally handicapped, unable to care for themselves, but the one thing they love in life is going to church, singing the songs(to the best of their ability) and carrying their bibles. They have a connection with God and Jesus.
God is God, He can do anything.
Why do we as humans limit Our Father?? He made each if us, He can communicate with each of us. I am amazed that folks don't stop to think that He can talk to and comfort people who have disabilities and handicaps and senility and sickness.

My niece is mentally challenged in some ways, but she is saved. Jesus revealed Himself to her and she repented and accepted Him.
 

daygo

Well-Known Member
Why do we as humans limit Our Father?? He made each if us, He can communicate with each of us. I am amazed that folks don't stop to think that He can talk to and comfort people who have disabilities and handicaps and senility and sickness.

My niece is mentally challenged in some ways, but she is saved. Jesus revealed Himself to her and she repented and accepted Him.
Well said pleased for her.
 

Umbrella Girl

Now we see through a glass, darkly; (1 Cor 13:12)
Excellent, satisfying explanations for these commonly asked questions. And they are GOOD questions, in my opinion. Not merely “loopholes” for remaining in unbelief, as some say. As a believer, I’ve questioned these issues myself.
 

townerka

Active Member
I think this verse sums this all up as well:

The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ Acts 17:24-28

He put people in the best place that they would seek God! No matter where people live, God determined their lives and that they would seek Him. I love that!
 

SarahRose

Well-Known Member
I am glad to have found this today. I recently heard someone I really respect imply that those who never hear the Gospel will not be saved. Or at least that is what it sounded like he was saying. I hope I misunderstood, but when he said what he did, it gave me a very weird feeling.
 

ItIsFinished!

Blood bought child of the King of kings.
I am glad to have found this today. I recently heard someone I really respect imply that those who never hear the Gospel will not be saved. Or at least that is what it sounded like he was saying. I hope I misunderstood, but when he said what he did, it gave me a very weird feeling.
Hmmm...
What if one is deaf and blind from birth?

What about unborn babies who are murdered in the womb?

What about young children who cannot read or are incapable of understanding the theological
aspects of right and wrong , thus salvation?

What about those who are mentally challenged and cannot comprehend on a certain intellectual level?

These questions are the ones I ask others.
I have answers to these questions , but I would like to hear others thoughts .

Here is a hint...
What best represents Jesus Christ and His Word?
 

cheeky200386

Well-Known Member
Hmmm...
What if one is deaf and blind from birth?

What about unborn babies who are murdered in the womb?

What about young children who cannot read or are incapable of understanding the theological
aspects of right and wrong , thus salvation?

What about those who are mentally challenged and cannot comprehend on a certain intellectual level?

These questions are the ones I ask others.
I have answers to these questions , but I would like to hear others thoughts .

Here is a hint...
What best represents Jesus Christ and His Word?
I have heard accounts of sexually trafficked children who were being visited by Jesus Christ while in cages. I like to believe God loves those children so much he would do everything to reach them, even miraculous things.
 

ItIsFinished!

Blood bought child of the King of kings.
I have heard accounts of sexually trafficked children who were being visited by Jesus Christ while in cages. I like to believe God loves those children so much he would do everything to reach them, even miraculous things.
I like your thoughts.
Miracles do happen .
Jesus Christ LOVES humans , especially children.
Jesus Christ brings deliverance.
 

JoyJoyJoy

I Shall Not Be Moved
My answer is always the same.. Our Creator is capable of speaking to everyone and everything He has made.

I dont think I would ever assume anything about a persons salvation status due to not hearing or having access to His Word....like the mentally impaired or even those in remote parts of the world. HIS justice will be perfect.
 
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