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Summary Point

How can a loving God send someone to hell if they never heard of Jesus?

Subpoints

Since God is righteous and just, everyone has an opportunity to accept God’s salvation.

  1. According to the Bible, God always does what is right and just.

    • The Lord is righteous in all His ways and gracious in all His acts.  (Psalm 145:17 CSB emphasis added)

    • For I will proclaim the Lord's name. Declare the greatness of our God! The Rock-His work is perfect; all His ways are entirely just. A faithful God, without prejudice, He is righteous and true. (Deuteronomy 32:3-4 CSB emphasis added)

    • Scholar R.A. Torrey explains what this attribute means, “The righteousness or justice of God is that attribute that leads Him always to do right.”1

  2. According to the Bible, everyone knows that God exist, but some willingly suppress this truth.

    • Below are verses from the Bible (the book of Romans) that supports this point:

      • For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. (Romans 1:18-20 CSB emphasis added)

  3. According to the Bible, anyone who genuinely seeks God will find Him.2

    • Below are two examples from the Bible that support this point:

      • The Lord is near all who call out to Him, all who call out to Him with integrity. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry for help and saves them. The Lord guards all those who love Him, but He destroys all the wicked. My mouth will declare the Lord's praise; let every living thing praise His holy name forever and ever. (Psalm 145:18-21 CSB emphasis added)

      • if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation. Now the Scripture says, No one who believes on Him will be put to shame, for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:9-13 CSB emphasis added)

  4. According to the Bible, God has orchestrated the history of the world so that everyone is in position to accept God if they so choose.2

    • Below are verses from the Bible (the book of Acts) that support this point:

      • From one man He has made every nation of men to live all over the earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live, so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. (Acts 17:26-27 CSB emphasis added)

  5. Jesus told His disciples to go into the world and preach the good news; a responsibility that still resides with His followers.

    • Below are verses from the Bible (the Gospel of Matthew) that support this point - words from Jesus which are considered the Great Commission.

      • Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20 CSB)

Links to external resources on this topic:

Anchor 1

Context:

  • Since the majority of people follow their parents religion, how can God punish someone for not being a Christian? Is it fair to send someone to hell for eternity if they live on an island in the pacific ocean and never heard of Jesus?

  • These are fair questions; however, are we really in position to understand God’s plan for everyone? The Bible says that God does not want anyone to be punished.

    • The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 CSB emphasis added)

  • This is one of those questions where we are not in position to have the full answer given our finite perspective on reality. We need to trust the Bible’s teaching about God on this topic.

Anchor 2

Sources (complete reference information provided on SOURCE PAGE):

  1. Torrey, What the Bible Teaches, p.38.

  2. Geisler & Jimenez, The Bible’s Answers to 100 of Life’s Biggest Questions, p.102-103.

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