We all have the same fundamental need of grace. But grace is an affront to the human mindset. We want to deserve salvation or merit heaven, but our sin prevents us from doing so. The fact is, we are all under grace, and we all have a choice to seek God. When we ask what happens to those who have never heard the gospel, it demonstrates our accountability to God, in that He is also calling us to respond to Him and accept that grace.

Those Who Seek Will Find

Part of the issue regarding those who do not believe in Jesus Christ or have not heard about Him comes from our mistaken idea that God is unjust. We think He denies salvation even to those seeking it. But Matthew 7:7–8 shows this to be untrue:

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

God reveals Himself to those who seek Him. And the truth is, He has revealed Himself enough that we should seek Him. This truth demonstrates our accountability to God; we must respond to Him. God is more than fair—He is gracious, giving us opportunities that we do not deserve. How exactly God saves those who have never heard is beyond our understanding, but we can trust in His goodness.

The Basis of Salvation

As we approach the issue of those who never heard the gospel, we need to realize that salvation has always been through Christ. The basis of salvation is the death of Christ; the means of salvation is grace through faith, the object of faith is God, and the content of faith is general and special revelation.

God made a way for us to be saved, and we do not know exactly how He is at work in the hearts of people. Although He works through our willing participation in the Great Commission (and this is a great privilege and blessing), God can also save without us. In the end, the Judge of all the universe will do what is right, and in that we can take comfort.

Our Accountability to God

When we ask about those who never heard the gospel, we should not ignore our own knowledge of the gospel. The fact that we ask this question demonstrates that we have some knowledge of God, and therefore shows our accountability to God. How others respond to God is important, but we shouldn’t miss this: God asks you to respond to Him. You have heard, and He wants you to turn to Him. He wants you to accept the gift of life in the person of Jesus Christ.

For more on responding to objections to the Christian faith, visit Ken Boa’s apologetics archives.