What About Those Who Never Hear the Gospel?
God reveals evidence of Himself to everyone through creation, as stated in Psalm 97:6. This revelation holds everyone accountable for recognizing His immeasurable glory, infinite power, eternal existence, and inherent goodness, as affirmed in Romans 1:18-20, Psalm 19:1-6, and Acts 14:17.
However, people resist these evident truths, some through passive indifference and others through active rebellion. As John MacArthur states, humans have an inherent human inclination to oppose God's truth (Romans 3:11). Despite the accessible knowledge about God, individuals choose not to acknowledge Him as Creator, express gratitude for His goodness, or worship Him for His eternal power.
What follows is a substitution of these truths with distorted beliefs, leading to a warped theology. People assign the role of Creator to alternative beings or ideas, such as evolution, attempting to evade accountability. They declare their own goodness, denying the need for a Savior, and assume the role of ruler, rejecting God's rightful place as Lord. This path ultimately leads to sinfulness and brokenness.
This condition applies universally, including to those unreached by the gospel. Their condemnation is not due to rejecting an unheard gospel, which would be unjust, but because they sin against the light they have received, which is just. This emphasizes the nature of their accountability... And the urgency to bring Jesus to them.
With over three billion people in this unreached state, there is a desperate priority to share the gospel with them. Without it, they face eternity separated from God, an intolerable and unacceptable prospect.
However, people resist these evident truths, some through passive indifference and others through active rebellion. As John MacArthur states, humans have an inherent human inclination to oppose God's truth (Romans 3:11). Despite the accessible knowledge about God, individuals choose not to acknowledge Him as Creator, express gratitude for His goodness, or worship Him for His eternal power.
What follows is a substitution of these truths with distorted beliefs, leading to a warped theology. People assign the role of Creator to alternative beings or ideas, such as evolution, attempting to evade accountability. They declare their own goodness, denying the need for a Savior, and assume the role of ruler, rejecting God's rightful place as Lord. This path ultimately leads to sinfulness and brokenness.
This condition applies universally, including to those unreached by the gospel. Their condemnation is not due to rejecting an unheard gospel, which would be unjust, but because they sin against the light they have received, which is just. This emphasizes the nature of their accountability... And the urgency to bring Jesus to them.
With over three billion people in this unreached state, there is a desperate priority to share the gospel with them. Without it, they face eternity separated from God, an intolerable and unacceptable prospect.
Resources:
- Watch: What Happens to Those Who Never Hear the Gospel? (9:35) David Platt: short version
- Watch: What Happens to Those Who Have Never Heard About Jesus (3:42) GotQuestions.org
- Watch: What Happens to Those Who Never Hear About Jesus? (9:40)
- Watch: How Will God Judge Someone Who Has Never Heard the Gospel? (4:10) William Lane Craig
1 John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Romans 1-8 (Olive Tree Bible Study App, Ver. 6.5.4) Notes on Romans 1:18