If only people who accept Christ go to Heaven, then what happens to people who haven't had the opportunity?

Question

I just read a question asking if Ghandi went to Hell because he did not accept Christ. A lot of the answers said yes, despite the way in which he lived his life, he will still go to hell. But there are so many parts of the world that have not been colonized; where the people still live "primitively" and have not been inrtoduced to Christianity. So, what happens to those people? Are they sent to hell anyway, or does God judge them differently? What does the Bible say? or How do YOU think they will be judged? I'm not a religious fanatic, nor am I an atheist- just curious as to what people's opinions are, or if there is a specific Bible passage that DIRECTLY addresses this issue.

Answer 1

Those who haven't had the opportunity to hear the good news (not those who just choose not to listen) will go to heaven as long as they have lived a good life. God is merciful.

Answer 2

Everyone will have the chance, whether in this life or the next. Otherwise, why did Jesus, during the 3 days He was in the tomb go and start the work of preaching to the spirits that had already passed on?

That it is easier to accept in this life, I have no doubt, as the repentance process and the atonement were designed primarily for those of us who accept Christ in this life. However, it does not exclude those that did not have the chance to accept Christ in this life.

We are ALL God's children. He loves each and everyone of us no matter our race, religion, national origin, or even language. So all will have the chance to accept at some time.

The apostle Paul also referred to this in kind of a back door way. He said, "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?" (1 Cor 15:29) He was, of course, talking about the resurrection, but the question has to arise, why were people being baptized for other people that had already died. The logical answer would be that they knew that their dead ancestors did not have a chance to accept Christ and be baptized. People on earth were performing those baptisms for deceased. so that they too could accept Christ and have the blessings of baptism. Remember, Paul was talking to the Corinthians here, so the majority of these Christians would have been first generation and would not have been of the Jewish faith.

God bless and keep the faith and know that God does not forget anyone. His plan is all inclusive to ALL who will accept His will.

Answer 3

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Psalm 19: 1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

Job 12:7 "But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9 Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the LORD has done this?

Romans 2:14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)

I hope these verses answer your question.

Answer 4

Jesus Christ exists only 2 thousand years in the past. historic previous of human existences way bypass a hundred,000 years. So, what do you think of of that. additionally, the oldest shown kind of religion is Hinduism. What ensue to those human beings around that era ? additionally, faith in easy terms unfold by using human contacts, for the human beings who lives in the Australia and usa and islands, there have been no faith that comparable or resemble Christianity and Catholic. What ensue to those people who lives there for 1000's of years earlier than explorers from western civilization ? you have been solid in asking those style of questions. It exhibits which you're thinking logically. save up the thinking and discover out the actuality your self. do no longer take issues the face values as human beings tells you. you will learn the actuality with the help of save asking questions until eventually all of it make experience to you.

Answer 5

Limbo is a no-no - Benedict XVI has abolished it;

In the next bit, there will be an oportunity to receive the fullness of the gospel from those followers of Christ who have also died, and who preach it to the spirits of those who wait upon judgement.

Meanwhile, they that have died are baptised by proxy here on earth, their names being known to those acting on their behalf.

See reference below:

Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead

Answer 6

JN 12:48

"Whoever rejects me and does not accept my teachings will, nevertheless, be judged according to the truths I have spoken."

From these words of Jesus, it should be clear to everyone that even those who don’t believe in God or in him provided that they live good and righteous lives can merit eternal life in heaven. No matter what your religion or belief, the way to God is through love and service to our fellowmen.

Take a Test on Jesus
http://innerquest1.blogspot.com/2006/09/test-yourself-on-jesus.html

Answer 7

All people are accountable to God whether they have “heard about Him” or not. The Bible tells us that God has clearly revealed Himself in nature (Romans 1:20) and in the hearts of people (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The problem is that the human race is sinful; we all reject this knowledge of God and rebel against Him (Romans 1:21-23). Apart from God's grace, God would give us over to the sinful desires of our hearts, allowing us to discover how useless and miserable life is apart from Him. This He does for those who reject Him (Romans 1:24-32).
In reality, it is not that some people have not heard about God. Rather, the problem is that they have rejected what they have heard and what is readily seen in nature. Deuteronomy 4:29 proclaims, “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” This verse teaches an important principle: everyone who truly seeks after God will find Him. If a person truly desires to know God, God will make Himself known.
The problem is, “there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:11). People reject the knowledge of God that is present in nature and in their own heart, and instead decide to worship a “god” of their own creation. It is foolish to debate the fairness of God sending someone to hell who never had the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Christ. People are responsible to God for what God has already revealed to them. The Bible says that people reject this knowledge, and therefore God is just in condemning them to hell.
Instead of debating the fate of those who have never heard, we, as Christians, should be doing our best to make sure that they hear. We are called to spread the Gospel throughout the nations (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). The fact that we know people reject the knowledge of God revealed in nature must motivate us to proclaim the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Only through accepting the Gospel of God’s grace through the Lord Jesus Christ can people be saved from their sins and rescued from an eternity apart from God in hell.
If we assume that those who never hear the Gospel are granted mercy from God, we will run into a terrible problem. If people who never hear the Gospel are saved…we should make sure that no one ever hears the Gospel. The worst thing we could do would be share the Gospel with a person and have him or her reject it. If that were to happen, he or she would be condemned. People who do not hear the Gospel must be condemned, or else there is no motive for evangelism. Why run the risk of people possibly rejecting the Gospel and condemning themselves – when they were previously saved because they had never heard the Gospel?

Answer 8

I don't think that is correct. Those who don't have the opportunity here, will have the opportunity after they die. The Father will give Everyone the opportunity- whether it is in this life or the next.

Answer 9

The Bible says that God will judge them according to what they know.

Answer 10

limbo