Do people who have never heard of Jesus go to Hell or not?

Question

The consensus among Christians 40 years ago would have been "YES!" but now it seems there is disagreement.

How can the One True Religion disagree on something as important as the afterlife?

Let me clarify that Paul said, in Romans, that the existence of God was so obvious that those who refuse to honor him have no excuse.

If the "no" answer is correct, doesn't that mean missionaries are worthless?

Answer 1

Where have you been! The church hasn't agreed on anything in 15 hundred years.

Answer 2

The correct understanding of "hell" in the scriptures is mankind's common grave!
Reason: If God is love he wouldn't have someone suffer like that for doing bad. Would you put your child's hand in a fire to reprimand him? No, and neither would God. That thought came from pagan religions that Christendom adopted. The words that hell came from are sheol and hades which mean "deep pit." Some translations have put the word hell in place of gehenna. In Jesus' time in the valley of Hinnom there was a garbage dump here that was on fire constantly. Dead bodies were thrown there also. Jesus said that the religious leaders of his day would go there, meaning they would not be resurrected. They new that when something was burned up it couldn't be restored. Jesus used this as a object lesson to teach the people.

Therefore, all people go to the Bible hell, mankind's grave.

The man Job said he was in hell when the big fish swallowed him. That was not a fiery place, right? Jesus went to hell after his death and then 3 days later was resurrected to the earth, 40 days before his ascension to heaven. He was in the grave awaiting a resurrection.

Answer 3

If God is truly just then no. If they die without knowing of him they will have the opportunity when they die. Otherwise God would not being just. I know someone is going to say that everyone will have the opportunity in ths life....but that is unrealstic.....there is no way that message of Jesus Christ will get to everyone. There are countries that have in the past ans some now that will not allow proslting. There are also islands everywhere where people live who did not have any way of knowing. The world is to big and so many people have lived or will live on this planet that there are going to be some who have never heard of Jesus.

Answer 4

Personally I believe that Jesus is a God of Love and Compassion.

So if a person has never heard of Christ, I believe in the next life, they will hear the message of Christ and will have their free will or free agency to accept or reject the message of Christ.

There isn't that much information on the afterlife; the Mormons appear to have the most and their beliefs make the most sense to me.

Answer 5

There is this one thing in like the "disciples creed" or something (dont quote me on this) That says after the crucifiction, Jesus died, decended into Hell, came back to life 3 days later, and then acended into heaven after a while. (i know, this is really vague, im sorry). What matters is, we (Christians) know WHY it happened, so it doesnt matter exactaly how-it could have been 300 lashes with a whip instead of 299, but He still would have paid our debt. So it kinda is a small thing to dispute.

Answer 6

The Jesus and God I know wouldn't send people to hell just because of that. It would have to depend on other things.

If some Muslim, or atheist, has never really heard about Jesus/Christianity (in a positive and truthful way) how can they be expected to have a full choice on whether to become a Christian or not? If they tried their best to live a good life and to help others as much as they could, I don't think they would go to hell.

In the end, no Christian can say whether ANYONE will go to hell or heaven - we just do not know everything about God, or about another person. Only God knows where someone will go.

The God I know is good and loving - I trust he will make a good decision on who goes where after death.

Answer 7

People whom have never heard the Gospel come judgment day will be judged on the light they have received. Everyone knows lying and stealing and murder is wrong. If a person knows these things and does them anyway then yes he will go to hell...but if not God will make away

Answer 8

Do cancer patients who never get treated die or not?

Did the treatment kill them or the cancer?

And as far as the "one true religion" if you haven't notice Christians believe in free speech. We don't say that everyone is right, but we don't kill anyone who doesn't agree.
Christianity is a personal relationship with God, not a Religion. Christians should base their answers on the Bible.

Answer 9

The bible states when the rapture comes all tounge will speak of the word of God... Those who never heard of God's word will have a chance to accpet God after the rapture

9After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb." 11All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying:
"Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!"
13Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"

14I answered, "Sir, you know."

And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore,
"they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.
16Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

-Revelations 7:9-17-

Answer 10

Well, I am not fully sure on the answer to this question. I think that might go to hell. I mean that is our job here on earth... thats why we were put here, so if we don't tell them , then its kinda our fault... I know that children who don't understand will go to Heaven, but... I don't know.. this would be a good question for a preacher!

Answer 11

Because none of us know the answer to that. Jesus said it is better to have never heard then, to have heard and rejected.

I think that they go to a paradise, and Jesus comes to tell them who He is and what He has done, and if they beleive Him they go to heaven, just as the people of the Old Testemant did that weren't Jews.