For instance, people who live in the Amazon jungles and have never heard of the gospel throughout their lives. Will they automatically go to hell? Or will God provide some way for them to get saved apart from the gospel?
2007-07-13 08:26:53 · 20 answers · asked by helper725 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Outside of Christ, there is no salvation.
I do not know what God has planned for those who have never heard. I believe that we are called in Matthew 28 to strive to bring the Gospel to all people.
On one hand, God is mercy. On the other hand, God is just. Only God can know for sure how that situation will be dealt with.
2007-07-13 08:30:11 · answer #1 · answered by Scotty Doesnt Know 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Yes, those who leave this world with their sins unforgiven will not have any second chance. God has commanded all men everywhere to repent--that includes the Amazon. Disciples of Jesus were commanded to go into all the world and make disciples--teaching them all things that Jesus commanded. Why send those out to teach if ignorance leads to heaven? Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. We all must be obedient or we will be condemned. The gospel is the only way that men will be saved.
2007-07-13 16:26:15 · answer #2 · answered by Daniel K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is one of those great burning questions. We don't know, we can't know positively until it happens. Paul does say that "where there is no law there is no sin" but he also says that those who don't hear the Gospel do percieve God's power and wisdom in creation, and when they do right without knowing God's law they are become law unto themselves (which is where the phrase comes from, and it doesn't mean "you make up your own rules" but rather "you follow the rules without knowing they exist").
I think God is neither capricious nor arbitrary, therefore He will have worked something out for those who really have no chance to hear the Gospel. Those who are going to have the problem are those who *have* heard it and chose to reject it.
2007-07-13 16:27:53 · answer #3 · answered by anna 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no. I do not believe those who have not heard the gospel will automatically go to hell, just as I don't believe those who have heard the gospel will automatically go to heaven.
The gospel is good news. Good news do not make the news good. It seemly says that something good has happened.
Suppose you had a rich uncle somewhere who died, who knew you, but whom you never knew, and this uncle left you a huge sum of money, plus a kingdom, for your inheritance.
Now, here's this attorney who brings you the will, and tells you about the inheritance, and about the uncle.
The good news ?
You have a loving uncle, who loved you even if you didn't love him because you never knew him, and he left you this money and this kingdom.
The attorney was the bearer of good news.
Your hearing about your uncle did not cause the good news, and the good news did not make you rich.
You were already rich, as soon as your uncle died, and named you as his beneficiary. The lawyer did not make you rich, the good news did not make you rich.
So with the gospel.
The gospel did not save you from God's wrath, Jesus did that. The gospel did not make you co-heirs of Christ, that was the Father's will. The gospel did not give you life and immortality, it simply brought that life and immortality to light.
2007-07-13 15:42:53 · answer #4 · answered by chocolatehills 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well the Bible says in Romans 2:12 gives examples of this...Here God is saying He has put Law into all hearts...that although they may not have heard the gospel that they would be held accountable for what they did know!....in verse 14 it says for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves. People often put GOD in a box...He isnt some big bad being...hating the World!!! He loves us all and wishes that No one should perish but that all would come into ever lasting life!!! WHOOOO HOOOOO! GOD IS LOVE
So to answer the question...God will Judge those people according to their own law!
2007-07-13 15:33:34 · answer #5 · answered by comingofage03 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes God will provide some way for them to get saved apart from the gospel. God will may a way.
2007-07-13 15:36:14 · answer #6 · answered by Vitish 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Many people in the Amazon jungles are hearing the Bible's message thanks to Jehovah's Witnesses. A number of them are learning what the Bible says and have dedicated their lives to serve Jehovah. As for going to hell, the Bible says that when we die, we become conscious of nothing. Eccl. 9:5. Hell is NOT a place of conscious torment. A loving God would never torture anyone in a fiery hell. Hell is taken from the Hebrew sheol which means the grave.
2007-07-13 16:34:55 · answer #7 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
How could a loving God do that? I hope theey don't. In fact, if anyone will get punished, it will be us Christians who don't make the effort to share the word with them who'll go to hell. That has to be worse than just not knowing.
Not a nice thought, but...
2007-07-13 15:30:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't believe that they automatically go to hell. I think as long as they know SOMETHING is out there, and they live accordingly, that I'll see them in heaven. I think some of them get there, and they go, "OH! So THIS is what I kept searching for!"
2007-07-13 15:30:43 · answer #9 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know Faith is all about choice and free will and that God is a Fair and Just God. So, at some point during their lives, I believe they will get the chance. It might be something that doesn't happen til they are on their deathbed, who knows? But I trust God and I believe He has a plan for everyone and everything. Thanks for the question and have a great day!
2007-07-13 15:32:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋