What happens to people who can't accept Christ, simply because they haven't heard of him? No heaven?

Question

In response to my previous question about whether a God would accept believers of other faiths into heaven if they had led a good life:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071122194508AAqwK9v&pa=FYd1D2bwHTHwLb9hHOM.QXOWFwMSwwzBefwqOh.XeyTiJdF.TCxBT5Rc1MwcBI7bdKeG4gYDXRX86Q--&paid=asked&msgr_status=

Some of the people concluded that "no, you had to accept Jesus Christ to get into heaven".

In which case, what happens to people living in countries who've never even heard of Christianity?
They could be leading perfectly good lives, but don't stand a chance of getting into heaven?

(I know this is a stretch in today's world, but 200-300 years ago, there were most certainly tribes and probably entire countries that hadn't heard of Christianity - and I assume God was still operating back then).

Answer 1

That's the point of missions trips. To spread the word.

Answer 2

God is not like a man that he is unjust. EVERYONE who has ever lived WILL have a chance to know God, Christ and God's instructions for man, the Bible. Simply because these people -- and it is by far the vast majority of all who have ever lived -- have not had a chance to do so IN THIS LIFE, does NOT preclude them from ever knowing salvation. God's plan includes resurrection!

In the resurrection, all will be taught about the right way of life and they will come to know Jesus and God their saviors.

Revelation 20:12 -- And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

{When a book is opened, it means that its meaning and content will be made know to all. The "Books" that are opened is the Bible.}

This is the firm and confirmed Word of God as revealed in the Bible.

Answer 3

Their is going to be a resurrection and then they will be given an opportunity to accept the Christ. It is hard to believe anyone would not accept it after the great tribulation, But you never know, Their are some hard nosed atheists in here that I would love to convert after the battle of the great day of the wrath of the maker of heaven and earth. Get happy people because it is coming. It ain't a matter of if, it is just a matter of when.

Answer 4

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.

Answer 5

Romans 1:19-20
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so they are without excuse:

This scripture reveals that no one will have an excuse because even if they don't have the scripture, they are still able to see just by looking around them that God is revealed in nature which had to be created.

Answer 6

1. if given the opportunity to respond to the Gospel, one should, otherwise there is no hope, they are without excuse.

2. parts of Romans talk about people having a conscience, that they know right and wrong but generally choose to ignore it. (not because God makes them or anything like that). Jesus said "love your neighbour as yourself, and the lord your God with all your strength etc. do this and you will live"

so if someone who hadn't heard the gospel was living out a life of love and conformity to this concept of love your neighbour as yourself then I don't see how God in His grace wouldn't save this someone if they haven't heard about Jesus.

Either way it would only be because of God's grace that you are saved, even though you don't deserve it.

Answer 7

Even the Catholic Church teaches that all men can be saved by following a sincere, honest and informed conscience. Those who fit that category includes many of those you mention herein. Deliberate ignorance is a different matter. However, the Church does maintain that all the above who are saved, regardless of actual membership or lack of knowledge, will still be saved through Jesus and the Church by desire. In other words, if they knew the real truth, they would have chosen to follow it.

Answer 8

There is a verse (I believe someone put up a King James version of it...but check it out in the message or something easier to read...romans 1:19-20). It basically says that God shows his beauty and glolry to us in nature in all of the things around us, so that we are "with out excuse." Now, take from that what you will. I think it's open to interpretation, but that's what the Bible says about it!

Answer 9

Even people from the Old Testament never heard of Jesus. People like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Noah, King David, etc. They never heard of Jesus their whole lives, but we know they are in heaven.

The answer is in this: Dispensation Theology. Google it, and read about it.

Then, maybe you can stop asking the same questions small children ask.

Answer 10

We are going to be judged by how much information we have had. So if one has never heard of Gd,then they are saved like all the children before the age of accountability.

There is no good people who can make it without the mercy and grace of good.

Answer 11

For those who die without hearing of Christ, they are judged on how they lived their lives according to what they did know about God. Everyone has a built-in knowledge of God, whether or not they ever hear about Jesus. How they live their lives is how they will be judged. Whether they accept that knowledge of Him, or reject it, is what God looks at. God knows their heart.

God bless!