The New Testament makes it clear that faith in Jesus Christ is the path to eternal life with God. John 3:16 (NASB1995) is foundational: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Jesus Himself declares this exclusivity in John 14:6 (NASB1995), stating, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
This truth is echoed throughout Scripture. The Apostle Peter, in Acts 4:12 (NASB1995), boldly proclaims, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” This belief isn’t merely intellectual; it’s a profound trust in Jesus as the Son of God, our Lord, and our Savior. It’s through this faith that we receive salvation, as Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8–9 (NASB1995): “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
The Unheard Gospel and the Age of Accountability
The questions of what happens to those who have never heard the Gospel and those who die before the “age of accountability” are among the most difficult for Christians to answer. Scripture doesn’t provide a single, definitive verse on these matters, but we can draw theological conclusions by examining several passages that reveal God’s character and His principles of justice.
The Age of Accountability
The Bible doesn’t use the term “age of accountability,” but the concept is widely inferred from passages that suggest God doesn’t hold individuals responsible for their sins until they can comprehend right from wrong and make a conscious choice.
Deuteronomy 1:39 (NASB1995) is an excellent example. After the Israelites’ rebellion, God declared that their children, “who this day have no knowledge of good or evil,” would be the ones to enter the promised land. This implies a period of life before a person is held accountable for their rebellion.
Similarly, King David’s response to the death of his infant son in 2 Samuel 12:23 (NASB1995) offers great comfort. David says, “I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” This statement suggests David believed his son, who had not yet reached a point of understanding, was in a place where he would be reunited with him in the future—a reunion with God. This aligns with the understanding that God’s grace and mercy cover those who cannot yet comprehend and respond to the truth of the Gospel. It also aligns with the character of God as merciful, as seen in passages like Psalm 103:13 (NASB1995): “Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.”
God’s Law Written on Our Hearts
For those who have never heard the name of Jesus, the book of Romans provides crucial insight. Paul establishes in Romans 3:23 (NASB1995) that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” demonstrating that sin is a universal human problem. This isn’t just a matter of breaking a set of external laws; it’s an inherent condition of fallen humanity, as stated in Romans 5:12 (NASB1995): “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—”.
However, Romans 2:14–16 (NASB1995) reveals that God has placed a form of His law within every person: “For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them…”.
This passage doesn’t suggest that a person can be saved by living a moral life. Instead, it highlights that all people are without excuse. Their own conscience bears witness to their sinfulness. As Paul argues in Romans 1:20 (NASB1995), God’s “eternal power and divine nature” are “clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” Everyone, regardless of where they live, has some awareness of a divine Creator and the moral law. This aligns with Psalm 19:1 (NASB1995), which states, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” The issue isn’t a lack of information; it’s a rejection of the truth that is instinctively known. The judgment, as John 3:19 (NASB1995) states, is not that “the Light has come into the world,” but that “men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.” This is outlined in Romans 1, “because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
(Romans 1:19-21 NASB1995)
God’s Children will Inevitably Find Him
All of humanity should face the judgement of lacking the perfect adherence to the law and we must face God’s judgement. Paul states that the gentiles who do not know the Law have the ability to still follow a Christ-like delivery of moral standards, although such standards have not been established or made known to the gentile. What judgement should humanity face since we all shall face it? John 3:19-21 clarifies this judgement:
“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” (NASB1995)
There are people who do not know God and have the capability and understanding to practice the right things. And these people, regardless of their circumstances, will come to the Light, which is Jesus. It is inevitable that God’s children will come to Him, regardless of where they are and who there are. This inevitability correlates with our predestination of being His children.
Establishing faith in Christ is a choice made by an individual. Rejecting faith in Christ is equally a choice made by an individual. God’s children will eventually come to Him, while those who continually reject the light they have will remain in darkness, for as Jesus says in John 5:40 (NASB1995), “and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”
Since we are all without excuse, one either accepts or rejects Christ.
Evangelism: The Mission of the Church
Given that salvation is found only through Jesus and that those who have never heard are still spiritually lost, the necessity of missions and evangelism becomes profoundly clear. The Great Commission, as commanded by Jesus in Matthew 28:19–20 (NASB1995), is not an optional suggestion but a vital directive: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.”
This is why missionaries go to the far corners of the earth—because God’s love and truth must be shared with everyone. It’s through the proclamation of the Gospel that people are given the opportunity to put their faith in Jesus and be saved. As Paul writes in Romans 10:14–15 (NASB1995): “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent?”
This call to action is paramount. God’s desire is for all to be saved, as stated in 1 Timothy 2:4 (NASB1995): “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” It is wrong to state God creates people to go to Hell. This is an inappropriate over simplification of God’s sovereignty and diminishes beauty of His planned path to salvation for humanity since the time of creation. Furthermore, the scenario that one can exist without ever knowing of the gospel has never and will never exist. Our role is to be a part of God’s desire for truth to be made known. Ultimately, we cannot fully grasp the depths of God’s sovereign plan, but we can trust in His character. He is both a just and merciful God. While the Bible doesn’t provide a simple, binary answer to what happens to those who have never heard, it compels us to fulfill our role in the Great Commission, bringing the message of hope and salvation to all people, everywhere.
Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org