What happens to those who have never heard of Christ?w/Frank Turek

Many wonder what happens to those who have never heard of Christ. Would they have any chance of Salvation? How would these people be judged?

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I like to talk about the big questions of faith, progressive Christianity, and skeptical claims against the reliability of the Bible and the truthfulness of Christianity.

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[krijoe]

The end of this truly hit home! I had this desperate longing. i knew of Jesus in my mind. I had scripture all over my house etc. But had never really recieved him in my heart. My husband came home from work one day and said I did work for a church today and I would like to go there Sunday. So we did. I walked around and picked up every single tract I could find. It was like i was starving to death. I read through several a day. One day I read this kids tract. I don't know what it was about that one but I gave my life to Christ right then. We did very soon find our own home church after that.

[leahhathaway]

I work for the suicide prevention lifeline and I talk to people all over the country and even some outside of the country. There is even people in America that don’t have a true understanding of who Jesus is and what Christianity is all about. Some people don’t have the privilege of growing up in a Godly community where the word of God is available to them. The more non believers I’ve talk too the more I have questions about hell because I just don’t understand how someone can go to hell for all eternity for being born in the wrong place or religion. I think that their is a lot that we don’t know about Gods plans and purpose with that and I’ve given up trying to have a specific view on it because I think it’s so much more complex than us humans will be able to understand. All I know is that I trust God

[gracegrapes]

The absolute best answer I have ever heard to this very tuff question. I asked God for a clear answer to this question as I get it a lot from unbelievers and He led me here. Thank you

[kristalsea]

“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:25
The Lord is just and merciful. I trust His judgment.

[rosaleengrace]

I remember asking my Mum this when I was about 11... and she responded with Matt 12:36-37.
'36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.'
It seemed just to me then and now.

[troyshrader]

How would you explain God knows the future and he gave you free will, but what if he knows that through that free will you will reject Jesus. Why would he give you free will? If he wants everybody to be saved, then how come he doesn't change the outcome? I've heard people respond by God loves you and didn't want to have robots worshipping him. But saying it again, he knows the future and he gave you free will and he knows that through that free will you will reject him, so why would he give you the free will?

[davidyleah]

I believe this is a very hard question to answer, and what I hear from both of you is what I was always taught and told. But as I have come to understand His word and His character, I truly do believe by what I read in these two passages that God has a very unique, different and beyond us criteria. As you read Romans 10:14-15 "14 But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)? 15 And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
If you hear what Paul is saying, it is the fact that God is aware that in order for someone to call on God they need to believe, and believing comes from hearing, and hearing comes from a messenger/preacher, and these preachers/messengers are to be sent with this message. How beautiful are the feet...! Why are we here? To share the message. If God, in His justice, is to judge people by what they know, then even though Romans 1 tells us that we are without excuse, what He is talking about is the excuse of not acknowledging God and worshipping other things. But how are they to make the connection and the link between God and Jesus if they're not told about what Jesus did? And then in 2 Peter 3:8-9 it says "8 Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance." If He's holding off His coming so that everyone comes to repentance, but what you're saying is that we all don't have an excuse, then why wait? What is He waiting for? According to what you're saying, then what is the need to evangelize and share the good news? Why is Jesus/God waiting? Do you see? I know in the end God is the one who has the ultimate wisdom and sovereignty to do and judge however He pleases and sees right. But it is for us to try to understand His heart, character and word rightly. Thanks for all you do and putting these hard topics out there and for allowing for civil, loving and honest conversation!

[mattandkim]

For those who might have missed it, Frank is saying that all the people who never heard the name of Jesus, all of them are going to hell.

[biosci]

"After 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 before the Lamb." Rev 7:9a
We need to do what we can. He'll make sure it happens the way He told us.

[savedbymylovegodthelordjes]

All glory and love be to GOD THE FATHER THE SON THE HOLY SPIRIT THE HOLY TRINITY forever and ever amen 💖✝✝✝...

[FraterABYA]

Another disappointing answer to this question.

Listen, let's be real. The exact question is, "what happens to those who have never heard of Jesus? How can they be "saved" if they have never heard about the one to whom their salvation depends upon?" The question is NOT, "what happens to those who don't believe in GOD?" Salvation depends on believing that Jesus is Lord, died on a cross to cover your sins, and rose from the dead. Salvation HINGES on this. Most cultures believe there is some great God of some kind, (well, except modern secular culture). Belief in GOD, and doing good works is NOT the prescription for salvation, (if the bible is to be believed). But, time and time again, all my life, I have seen Christians dodge this conundrum and give the same answer, which is really a non-answer.

This idea that God has predetermined entire nations of people to live in an area that will potentially never have the gospel introduced to them is essentially Calvinism in disguise, and makes it sound like salvation ISN'T actually a choice, but is ALSO predetermined.

Do you not realize how messed up that is?

Listen, I am a conservative person, and I believe in God. I believe there is ONE God, and that God made all we see. But the idea of how we come to "salvation" is logically, empirically, provably wrong. First of all, why did the Hebrew people never once directly talk about all this in the OT? Many modern Christians give long dissertations about how Christ appears in the OT, and superimpose him onto verses. But never once did a Hebrew person get the command to get "saved" by anyone, especially a person. They had faith in God, and that God would protect them and keep them. They were repeatedly told that God is ONE, and had no other before Him.

I am not saying Jesus is a bad thing, but the beliefs that are presented in the NT do NOT line up with everything else. If Christianity is helpful for you, and nets you peace and happiness, then I am all for it. I just don't get how you guys justify everything in the gospel.

[kalepeacock]

In attempt to learn about the Protestant mind:
I have seen this question asked and answered by various Protestants like this - in a cookie cutter, almost talking-point kind of way - many times. However, they always seem to shy away (sometimes intentionally) from Romans 10.

This chapter asks the very question of who will and will not be saved (verses1-7, particularly 6-7);
Answers the question that it will be those who have have the Gospel and call on God (verses 8-13, particularly 9, 13);
Explains that they can't call on God without having heard of and believed in Him (verses 14-17);
Makes it clear that a teacher must be SENT by authority, not just taking on the preaching themselves (verse 15).
The rest of the chapter confirms that all of Israel indeed had the Gospel, but because they "sought me not" the Gospel was extended to the Gentiles ("into all the earth").

I would appreciate any insight into why so many of the reasons (theories) Protestants give as an answer to the question of what happens to those who have never heard of Christ either 1)fly in the face of Romans 10, or 2)have no scriptural basis whatsoever. Thanks in advance!

[gregbooker]

Nobody in the history of Christianity has ever "proved" that the epistle to the Romans was "inspired by God", therefore, atheists and non-Christians are well within any coherent definition of "reasonable" when they conclude that Paul had no more "authority" in theology than Apphia did.

[babygremlins]

This question is directly asked and answered in Romans 10:18 where he directly quotes Psalm 19

[bereantrb]

The question was historical in essence but unfortunately most of Frank’s response was cast in the present. I think Alisa’s reference to Romans was a more helpful starting point, especially if you consider the corollary. One can read history and consider there may have been those who did indeed respond to what God had given them. Socrates, for example, was put to death because he wouldn’t forsake the truth. It’s possible that he responded well to the hand God dealt him.

[robertdouglas]

"Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing." Can we be greater than God? God awaits his prodigal son to return to him and then He will accept him with open arms. We are created in the likeness of God Who is eternal. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

[alexcastillo]

Also - there's nothing to say that when a non Christian loved one is about to breathe their last breath - Jesus Christ himself did'nt with open arms - ask them one more time "I am Jesus Christ. Will you devote the rest of eternity to a life of me as your Lord Master and Savior?" And there's nothing to say that our non Christian loved one didn't answer "Yes". Watch the documentary "After Death " by Angel Studios.

[braidenmccaleb]

I’m not sure I agree, as someone who is trying to learn more about Christianity I’ve struggled with this very question. You argue that god has intentionally put people in places that don’t have access to the gospel because they wouldn’t accept it either way. How is this not predestination? What’s the point of any of this if god ultimately decides who gets to to hear the good news and who doesn’t? How is that just? I want to believe and choose to believe that Christ died for the sins of the world that all might be saved through him. I feel like god is not limited on who he can save just because they haven’t heard of Christ. But this idea that god denied some people access because they aren’t going to except it anyway feels immoral to me. Would love input:)

[ltilley]

This is so good! If people seek Him He will reveal Himself to them. He may use you or me to tell them about Jesus so be ready when He gives you an opportunity!

[smm]

He meets you where you are, even in dreams.