Those Who Never Heard

The spiritual destiny of those who have never heard the name of Jesus is a question that has taxed me and distressed me to the utmost. I confess I am an agnostic in this matter  and obviously cannot and dare not speak for God. All I know is what I experienced through our family’s connection with my son’s Japanese in-laws. Despite knowing only Shinto traditions, his father-in-law, my new friend, displayed profound humility, reverence for the Creator, deep moral integrity and overwhelming generosity. One one occasion he bowed in prayer at a locked church and stated his belief that we worship the same God.

This encounter left me deeply distressed. Was this godly man doomed? No one can know for sure, but I can safely leave the final judgment in God’s hands, resting securely in Abraham’s ancient affirmation: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). Yet, I still seek an answer that satisfies both my conscience and the Scriptures. How do we reconcile the exclusivity of Christ with the reality of those who respond to the light they have been given?

Two Shafts of Light

Scripture points out that Jesus is the true light that enlightens every person coming into the world (John 1:4, 9). God reaches every individual through two rays of light:

1. Creation: clearly displays the work and reality of an intelligent Creator, leaving humanity without excuse (Romans 1:20).
2. Conscience: Internal moral awareness acts as a guide, accusing us when we do wrong and applauding us when we do good. (Romans 2:15).

As Jesus noted, the condemnation is not that people lack knowledge they could never attain, but that light has come into the world but men loved darkness rather than light (John 3:19). Those who do not reject the light they have, namely, by seeking the Creator, and looking for a resolution to their guilty consciences, and remaining humbly aware that they are in need of, and request, mercy, are responding to the light extended to them.

Add to all that, the clear statement that John makes: “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:2).

Old Testament Saints

Abraham lived long before the Mosaic Law and centuries before Jesus walked the earth. He knew nothing of the specific sacrificial system or the historical details of the cross, yet “Abraham believed God, and God credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3). What is more, Abraham is called the friend of God! 2 Chronicles 20:7, Isaiah 41:8 and James 2:23 all name Abraham “the friend of God”. 

Those who quest to know the Creator and trust that He can in His mercy find a way to resolve their guilt, manifest genuine faith.

Mercy Central to the Character of God

God “is rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4), an attribute He actively boasts in. His mercy is rich and beyond accusation. While some know Who God provided, others trust without knowing the specifics, relying entirely on the Creator’s provision for a solution to their brokenness.

Consider this:

Old Testament

Exodus 34:6-7: God’s own self-description to Moses: merciful and gracious, abounding in steadfast love.

Lamentations 3:22-23: God’s mercies never come to an end and are new every morning, a testimony to His faithfulness even in times of deep grief.

Psalm 103:8-14: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and removes our transgressions as far as the east is from the west.

Psalm 136: A refrain repeated in every verse, “His mercy endures forever,” as the psalmist recounts God’s works in creation and history.

Micah 7:18-19: God delights in showing mercy and will tread our sins underfoot and cast them into the depths of the sea.

New Testament

Ephesians 2:4-5: God, rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses.

Luke 6:36: Jesus calls His followers to be merciful just as the Father is merciful.

Titus 3:4-7: Salvation comes not by our works but according to His mercy.

1 Peter 1:3: By His great mercy we have been given new birth into a living hope.

Hebrews 4:16: We can approach the throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy and find grace in time of need.

Matthew 5:7: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

Jesus

He Teaches Mercy

John 3:17 explicitly states: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” How sad that the traditional view starts by condemning the world.

Mercy is required as an attitude, reflecting His own character. Matthew 5:7, the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:23–35).

He Practices Mercy

He ministers to outcasts, pointedly refusing to condemn a  woman taken in adultery, and shaming her accusers John 8:1–11. On the cross, where the crucified normally cursed their torturers, He prays “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”  Luke 23:34. He is attentive to the request of a convicted criminal being crucified “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

Peter asks, probably trying to impress Jesus, should he forgive someone who sins against him seven times. That more than doubles the accepted standard of his day. Jesus explodes that. He takes the number 7 that already signified completeness and pushes it past any possible counting. Matthew 18:21-22.

Jesus immediately tells the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:23-35).

Post Resurrection

After the resurrection, Jesus meets his disciples with mercy rather than rebuke, even though they had fled, denied, and doubted him.

The disciples in the upper room (John 20:19-23): His first word to the men who abandoned him is “Peace be with you,” followed by the gift of the Spirit and the power to forgive sins.

Thomas (John 20:24-29): He offers his wounds to the doubter and meets his demand for proof with patience.

The Emmaus travelers (Luke 24:13-35): He walks alongside two downcast disciples, opens the Scriptures to them, and is made known in the breaking of bread.

Peter, the coward, receives special consideration.  (John 21:9-15)

Why Evangelize Then?

If God can reach those who seek Him in sincerity through the light they possess, why share the gospel at all? 

“Evangel”, comes from the Greek word), meaning “good news” or “glad tidings.” For some reason, probably a hangover from medieval Roman Catholicism, scare tactics were used as a measure of control and not corrected in the Reformation. “Evangelism” was to first scare people then offer them an escape as “good news”. In contrast, the only people Jesus castigated were the self-righteous religious people. All others were treated with merciful compassion.

Interestingly, all the great religions share a common ethic. But only Christianity speaks of having a friendship with God, and goes further, encourages us to call Him our Father at His invitation, and promotes Him as weeping with joy when we embrace Him. I want that relationship for everyone.

Knowing Christ brings the full daylight of truth, replacing the dim starlight of conscience and creation. It is like having news of a great rescue or a guaranteed cure and then keeping it to oneself. Knowing Jesus brings an active, living friendship with God as Father, characterized by peace, joy, and profound purpose, and where even suffering is made meaningful (Romans 5:1–5). Jesus moves us from silent searching into ongoing conversation with God, having Him as our Shepherd as elucidated in the personal pronouns in Psalm 23. “The LORD! MY Shepherd!”

That is what I desire for everyone-to know God as friend and Father. That is my mission.