What About Those Who Have Never Heard the Gospel?

     This question is an important one because it is often used by unbelievers to excuse their unbelief and to draw true believers away from God. The implication of the question is that the God of the Bible is not true because He is unjust. For others the question muddies the clear water of God’s salvation by faith in Christ alone and tempts them to think of other ways of salvation. 

     The Bible says that “There is no other name under heaven, given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4.12); and, “Faith comes by hearing the word of God” (Romans 10.17). God wants us to seek Him as Paul said the philosophers at Athens (Acts 17.11). Yet, men do not seek God: “There is none who seeks after God” (Romans 3.11). Nevertheless, God seeks men. When Adam and Eve sinned, God came to them in the garden and restored them through His words. God seeks men through the proclaimed truth of Creation, but, as Paul tells us, men are constantly suppressing that truth (Romans 1.22-30). God seeks men through the proclamation of the Gospel, and yet many resist it and persecute it. 

     So, there is the picture of this world: Men are running away from God, and God is seeking to save them. Somehow in this divine chase some of us get caught. The truth overcomes the lies in us. We repent. We are turned back toward God in order to fear, love and trust in Him above all things. God doesn’t explain to us how this happens. He doesn’t explain how some are caught but others keep on running.  But it clearly happens. So, throughout the whole world and throughout all time, men have been running from God, and God has been pursuing them. 

     The only question that matters for each one of us is: Am I running with the truth or from it? Do I have peace with God or not? It is not for us to figure out how we are caught by the truth. But it is for us to believe it, to live it and become one of God’s chasers after the lost souls who running in the wrong direction. 

     What about those who have never heard the Gospel? I will respond with another question: What about all who have heard and continue to hear the truth of God in Creation? Why do they run from that? Why do they not honor the true God and give thanks as Paul says they should (Romans 1.22-30)? I have no idea. But I know that God loves them, and He is running after them, and He will catch some of them. In the end I will let God decide what is just and right for each and every person. As Moses said, “His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice” (Deuteronomy 32.4).  

Evening Prayer Service, September 12, 2018. Scripture and Sermon at 11:32