[quote Sudokuzebra]@MissingSummertime, what would happen to people who had never herd of Jesus ? Would they be saved or condemned to hell.[/quote]
Hi, so although this topic is about hell ( and I am passionate about dispelling the myth that it doesn’t exist or that the bible describes it as anything but the terrible place it is) the thing I want to get across more is that Jesus gave up absolutely everything for us, he left his perfect throne room in heaven to be born as one of us, he healed, delivered , worked the miraculous in his ministry even raising the dead, and was tempted in every way we are but yet was without sin. When Jesus gave His life on the cross he did this for us, to pay for our sins ( the things we’ve done wrong) so we might be saved and have a rightful restored relationship with God. Jesus died once, for all. There was a divine exchange on the cross - all of our unholiness for Jesus’s perfect holiness, our unrighteousness for His righteousness, our death for his eternal life ( as to die in sin is to be as one who walked the ‘broad highway’ that Jesus describes, which is the wide road that leads to hell) though He is the King of heaven he became poor. Jesus is absolutely just, and he will judge justly anyone who did not have the chance to hear and respond to the gospel. (Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter through the narrow gate.(A) For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.“)
Second Peter 3:9 reads, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” God desires that everyone come to Him via Christ, but not all will. We, however, do not have access to a list of who will respond to God and who will not. As such, biblical Christianity places a great deal of emphasis on Christians sharing the gospel.
Romans 10:13-15 underscores the significance of Christian evangelism when it comes to reaching those who have never heard: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
In other words, Christians are actively spreading the message of Jesus so that “those who have never heard” will indeed get an opportunity to hear.
The Bible, for instance, records just such a story about a man named Cornelius. This man knew about God, but not about Christ. Because of his sincere desire to know God, Cornelius came in direct contact with the Apostle Peter who told Cornelius about Jesus (see Acts 10 for the whole story).
Today is the acceptable day of salvation. Every time I drive my DD to school we pass a tree covered in bunches of flowers that have been tied to it where a tragic accident ended someone’s life suddenly 2 weeks ago. None of us know how long we have on this planet. We will all meet Jesus face to face one day and tomorrow might be that day. He will either meet us in a father’s embrace as saving Lord, or as Righteous Judge.
“In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2