What happens to people who die without ever hearing the gospel?

This is a question I get quite often. How could God punish someone for not believing in Jesus when they've never even had an opportunity to hear about Jesus?

It would be like your boss yelling at you for not preparing a report when he never mentioned to you anything about it in the first place. You'd say "That's not fair! I never even knew about the report!"

Usually the question gets phrased this way: What about tribal people from the jungles of Africa? Or what about other 3rd world societies? They don't have Bibles or missionaries or churches. How can a loving God condemn entire societies for not believing in someone they've never encountered?"

Number one: The Bible says that "the Lord is a God of justice." (Isaiah 30:19) And Psalm 145:17 says that "The LORD is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made." Notice the words "In all His ways." God is righteous in everything He does, including His acts of judgment. Therefore, we can have confidence that in every situation, God is going to do what is right and fair and loving.

Number two: Romans 8:29 says that those God foreknew, "he predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." In other words, God knows everyone, and He knew us even before we were born.

Since God knows us so well, He knows the people who will eventually respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. And He knows the people who WOULD have eventually responded to the gospel of Jesus Christ if they had been offered an opportunity.

He also knows those who would NEVER respond to the gospel of Christ. Does this mean that when it comes to those who never heard, God saves some and not others based on what he foreknows about them? It's entirely possible.

However, I cannot say this with certainty because it is an inference from scripture rather than a declaration of scripture. It is crucial that we share Christ with as many as we can and as clearly as we can. Jesus says in John 14:6 that "no one comes to the Father except through Me."

Number three: Romans 1:20 says that there is so much evidence for God's existence based on an understanding from what has been made that man is without excuse. In other words, there is no excuse for anyone being an atheist. Acts 14:17 says that God "has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."

Jesus loves you this I know, for the Bible tells me so.