All People Have Knowledge of God
First, we must understand that all people have knowledge of God. The Bible teaches that God has revealed Himself to all people through the world He has made. The Apostle Paul, speaking of all people, says,
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. –Romans 1:19-20
This means that a person does not have to read a Bible or hear a preacher to know about God. God is declaring who He is to everyone, everywhere, at all times, through the world He has made.
All People Suppress This Knowledge and Sin Against God.
Human beings receive truth about God, but our sinful hearts lead us to suppress this truth and replace it with false gods. God tells us that the suppression and rejection of the true God is wicked. The Apostle leaves no doubt that all people are sinners in rebellion against God.
None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. . . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. -Romans 3:10-12, 23
When the Bible says that all have turned aside, and that none is righteous, and that all have sinned, that is exactly what it means. Every person is a sinner who has rejected a clear knowledge of God, even those that have never heard the gospel.
God condemns people for their sin, not for rejecting the gospel.
The Bible clearly teaches that God will judge all sinners.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. –Romans 1:18
Note two things in this verse. First, God’s wrath is being revealed against all unrighteousness, not just the most unrighteous, or the people more sinful than me, or the people who sin only after reading the Bible. Second, notice that this verse says God’s wrath is against those “who suppress the truth.”
Nowhere does the Bible say that God will judge only those who reject the gospel. Instead, God’s wrath comes against all who suppress the knowledge of God and choose to sin rather than to love and worship Him.
The only way for anyone to be saved from judgment is to trust in Jesus Christ.
God is just and holy and will punish all sin, but he is also loving and gracious and desires to save sinners. Therefore He has provided a way for sinful, rebellious people to have their sins forgiven. Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth as a man, lived a perfect life, and then died on a cross. The only way to be forgiven and avoid the wrath of God is to trust in Jesus and His wrath-bearing work for us on the cross. Jesus Himself said,
I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. -John 14:6
Is this Just?
At the heart of questions about those who have never heard the gospel is often the accusation, or at least the feeling, that God would be unjust to condemn these people. So, is it just? The answer is, yes, it is just for God to punish sinners, and the Bible teaches that all people on earth are sinners. In fact, if God is just, He must punish sinners.
Is this Fair?
Someone may be able to see how God can justly punish a person who has not heard the gospel. But they may think it is not fair for God to give some people an opportunity to hear the gospel, while others do not receive the same opportunity.
When someone questions God’s fairness at this point, they are confusing mercy and fairness. Mercy is not required for God to be fair. God could fairly and justly judge all of us and forgive no one. The fact that He sent His own Son to die for sinners was an act of absolute, unmerited grace.
Rather than questioning the fairness of God for not acting like we think He should, we should rejoice and be amazed that He offered this sinful and rebellious world any mercy at all—especially at the cost of the blood of His Son.
