As we conclude our brief discourse concerning the destiny of those who have never encountered the gospel message of salvation through faith in Christ, we can turn to the following observations from the late author, apologist, and Biblical scholar Dr. Norman Geisler. Dr. Geisler addressed this subject in several of his published works and his comments on this topic are well worth our consideration…
“…Romans 1:18–20 says that God clearly reveals himself through natural revelation ‘so that they are without excuse.’ Human beings are not innocent regarding God’s natural revelation. If a person who has not heard the gospel and lives to the best of his or her ability, that person is simply doing works in an attempt to achieve salvation. But salvation is by grace… No one can do anything to gain access into heaven. If there was such a way, then the work of Christ on the Cross was a futile act.
…those who seek the light they have through nature, which is not sufficient for salvation, will get the light they need for salvation… But those who turn their back on the light they have (through nature) and find themselves lost in darkness, have no one to blame but themselves. For ‘men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil’ (John 3:19).” (1)
“If any unbeliever truly sought God through the general revelation, God would provide the special revelation sufficient for salvation. After God led Peter to the Gentile Cornelius, Peter declared: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right’ (Acts 10:35). The writer of Hebrews tells us that those who seek, find. ‘He rewards those who earnestly seek him;’ (Heb. 11:6).
God has many ways at his disposal through which he can get the truth of the Gospel to lost souls. The normative way is through preachers of the Gospel (Rom. 10:14–15), whether in person or on radio, TV, or some recording. On one occasion God will use an angel to preach the Gospel ‘to every nation, tribe, language and people’ (Rev. 14:6). Many people have been given a Bible, read it, and been saved. Others have been saved through Gospel literature. We have no way of knowing whether God has conveyed special revelation through visions, dreams, and in other miraculous ways.
The truth is that God is more willing that all be saved than we are. For ‘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’ (2 Peter 3:9). God’s justice demands that he condemns all sinners, but his love compels him to provide salvation for all who by his grace will believe. For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’ (Rom. 10:13).” (2)
(1) Geisler, N. L., & Rhodes, R. (1997). When Cultists Ask: A Popular Handbook on Cultic Misinterpretations. Baker Books
(2) Geisler, N. L. (1998). Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics. Baker Academic.