Bible
Study
close
Article

Question: Will All Unreached People Go To Hell?

Published since 06. Oct. 2025
Bible passages:
Romans 1:19-20; 2:14-15; 17-24; 3:25
Categories:

Romans 1:19-20:
"Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse."

Romans 2:14-15:
"For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them."

Romans 1:17-24:
"For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.' For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."

Romans 3:25:
"Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed."

"And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned’” (Mk. 16:15-16).

Since the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the gospel of Jesus Christ has been preached to all nations. Yet, there are many who have never heard this wonderful message in their lives. What about these “unreached ones”? Will they all be lost?

The question of whether all who have not heard the gospel are lost is sometimes answered in different ways. Let us first look at three typical answers and then make some basic considerations.

Objection 1: “All people who have not heard the gospel of Jesus Christ are lost!”

Can that be true? That would mean: All people who lived before the cross of Christ would be lost—because the news of a crucified and resurrected Savior was unknown at that time. This would mean that believing men like Abraham, Moses, or David would end up in hell. That is unthinkable. Hebrews 11 mentions many believers from the Old Testament era with honor, and at the end of the chapter, it is said that they will be “made perfect” with us Christians, that is, introduced into heaven with a glorious body (Heb. 11:39-40).

Objection 2: “All people who have not heard the gospel are lost—and have been since the Holy Spirit came to earth (on the day of Pentecost) and the gospel of grace was preached!”

Even if this sounds more precise, it is not correct either. Imagine a Roman who lived in the first decades after Christ's birth and never heard the good news of the Savior.

If it was possible for him to get right with God before Pentecost (and there were believers before the outpouring of the Spirit)—why should it suddenly no longer be possible for him after Pentecost? Should heaven be closed to him because it was theoretically possible for him to hear the good news from a certain point in time? That is impossible. Such an idea does not fit in with a just and loving God.

Objection 3: “Many are lost who have not heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. And all are lost who have heard the gospel and yet rejected it!”

This answer is true! Yes, even of those who have not heard the gospel, only a few will surely enter into life. These include Enoch, Melchizedek, and Job, for example. However, many others who lived in their time did not repent, rejected God, and were therefore lost.

Those who despise the great salvation of the gospel will not escape judgment, and those who do not obey the gospel will “suffer the vengeance of eternal fire” (Heb. 2:3; 2 Th. 1:8-9). Those who consider the word of the cross to be foolish will perish, and those who turn away from the way of truth must fearfully expect judgment (1 Cor. 1:18; Heb. 10:26-27). So this is certain: all who reject salvation in Christ will perish.

How can People who Have not heard the Gospel escape Judgment?

Whether we think of people who lived before the Christian age of salvation (whether with or without the law) or those who live today and are “unreached,”—the answer is always the same: people must believe in God, honor Him (Heb. 11:4; Rev. 14:6-7), and repent. This is God's “minimum requirement” for sinful man throughout all the ages of salvation; this is the “eternal gospel.”

Repentance and confession of sin are often found in the Old Testament, both among Israelites and among those from the nations (Psalm 32; the Book of Jonah, etc.). We can already see with Abel that he understood his sinful condition: he brought a bloody sacrifice and thereby obtained the testimony “that he was righteous” (Heb. 11:4).

How do People come to Repentance if they are unaware of God's Plan of Salvation?

I would like to mention three “divine testimonies” through which a person who does not know the gospel of grace can come to repentance:

  1. creation (Rom. 1:19-20)
  2. the conscience (Rom. 2:14-15)
  3. revelations of God such as the law (Rom. 2:17-24; 1 Tim. 1:8-9).

By nature, man rejects these divine testimonies. And yet, not all those who only have these testimonies must be lost. For God can work on their souls and lead them to insight and repentance so that with perseverance in good works, they may seek glory, honor, and immortality (Rom. 2:7). He also leads people to accept what they would never accept by nature: the word of the cross.

What about People who have Repented and Live in the Fear of God and then Hear the Gospel?

The centurion Cornelius did not know the risen Savior, but he honored the true God and showed fruit worthy of repentance (Acts 10:1-2). When the gospel of grace was brought to him through Peter, he joyfully received the message, was sealed with the Holy Spirit, and was baptized. It was similar with the disciples of John the Baptist, who had repented and believed, but did not have the Holy Spirit because they did not know the gospel. When they accepted it, they were able to receive the Spirit and be baptized as Christians (Acts 19:1-7).

Those who—without knowing the Risen One—have repented before God of their corrupt state and live in genuine fear of God will gratefully receive the gospel of grace when they hear it. True disciples recognize the truth (Jn. 8:31-32). However, anyone who rejects the message proves that they have never recognized sin.

Are not all Believers only Delivered from God's Wrath because of the Work of the Lord Jesus on the Cross?

Of course, they are! Every blessing from God is based on the Lord's death. In the time before the cross, God was only able to withhold His judgment because He looked ahead to the blood of Christ (Rom. 3:25). Of course, the believers of those days did not yet know about the shed blood of Christ and, therefore could not believe in it as we are allowed to do in the “present time” (Rom. 3:26). However, all believers in all ages of salvation owe their salvation from hell solely to Jesus, the Lamb of God, and His work of redemption on the cross. Some already know this during their lifetime (blessed are they!), others only experience it in eternity.

If the “Unreached” are not necessarily All Lost, what Motivates us to Preach the Gospel to Them?

We, Christians, should not allow ourselves to be demotivated by such purely human conclusions but should simply be obedient to the Lord's commission and carry the gospel to the ends of the earth (Lk. 24:47). What God may do in His sovereignty among the “unreached” is His business alone and never cancels out our responsibility. And let us also remember: faith in the gospel of grace leads to a tremendous stream of blessing that far exceeds the blessing of believers of other ages. This faith makes the soul as glad as it can be in any other way!

Why is the “Fate” of those who are not Reached by the Gospel not examined in Detail in the New Testament?

I think this is because the “unreached” should not actually exist (permanently) and also so that we do not become even more sleepy with regard to evangelization. The silence of Scripture on some points certainly makes us cautious, and so we also don't know how many of the “unreached” know and glorify the true God. But I would like to emphasize that God works among these people in His grace because otherwise, they would have no chance of escaping judgment.

However, a God who is love will give every person the chance to get rid of their life's guilt and be reconciled with Him. And so, at the great white throne, not only will the books be opened in which all the evil works of people are recorded, but also the book of life, in which the names of all those who have been given new life are written (Rev. 20:12).

God works in His grace on the whole earth. He has done it, He is doing it, and He will do it. But our responsibility as Christians is to bear witness to the name of His Son and to make the Savior of the world known to all people. “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned’” (Mk. 16:15-16).

 

Get in contact
Subscribe to the biblestudy newsletter
Bible
Study
© 2024 thebiblestudy.site