Can Those Who Never Hear About Jesus Be Saved?

There is a classic question in evangelical circles. It comes up in discussions on predestination and election. It shows itself in chats about evangelism and outreach. It finds a way to manifest even as we discuss the Gospel. It usually goes something like this: “I get that if you hear about Christ, you will be held accountable for rejecting him, but what about the man who lives alone on an island and never has a chance to respond to the Gospel message? Wouldn’t it be unfair for God to judge him, if he’s never even heard of Jesus Christ?”

The sentiment behind this question is usually love for one’s neighbor. We understand the implications of unbelief and fear for those who do not know Christ, and we have a special place in our heart for those who have never even heard the name of Jesus. How can they call upon Him whom they have not heard? 

The question is understandable, but the sad thing is how many Christians answer it with an affirmation that the man on the island does have a chance to be saved. This belief, known as inclusivism (in contrast to exclusivism), goes against the entire thrust of Scripture—and even against rather direct statements found within it. Although it is understandable why many hold to it, it is important to hold to beliefs that Scripture teaches regardless of how they make us feel. Let’s take a brief look at why this belief simply does not make sense and why it ultimately undermines our evangelistic urgency.

Is Humanity Dead in Sin or Not?

The Christian Scriptures teach very clearly that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Indeed, “There is none righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10, emphasis mine). Even more, “There is none who seeks for God” (Romans 3:11) and “There is none who does good. There is not even one” (Romans 3:12, emphasis mine). How many are good? How many seek after God? Not. Even. One. 

This is because all human beings are made sinners through Adam’s Fall (Romans 5:12,18-19). As a result, all of humanity is dead in their trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1). Dead, not partially alive. Dead, not sort of good. Dead, not a good person who would believe in Christ if they had a chance. Just dead. How much can a dead man do? As a medical professional I’ll give you a spoiler: A dead man can do nothing. Now may we ask, do we have any reason to believe the man on the island does not fit into this category? Not. Even. One. 

Scripture does not give even the slightest indication that we should expect exceptions. There is only one way to be saved. Only one. And that is to call upon the name of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:17, Acts 4:12). Scripture teaches this about as clearly as it teaches anything else. 

Two Brief Qualifiers

Before moving on, I do want to offer two brief qualifiers. Most people who I’ve encountered who hold that the man on the island might be saved, still believe they are saved through Christ. In some mysterious way (usually as a result of that person’s faith in God without reference to Christ) the individual is saved by Christ’s blood and righteousness, despite never calling upon His name (or even hearing it). This is the best version of the belief, even if it is still very clearly wrong. However, to avoid creating a straw-man it is important to recognize what people are not (usually) saying. 

Second, it is just unhelpful to consider unusual circumstances such as Christ appearing to the person in a dream or similar situations. Although it is possible for this to happen, Scripture gives us no reason to expect it as being a normal or even a rare means of how the Gospel will spread and people will come to faith in Christ. An interesting case study from Scripture is the story of Cornelius who is described as a God fearing man who even received a vision of an angel of God. Rather than tell him the Gospel or show him Jesus, the angel only tells him that he must hear a message from Peter who “will speak words to you by which you will be saved” (Acts 11:14). That does not mean God can’t do it, but as Christians we should stick with the Word of God when making our convictions about such important matters and not go beyond what is written. 

Following Paul’s Logic

What really baffles me about this belief in inclusivism, is that it is so explicitly denied in Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation we could find significant ground to push against it, but perhaps nowhere is this question and the logic behind it more directly addressed than in Romans 10. Let’s briefly examen this passage to see why it gives us complete confidence that the man on the island will not be saved unless Christians bring him the Gospel message. 

Paul begins the chapter by mentioning something very relevant to our discussion. He states that his breathen (the Jews) have a zeal (or passion) for God, but not in accordance with knowledge (Romans 10:1-2). This shows that people can have a passion for God, but not truly be seeking after Him and His righteousness (Romans 10:3). Because they lack knowledge, they seek to establish their own righteousness and seek a salvation by works (Romans 9:23). Now, even if our man on the island has a zeal for God, we again have no reason to expect that he would have this knowledge which the Jews (God’s chosen people) lacked. He would surely find some kind of works based system of belief, erroneously believing that his own works could make him righteous in God’s sight. But if this were true, “then Christ died needlessly” (Galatians 2:21). May it never be! 

Now, as Paul moves forward in Romans 10 note that he begins to make clear God’s ordained mechanism for generating true faith, “that is, the word of faith which we are preaching” (Romans 10:8).  And what are they preaching? “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:19). It is not just “with the heart a person believes,” but also “with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation” (Romans 10:10).  Once more in verses 11, 12, and 13 there is the connection between believing and calling on the name of Jesus Christ. Why? Because, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Those who believe, call out. There is no ambiguity. 

But maybe, just maybe, Paul doesn’t have in mind someone who doesn’t have the chance to call on the name of Christ, because they have not heard of Him? The problem is that that question crumbles to ash with Paul’s next statement. Why? Because he explicitly has the person who has never heard of Christ on his mind when he states: “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14-15). 

Let’s break down the basic progression within Paul’s logic. There are five specific items mentioned:

1. Calling
2. Belief
3. Hearing 
4. Preaching 
5. Sending

Let’s then turn Paul’s rhetorical questions into statements that are consistent with his logic.

• They cannot call on Christ if they have not believed.
• They cannot believe in Christ unless they hear.
• They cannot hear unless someone preaches Christ to them.
• They cannot preach unless we send them. 

Paul leaves no reason for confusion. These verses are directly answering the question about the man on the island. This is the clear, undeniable teaching affirmed throughout the rest of Scripture. Indeed, “faith comes through hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17; emphasis mine). These are the mechanisms God has given for bringing about true faith and salvation. Scripture teaches no other means by which we can expect people to believe in the Gospel. They must hear. They must believe. And they must call upon the name of the Lord. This is the only way. 

Why it Matters

We give no glory to God by making His Word more palatable to our sensibilities. Therefore, having an accurate understanding of such an important and clear teaching is a good thing in and of itself. That said, there is a practical reason that influences my own zeal for ensuring that Christians understand the necessity of hearing the Gospel message to truly believe and be saved. Without this belief, the urgency for missions is genuinely undermined. If we believe people have a chance apart form hearing the Gospel, why bring them the Gospel when now they will only have a chance if they believe it? Missions almost becomes counter productive, or a least neutral.

Even if someone believes that we are only talking about a small percentage of people who would be saved without hearing of Christ compared to a larger percentage that would believe if we brought them that message, we still end up hurting the God ordained urgency that Scripture provides us with.

The fact is, Scripture teaches us that all human beings are guilty before a perfectly holy God. That means me, you, our neighbor, every single person we will ever meet, and every single person we will never meet. The man on the island is a guilty sinner desperately in need of the good news of Jesus Christ. This man cannot call upon the name of Jesus Christ unless he believes. This man cannot believe unless he hears. This man cannot hear unless Christians preach the Gospel. Christians cannot preach to this man unless they are sent. 

This is the Scriptural reality and teaching. Indeed, it is because of this that we can say with Paul, “How beautiful are the feet of the one who brings good news of good things (Romans 10:15). 

Photo by Sam Deng on Unsplash