Christians and others! Have you read Romans 2:12-16?
Paul points out here that we are judged by our actions as"doers" of the "law" and by our conscience regardless of whether we are christians pagans or atheists .
Many theologians interpret these verses in their context within Romans as saying that pagans and people who have not recevied the gospel may still be saved by god's mercy !
I frequently see answers from self proclaimed "christians" who claim anyone who isnt a christian will go to hell?
How do you interpret these verses?
What happened to pagans and monotheists and righteous people before the time of christ or who have not received the word?
Please go and READ the verses I cited before you comment and comment ONLY on this specific point. Give your own interpretation. Do not provide links to other sites or start preaching or using cliches.
Verified answer
I strongly doubt that if a child in another country dies without reading the Bible--no access to it--he would go to Hell. If God exists, he's not going to be cruel like that. If someone has never heard of God, then they couldn't believe in Him and it wouldn't be their fault anyway.
The only way we are justified before the Law is by Christ. All sin, even if they all have consciences (I sure don't always do what my conscience says). The way to heaven is through Jesus. But as to those who have never been told the Good News, that's up to God. We're not the judges of what happens to them, but we do have a responsibility from the Great Commission to tell those we can about Christ. Hope that doesn't sound too preachy :)
The answer is in Rev 20. These Righteous Pagans are brought out of Hell (after the 1000 years reign of Christ), Hell and Death are destroyed.
They are then Judged by their works, not the works of Jesus at the cross (grace through faith, that's why they were in Hell). If they were blotted out of the Book of Life they go to the Lake of Fire.
There is only one way to miss a trip to Hell - a saving relationship with Lord Jesus. But God is merciful to those who never had a chance to repent because they never heard the Good news.
Also Romans 1;20 explains that these people could see that God is good through His creation (a good heart) but those who decide that life is dog eat dog and only the strong survive, will live and die that way to be judged according to their hearts at the Great White Throne Judgment of Rev 20.
Romans 2 (KJV)
12For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
<<< this says that you'll be judged as you sinned; if you didn't know the law or thought yourself excluded from the law and sinned then you have no law in which to plead your case ---- for those people who knew the law and sinned, they will have law in which to maybe defend their accusation>>>>
13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
<<< this says that it isn't enough that you HEAR the law; but you must follow the law in order to be found just and true >>>
14For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
<<< everybody has a basic inherent instinct to "do the right thing" or "follow the law" ---- this is saying that those people who still followed the law on instinct will be held accountable by their own personal laws they followed >>>
15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
<<< pretty much a continuation of 14; and according to their law written in their heart...did they wrongly accuse another thinking they only they, themselves were worthy of the law or perhapss only had to follow it when they saw fit?>>>
16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
<<< Day of Judgement; people will be judged according to 12-15 >>>
I always figured that any person who leads a "righteous life" desrves to go to "heaven" before some death row killer who at the final moment has truly found Jesus.
The last time I attended adult sunday school, we had this debate. That was 20 years ago.
They mean exactly what they say. Those who do the right things will be judged accordingly.
Here we go again
Ha! You won't trick me into reading the bible!