Questions about Salvation

Q: What happens to those who did not know Jesus before they died
Romans 2: 12 – 16 “12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without
law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the
hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;
14 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, 15 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) 16 in the day when God will judge the
secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”

Romans 2: 12 – 16. Heb 9 : 15. Eccl 3:11
Let me start this answer by saying that God Almighty would not be God Almighty if he could not
figure out how He should judge different populations of people. Therefore, this question is
usually from people who do not know God well and do not have a relationship with him. So, for
their sake, we supply the answer to this question.

For those under the Old Testament
Heb 9:15: “

15 That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people,
so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ
died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first
covenant.”
Romans 3: 20 “Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is
to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before
God.
20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands.
The law simply shows us how sinful we are.”

For those who have heard the gospel but reject it, making up excuses:
Romans 1:18 -21: “

18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who
suppress the truth by their wickedness.[i] 19 They know the truth about God because he has made
it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky.

Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and
divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God. 21 Yes, they knew God, but they
wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish
ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.

For those who have never heard the gospel:
Eccl 3:11.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human
heart; yet (otherwise) no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Romans 2:12 – 15: “When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had
God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they
fail to obey it. 13 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the
law that makes us right in his sight. 14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show
that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They
demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts
either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16And this is the message I proclaim—that
the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.”

A: When we read all these 3 sets of scriptures, we realize that, when God created man, He
placed in man’s heart the knowledge of God’s existence, and the reality of eternity; the morality
of right and wrong, and the desire to know God. So human beings know right from wrong (their
conscience), even if it is not based on knowledge of the scriptures. So, from this they will be
judged.
The difference is that the heavenly blessings and rewards of such people will be different from
that of those who know Christ and walked with Him before they died. Same thing as those who
get saved last minute or shortly before they die or who got saved and did not mature unto good
works”.
Since this population did not live life defending the gospel, witnessing to others, worshiping
God, did not suffer for the gospel, fight the good fight of faith, or walk in intimacy with Jesus:
they did accomplish the good works God prepared for them to walk in. (Ephesians 2:10).
Therefore, did not lay-up treasure in heaven (Matt 6: 19 -21); and did not earn crowns to lay at
the feet of Jesus etc. So, at the Judgement seat of Jesus, (which is to judge all believers’ good
works”) @ 2 Corinthians 5:10-21. They will have no crowns of reward given to them. But they
will be saved from hell and be in heaven.