Will men be sent to hell because they haven't heard about Jesus?

This clip is from our series "Interview with Dr. Walter Martin on Cults". This clip answers the question: Does the Bible teach that men will be sent to hell because they haven't heard about Jesus? What about those who have never heard the Gospel? Will they go to hell?

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Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Hell
• Ankerberg

[aaa333ify]

What about the native americans in the middle ages? They had never heard of Jesus. Does this mean that if they had believed God, God would have revealed Jesus to them?

[johnankerberg]

@aaa333ify - In Genesis, Abraham believed God when God said that He would send a "seed" from his descendants whereby men could be saved. That seed was Jesus.  Abraham was trusting God for a Savior in the future, & it was counted to him as righteousness - Romans 4:3. It is by trusting God that we believe in His Son. We can't come to God our own way.

[aaa333ify]

but i still don't get why you use "aionian" to mean eternal, when "aiodios" means eternal.

So, you are saying that if someone dies while believing in God, but not in Jesus, they go to Heaven?

Or are you saying if someone believes in God, they will eventually come to believe in Jesus?

Because there have been many people who have believed in God, but not Jesus.

[johnankerberg]

@aaa333ify - If someone is truly seeking God, He will reveal the truth to them & they will come to believe in Jesus. I have heard so many testimonies from missionaries of natives telling them that they knew about Jesus, they just didn't know his name. God uses various ways to communicate to individuals about Jesus. God is just, so He isn't going to allow people to go to hell without giving them the opportunity to accept Jesus. I will have to check on the Greek word for you - JAS Staff

[bmiller4930]

"Brimstone Fanatics" are delusionary. There is no such thing as "hell" except in the minds of the fearful. GOD is Love. And the only way to "worship" GOD is to love absolutely. Martin is extremely mistaken and he has carried his spiritual deficiencies over the River Styx. So much for him. These videos of him don't count for nothing real except what to avoid becoming yourself. I once rescued a girl who was about to kill herself because of the depressing religious crap in her sunday school.

[johnankerberg]

Thank you for your comments. Jesus taught more about hell than about heaven. Jesus tells us there is an eteranl punishment in Matthew 25:46 (NASB) - 46"These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

It is very important to read God's Word to see the truth because sometimes people in church don't accurately interpret it. To the extent that you seek the Lord, He will reveal Himself to you. - JAS Staff

[enieusma]

Why try and reach the lost......? They are better off not hearing the Gospel since their guaranteed heaven already. Why did paul preach the "Good News" to those who hadnt heard it, if they were going to heaven already?  I do love Dr. Martin and think he is an excellent teacher, but this belief and teaching is false.

[thirdimpact]

With all respect to the late Dr. Martin, I would go a step further and say that the fact that all the billions who died without hearing the name of Christ is confirmation that those same people sadly never truly sought salvation. (Romans 10:14,15)

Only Christianity confirms what is revealed with the conscious, that man cannot satisfy God through works.

[arandumLloser]

twist it like a pretzel so nobody knows a fukn thing

[camilocuesta]

@johnankerberg What about the people in China who died before baby jesus was born? Is jesus torturing them in hell now?

[Godallinall2]

So we have the light of creation, and we have the light of conscience, and God has given that much light to every single person who has ever lived on this earth.

Not true. You are forgetting about huge categories of people who have lived and never even saw the stars or creation. Many people have been born blind. Many people are mentally retarded. And what about babies who die in their infancy? What about little boys and little girls. Are all these burning in your fabled eternal Hell of fire,

[risingsonseven]

That light Dr Martin speaks of is the innate 'divinity', so to speak, within all things.

He admits that the creator has countless ways to reach the creation.

This 'doctrine' of 'Jesus is the only way' is an elementary understanding of what the Christ taught and imparted to the earth.

Furthermore, Christlike figures come in various manifestations. Its simply the WORD made manifest. We can find the WORD in Buddha, Krishna, etc. This doesnt discount Jesus's unique role in the universe

[1111UltraViolet1111]

Those who never cease to argue against clear Biblical teachings on hell are the ones who know they are going there and are trying every way possible to get out of it. If they were truly submitted to Christ the obvious, plain, easy to understand teachings would make sense to them. Those who continually resist the light are still in darkness.

[CountryHoppers]

The John Ankerberg Show is the best show to air. I would encourage everyone to watch the videos in their entirety.