What About Those Who Haven't Heard?

It's a common question - what about the natives who live in the dark jungle who have never had contact with anyone outside of their tribal area - how could God possible judge them?

Well, there is a Scripture in Romans that helps me to understand this more fully.

Romans 2:12-16 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. ESV

I think one of the things Paul is saying here is that God gave each of us a conscience to help us know right from wrong. Our conscience has been tainted somewhat by sin - Paul later describes it as a "searing" effect. But somehow - even those who have not heard the Law - God will able to judge them by showing them the actions of their own conscience.

I also think that somehow the gospel message has been given to everyone - that there is a God, that we don't measure up, that judgment awaits unless something happens, that if we turn from this evil in us to God Himself as our rescuer, then we can be saved.

Do I know how it works? No. But this I do know - that our God is just and fair and righteous. He will not condemn anyone who does not deserve it. Romans 2 just gives us a clue as how this can happen.