The WESTMINSTER LARGER Catechism
WLC 60.
Can they who have never heard the gospel, and so know not Jesus Christ,A. They who, having never heard the gospel,1 know not Jesus Christ,2 and believe not in Him, cannot be saved,3 be they never so diligent to frame their lives according
to the light of nature,4 or the laws of that religion which they profess;5
neither is there salvation in any other, but in Christ alone,6
who is the Saviour only of His body the Church.7
Proofs
1
Rom 10:14; 22 Thes 1:8–9; Eph 2:12; Jn 1:10–12; 3Jn 8:24; Mk 16:16; 41 Cor 1:20–24;Comments
Those of us who have any exposure to the Gospel will quickly realise that those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. But as soon as we received this doctrine we are confronted with a perplexing question: "What about those who have never heard the Gospel?" or "What would happen to the innocent pagans who die before having a chance to hear the Gospel?" (see NTIAGQ in PCC Bulletin, vol. 2, n. 37, dated 11 Mar 2001).
If we have understood the catechism up to this point, we would know the answer to both questions, and we would also know that the second question carries with it an erroneous assumption. But this is how the question will confront us whether someone else directs it to us or it arises out of our thoughts, for we would naturally think that it is not fair that someone who have not heard of the way of salvation should be condemned. For this reason, many professing Christians will either assume intuitively or would even try to defend the idea that those who have never heard the Gospel will be judged according to their lives and sincerity and can find salvation in that way. Even such widely respected ‘evangelists’ as Billy Graham are known to promote this view. Christianity in their view is a good and convenient way to be saved, but it is not the only way. But this is a horrible twisting of the truth, and indeed a damnable heresy (see 2 Pet 2:1).
No, no, let God be true, but every man a liar. Even if we do not believe in the doctrine of total depravity and election or are unable to work out the implication of the doctrine, we cannot mistake the clear teaching of the Scripture concerning those who have not heard,—unless we choose to deny the truth.
The Lord himself says: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6); "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (Jn 8:24); and "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (Jn 3:36). So the apostle Peter declares: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
There can be no doubt that only those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ can be saved. And so the apostle Paul asks rhetorically: "How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?" (Rom 10:14). No one,—no matter how wise, religious or conscientious according to the light or nature or the religious principles of man’s imagination,—can come to a saving knowledge of the Lord except through the Gospel preached:
"20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor 1:20-24).
Now, we must realise that those who are not saved will perish in eternal damnation.
But what about the question of fairness?
Well, first of all, none of us deserve to be saved. All who are the children of Adam by natural generation sinned in Adam and fell with him. As a race, we are all guilty in Adam in God’s sight. And not only so, but we "all have sinned [individually], and come short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). We therefore, deserve eternal death, for the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). There is no such thing as an ‘innocent pagan’.
And secondly, when God condemns those who have never heard the Gospel, He condemns them not for their unbelief in Christ, of whom they have not heard, but for their sins:
"For 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" (Rom 2:12).
But what about infants dying in infancy and adults who may have heard the Gospel, but whose mental abilities do not allow them to understand, not to mention believe in the Gospel?
Well, we believe our Confession of Faith, is correct when it teaches us:
Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated, and saved by Christ, through the Spirit, who worketh when, and where, and how He pleaseth: so also are all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word (WCF 10.3).
The testimony of Scripture is clear. God is perfectly just in condemning those whom He wills not to save. And none who have not heard the Gospel may be saved; therefore "to assert and maintain that they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested" (WCF 10.4).
But what ought to be our response to this doctrine, but to pray that the God of the harvest will send more labourers into the harvest field, or to pray that God will send ourselves. W