If Jesus is the only way, what happens ...

Question:  If Jesus is the only way for salvation, what happens to the Indian Tribe who never gets to hear about Jesus... What happens to the Middle eastern person who has their own religion and never hears about Jesus?"

 

Answer:  All of us have at times struggled with questions like this one.  Religion and tradition does not bring salvation to the heart and life of any person.  People who die without Christ are without hope.  The Bible clearly states, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved."  Acts 4:12 NASB

 

Scripture teaches us the absolute truth of the gospel, 

“if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;  for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Rom 10:9-10 NASB

 

This is why we must follow the command of Jesus to "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel!" (Mark 16:15)

 

More on the matter:

I suspect that the genuine impetus of this question is really one of fairness.  What really spurs this question is the idea that it seems unfair for a loving God to condemn anyone to eternal damnation and separation. 

The problem with this line of thinking is based in our human condition.  The bible teaches us that we, as the human race, are sinful, fallen, and unrighteous.  Remember the bible proclaims,
 

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;” 
Jer. 17:9 NKJV

 

The heart of man does not operate in tandem with the heart of God.  We do not process TRUTH as does God. The mind of man is flawed; the mind of God is perfect.  The mind of man is limited; the mind of God is eternal.  

 

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.  
Isa 55:8-9 NASB

Any discussion of “fairness” presupposed that we know what is best.  Often we speak of fairness when it works to our benefit, but ignore it when is works to our disadvantage.  It must be realized that God’s nature is Holy and Just – in other words, what God states and does is founded in His own holiness.  When this is understood, do we really possess the right or knowledge to question His character?  God has, in His own wisdom demonstrated His love for us in the person of Jesus Christ.  God has made a way for all to come into a faith relationship with Him.  His love for us is perfectly presented in the life, death, resurrection, and promise of Jesus Christ.  Who are we to argue or disagree with His perfect plan?  A careful reading of Romans 9 will help us with this struggle. 

“But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?” Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'"   Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? “--Rom 9:20-21 NIV

 

God’s way to eternal life and relationship with Him is through Jesus Christ alone.  Jesus proclaimed, 

“I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life.  NO ONE comes to the Father, but through me.” (John 14:6)

The bible makes a clear proclamation that people are “without excuse” in their knowledge of God.  Romans, chapter 1 says that God has revealed Himself through creation to all humanity.  Verse 20 says “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

 

It is my firm conviction that people of every walk of life have the truth of God’s love, power, and nature.  The question then becomes, “Do they acknowledge and recognize God?”   Romans 1: 21 says that, as a whole, they do not.  

 

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. “

 

It must be remembered that God has given Light to shine in the darkness.  According to John 1:9 Jesus is the Light.  

“There was one true Light, which coming into the world enlightens every man.”   

 

 So, the real question should be, “Have the people [to whom you refer in the stated question above] acknowledged the light that has been given to all men?”

 

I fully believe that God gives us more and more light as we walk in the Light that He has given us, but remember what the bulk of humanity has done with the revelation of God:

"Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen."  

Rom 1:22-25 NIV

 This willful rejection and denunciation of God has a certain result:

“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind; to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”   Rom 1:26-32 NIV

It is important to remember that God’s heart is for humanity to accept His love and receive His grace.  God does not wish for any to reject His gift of salvation.

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 

2 Peter 3:9 NASB

 

“God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.”    1 Tim 2:3-4 NIV

 The Word of God makes it clear that God has given all humanity enough of His grace to realize the need for salvation.  As we walk in the light of God, this light will increase and draw us into truth.  By God’s grace He has made available to everyone who believes all that is necessary for salvation, therefore, the entire world is without excuse.