Many people question God's love when considering those who died in sin “without ever hearing the gospel” because of their remote, primitive location. However, this concern assumes God is unable or unwilling to reach anyone anywhere at any time.
God does not want anyone to perish in their sinful state and be separated from Him eternally (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:3-4). Therefore, He provides each individual with everything necessary for them to know Jesus and receive His gift of redemption — including those living in the most isolated, secluded places on earth.
God gives every individual two primary forms of revelation — creation and conscience – which testify of His existence. He also has equipped each one with a measure of faith, making it possible for them to believe in Him. Additionally, God draws each individual to Jesus because salvation would otherwise be unattainable. Lastly, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit into the world to affirm all God has revealed.
Each of these components works together to save people from their sins and give them eternal life, should they choose to respond to Jesus in faith: Here is how they work:
Revelation Through Creation: God's invisible attributes, eternal power, and divine nature are clearly visible to all, being understood from what has been created so that people are without excuse (Romans 1:18-21). In all its majesty and splendor, the very existence of the universe, coupled with the unique intricacies of all living and created things, is indisputable evidence of God's existence.
Revelation Through Conscience: God has given each person an internal law of right and wrong written on their heart. Since He measures everything against His holy and righteous standards, people’s consciences serve to affirm their good conduct or accuse them of sin (Romans 2:12-16).
A Measure of Faith: Salvation is a gift of God’s grace to those who place their faith in Jesus for forgiveness and redemption. Salvation and the faith necessary to believe are gifts from God (Ephesians 2:8-9), with Jesus as the Author and Perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2; Romans 12:3). Without faith to believe in God, no one could be saved.
God Draws People to Jesus: God personally draws every sinner to the saving knowledge of Jesus. He may use His written Word, a missionary, pastor, preacher, new or seasoned believer, or an angel to reach them with the gospel of salvation. If left to their own devices or desires, sinners would never seek after God of their own accord to be saved (John 6:44). This is why God pursues and draws everyone to Jesus, giving them the ability and opportunity to be born-again.
Sending the Holy Spirit: When Jesus resurrected from the grave and ascended back to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit into the world to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit reveals the truth about man’s sinfulness, affirms God’s righteous existence, and confirms God’s impending judgment.
With God providing all five of these elements, people worldwide are equipped with the potential to seek after God to know Him and be saved, should they yield their hearts to Jesus by faith. The only thing keeping anyone from pursuing God and being redeemed is their rebellion and unbelief (John 3:16-21).
The Apostle Paul describes this unfortunate reality as people knowing about God through what He has made yet refusing to glorify Him as God. In turn, they squelch the truth of God in their unrighteousness and become futile in their thinking. Their hearts become darkened to the truth, so God gives them over to their rebellious, unbelieving state. In the end, unbelief leads to eternal death and separation from God for eternity (Romans 1:18-2:11). On the contrary, if sinners respond to God as He reveals Himself and draws them to repentance, they will always be given an opportunity to hear the gospel and be saved. Such is the heart of God.
(See the Scripture References link at the top of the page.)