Is Ignorance Eternal Bliss? -- By: Robert N. Wilkin
Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 16:1 (Spring 2003)
Article: Is Ignorance Eternal Bliss?
Author: Robert N. Wilkin
JOTGES 16:1 (Spring 03) p. 3
Is Ignorance Eternal Bliss?
Editor
Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Irving, Texas
I. Introduction
What is the fate of those who have never heard the gospel?
As a new Christian, I was taught that God gave everyone natural revelation, and if they responded to it, God would bring them more light, and ultimately the good news of Jesus Christ. That is the whole point behind missions.
However, in the last decade or so, more and more Christian leaders are saying that ignorance is indeed an excuse. Many are saying that if a person has never heard of Jesus, they will get into the kingdom if they fall on God’s mercy even if they never come to faith in Christ in this life.
II. Many Evangelical Leaders Are Saying Ignorance Is Indeed an Excuse
A. H. Strong says, “a humble and penitent reliance upon God, as a Savior from sin and a guide of conduct, is an implicit faith in Christ.”1 This is a recurring theme among some Evangelicals. One who humbly relies on God implicitly believes in Jesus Christ, even though he never heard of Him or His good news.
John Sanders is associate professor of philosophy and religion at Huntington College in Huntington, Indiana. He wrote a book entitled, No Other Name: An Investigation into the Destiny of the Unevangelized. In it he suggests,
God is presently at work in the lives of all people through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, attempting to bring them to repentant faith. Those who are believers now will awaken in
JOTGES 16:1 (Spring 03) p. 4
the next life to discover who it is that saved them and begin to experience the fullness of life in the Lord Jesus Christ.2
When he speaks of repentant faith, he clearly in context does not mean faith explicitly in Jesus Christ, but rather faith in God. That explains why after death many will only then discover who it is that saved them.
In the mid-eighties James Hunter conducted a survey of teachers and students at nine evangelical liberal arts colleges and seven evangelical seminaries. One-third of those interviewed indicated that “the only hope for heaven is through personal faith in Jesus Christ, except for those who have not had an opportunity to hear of Jesus Christ.”3 In other words, fifteen years ago as many as one-third of Evangelicals training for the ministry believed ignorance is an excuse.
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