“I am not prepared to believe that hell is for people who reject Christ out of hand from pure ignorance.”
Those who are ignorant of Christ will still have rejected God as per Romans 1 18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19SINCE WHAT MAY BE KNOWN ABOUT GOD IS PLAIN TO THEM, BECAUSE GOD HAS MADE IT PLAIN TO THEM. 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are WITHOUT EXCUSE.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.”
If someone who has never heard of Christ looks at creation and instead of worshipping it, wishes to know about the Creator, I’m sure God would send someone to explain. There are many accounts of missionaries who go to places where Christ has never been heard of and when they meet the locals they are told “We’ve been waiting for you.” Obviously at least one person there recognised that there is a Creator.
If someone who has never heard of Christ looks at creation and instead of worshipping it, wishes to know about the Creator, I’m sure God would send someone to explain. There are many accounts of missionaries who go to places where Christ has never been heard of and when they meet the locals they are told “We’ve been waiting for you.” Obviously at least one person there recognised that there is a Creator
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I like this story. I have tried to apply those scriptures you posted. I believe that this example explains it.