If Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, and 'no man' comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6) then what happens to all those who lived and died before Jesus as well as those today who have never heard the name of Jesus?
God presented Christ as a sacrifice or atonement, through the shedding of his blood--to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished. (Romans 3:25) Did God really overlook sin? If so, is that fair and just? Were going to get to all this...hang in there.
Now, concerning those who have lived and died before Christ, as well as those who have never heard of Jesus...
When those who do not have the law, do 'by nature' things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are 'written on their hearts,' their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them. This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through 'Jesus Christ', as my gospel declares. (Romans 2:14-16)
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:1-3)
But...Scripture says in Romans 3:10 "There is no one righteous, not even one"
So here we see God's great Love, Mercy, and Patience. No one is justified by works or deeds, however, for those who lived ‘before Christ’ and those who have ‘never heard of Christ’ the Bible say's in a paraphrase "Faith in God, that produces acts of love, are credited as righteousness and will bear witness (not save) on the Day of Judgment, through Christ Jesus.
If their good deeds done 'in faith' bears witness of God's laws having been "written on their hearts" it will be credited to them as righteousness and the blood of Jesus, not their good deeds, will atone for their sin and they will be saved.
God desires that all men come to Him but only a perfect sacrifice or atonement can justify the crime of our sin. God knew the sacrifice of His Son Jesus the Christ would be all sufficient to atone for past, present, and future sins, to those who believe. So in God's “Forbearance” or 'Divine Knowledge' for those who came before Jesus and have never heard of Jesus, those who show the laws of God are written on their hearts, by their acts of love and obedience, for those who demonstrated they had "faith in God" He deferred or post-poned their sentence until judgment day in which He will judge all men through Jesus Christ. God has proved He is both Merciful and Just and that “No man comes to the Father except through the Son.”
With knowledge comes responsibility, so to those of us who have heard the name Jesus, we can no longer live in ignorance if we want to receive eternal life.
If I have knowledge that a certain medicine is the only thing that will make me well, and I do not take that medicine, I will remain sick. The same thing applies to a person’s spiritual life. So, if I know about God and Jesus, but refuse to confess, repent, and make Jesus Lord and Savor of my life, I will remain condemned for my sins. In fact, the Bible indicates that one who knows the truth about God, but does not act on that truth, is worse off than someone who has never understood his or her responsibility to Him.
"For if, after they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, they have become worse than they were before receiving knowledge. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2 Peter 2:20-21)
We also start to understand when Jesus refers to people as 'being asleep' who have died before He Himself had been crucified and ascended to Heaven as the 'First Risen' No one can ascend to heaven if they have not been judged and made righteous, and judgement only happens through Christ. But what about the thief on the cross next to Jesus when Jesus told him "I tell you this day you will be in heaven with me" Jesus was speaking of the mans faith that on judgement day will be credited to him as righteousness and Jesus own blood will atone for him. Someone who purchases a home does not move in on the day the offer is accepted, the offer is accepted and the home is theirs but they cannot yet move in. One might say "Today you have acquired a new home" even though you don't move in until later.
Conclusion:
God is just, fair, and merciful. No one since the beginning of time gets to the Father except through the Son. All men from the beginning of time will be judged equally through Christ.
No one has ascended to heaven prior to Christ as He is the "First Risen"
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