Good posts, many of them, but to my old eyes it appears some of ya'll aren't listening to each other.
There are so many ways God could deal with both justice and mercy with those that never hear, all based on Jesus Christ and redemption bought and paid for by Him.
God could elect some to salvation and make sure they hear. Case closed.
BUT He could elect all those IN Christ, and since He is all knowing make sure those who will believe get a chance to accept the gospel and believe.
We act like those are His only choices.
But from Genesis to at least Romans we see those "God fearers". We have God telling us those in any nation that do right and trust God will be saved.
So we ramble on trying to figure out how, when there are many possible mechanisms, none involving salvation outside of Christ.
No matter how blinded the mind is by paganism, when God encounters the heart that trusts Him and attempts to obey, however poorly, our sovereign God CAN speak to the pagan heart. Maybe at the point of death, just this side of it. Maybe when that poor sinner stands before God. It may be that God meant it when He said it will be according to what we have we are judged by, not by what we didn't have.
I realize all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. I realize all deserve hell.
But I see nothing from Genesis to Revelation, no matter what your theological system, that suggests the following scene:
Suzy pagan nation stands before God, guilty and condemned. "Oh," she cries out, "If only You would forgive me--I knew from the sky and mountains you were there and I wanted to know You and find forgiveness!"
God replies, "Yes, I know. I told Jimmy from 1st Baptist in Decatur to go to the mission field and tell you. He didn't, so off to hell with you. I'll make sure he gets fewer rewards in heaven for disobeying Me."
Suzy cries out, "Wait, I deserve hell, I know, but He got to know You, he could have kept me out of hell but disobeyed a direct command, and the punishment for that falls on me? Maybe I really am in hell already!"
VERY good points made here. You and I are very close I believe.