It is important to distinguish between knowledge and supposition.
We know that Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Salvation is accomplished through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We also know that many Old Testament saints were saved by Christ’s death on the cross even though they never heard His name.
But often we can’t know for sure who is a true believer and who is not (Matt. 13; 2 Tim. 2:19). Some professing believers use the right language and speak confidently of their “personal relationship” with Jesus Christ, but display little spiritual fruit.
The thief on the cross was gloriously saved in the last hours of his life (Luke 23:39-43). Paul was overwhelmed by God’s love and grace in spite of all he had done to persecute the church and eradicate the gospel (Acts 9:1-9).
We should withhold judgment regarding non-Christians or nominally Christian people whose perceptions of the gospel were badly distorted by misunderstanding or the self-righteousness and hypocrisy of professing believers. In fact, Scripture makes it clear that we shouldn’t try to judge the spiritual state of other people on the basis of our limited perspective. The second chapter of Romans contains these intriguing verses:
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God (2:1-11 NKJV).
Just as we can be sure that Old Testament saints who never had a clear understanding of what Christ would do for us are redeemed by Him, so others in this age of grace who were blinded by Satan so that they never clearly understood the gospel message until the end of their lives may be supernaturally delivered from their blindness like Paul and saved in the last moments of life like the repentant thief.
In the final analysis, we must leave all such questions to God, knowing that the loving heavenly Father who sent His Son to die for our sins is not unaware of our weakness and does not delight in our condemnation and suffering. When we read the story of Jesus, we see the Father. Therefore, we can rest in the assurance that He will do all things right.
