The question you’ve raised touches on the mercy, justice, and righteousness of God. The Bible provides insights into God’s character and His dealings with humanity, which can help us understand how He might address those who lived before the advent of Christ.

Firstly, it’s important to remember that God’s judgments are perfect and beyond human understanding. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 2:14-16, “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” This suggests that God’s judgment considers the heart and the conscience of individuals, including those who have not heard the Gospel.

Moreover, the Bible speaks of God’s desire for all to be saved. 1 Timothy 2:4 says that “[God] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” This universal desire for salvation, coupled with the understanding of God’s just nature, suggests a divine judgment that is both fair and merciful.

In the Old Testament, faith and righteousness were credited to individuals like Abraham not because of their explicit knowledge of Christ, but because of their faith in God’s promises. Genesis 15:6 says, “And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” Such passages demonstrate that, even before Christ, people were in a relationship with God through faith.

The New Testament reveals that Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection are the means by which salvation is made possible for all—past, present, and future. In 1 Peter 3:18-20, the apostle speaks about Jesus preaching to the “spirits in prison” who were disobedient long ago, suggesting that, in some way, the message of salvation was proclaimed even to those who lived before Christ.

Ultimately, the fate of those who lived before Jesus or who have never heard the Gospel is in God’s hands. We can trust in God’s justice, mercy, and love, confident that He will do what is right. As Deuteronomy 32:4 declares, “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.”