God “gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish” (Jn 3:16), and yet, “God wants all to be saved” (1 Tim 2:4). Clearly Jesus came to redeem all people, but what about those who do not believe in Jesus because they have never heard of him, or because of the scandalous way that many Christians live? Are such people condemned even when, by accepting God’s actual grace, they live a life of love toward God and their neighbor? While Jn 3:16 emphasizes belief in Jesus, other passages emphasize Jesus’ saving action. “Just as a single offense brought condemnation to all men, a single righteous act brought all acquittal and life” (Rom 5:18). Does emphasizing Jesus’ action mean, however, that all are saved, no matter what they do? Clearly not, as there is sin which is mortal (see I John 5:16-17). A further emphasis, found in 1 John 4, is that placed on love, “Beloved, let us love one another because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten of God and has knowledge of God…. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another God dwells in us” (vv. 7, 12). A person living by love normally will embrace Jesus if presented the Gospel in a compelling way. But what if the Gospel is presented in a way so narrowly European that it is unintelligible to the hearer in another culture? Would God reject the hearer because of the limitations of the preacher? Generally, the Church has said “no” to that. If the person follows his or her conscience and lives in love, God will save the person through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross offered for all.

See The Catechism of the Catholic Church for more on Christ’s saving death (#599-618) and on the necessity of Baptism (#1257, 1260).