Hi Alisha! That's a great question, and in the past, I've answered this with my own philosophically inclined answer, one that while a little different from the typical evangelical response is, nevertheless, one that I think is in accordance with what we find in the Bible overall. So, here is a 'reprint' of my answer to this from a short while back, only slightly edited ...
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Since it is very difficult to see the details in the Big Picture of God's economy of salvation (soteriology), I'd propose that the Church take a more ambiguous approach to the lost, but an approach which nevertheless requires that Christians feel a deep-seated need to reach "the lost." And in this approach, I suggest that we simply define those who will never hear of Christ as a distinct group from those will hear the Gospel on a sufficient level. Then, we more or less classify those who will never hear of Christ, or have never heard the Gospel in a sufficient manner, as "Unidentifiables."
We should classify those who will never hear sufficiently as "Unidentifiables" because from a human point of view, we as the Church do not know, and cannot know, precisely how God will judge each "Unidentifiable" at the Final Judgment. They each stand as a
"?" before the Church since we do not have enough detail in the Bible to give us a definitive and comprehensive way to know how "Unidentifiables" will ultimately be judged by God; it could go either way. Despite their ongoing spiritual anonymity before the Church, they are each an individual for whom we can pray in the hope that God in His mercy will accept them according to the light He has provided to each of them during their individual lives.
As for those persons who have heard, I think this group is made up of two categories: The "Acceptors" and the "Objectors." In the case of the accepting, we have confidence as to where they square in gaining eternal life in Christ. But, as for the objecting, we in the Church know they will not likely gain God's favor in Christ at the Final Judgment.
Thus, with this approach, we take the weight off of having to understand the full economy of God's grace as it relates to the availability of the (clear) Gospel message; we won't have to wring our hands as we try to answer the time worn question of "What happens to those who've never heard?" We do indeed leave it in the hands of God. Yet, this approach retains the urgency of the Church's need to continue its God directed effort to reach out in love and truth on behalf of Christ to those on all sides of the international and spiritual spectrum. It also is more honest and may be more appealing as a truthful explanation about "Unidentifiables."
That's my approach. It's simpler, and it's more philosophically practical -- although I'm open to theological criticisms and other considerations.
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Blessings,
2PhiloVoid