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Can humans who die without accepting Christ’s offer of salvation be saved after death?

Hebrews 9:27 says “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Once a man or
woman dies without Christ, they have given up their opportunity to take advantage of Christ’s offer of
forgiveness and restoration. This is illustrated well by the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich
man is clearly unable to change his destiny. He is concerned about others destiny. He is told they have
messengers they should listen to while they have a chance. What this should remind us about is the
importance of taking the Gospel to everyone while they have a chance.

Two important exception to this answer must be made. Babies who die and those who are mentally
incapable of differentiating right from wrong. The bible seems to have a clear principle that those who
are incapable of discerning right from wrong are not held accountable the same way by God. Even a
Calvinist of John Piper’s level of consistency says “I don’t think the Bible says explicitly what I am about
to say and so people should take it carefully. It seems to me that there are pointers in the Bible like
Romans 1:19-23 and John 9:41 that God’s desire of public justice to be done and manifested will lead
him not to bring infants who die in to everlasting judgment and condemnation, which raises the
question: Well, how then will they come to faith in Jesus who alone is their Savior? And so I am leaving
open the possibility that in some way that I do not know and don’t want to speculate too far about, God
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might be pleased to make that possible for them to come to faith after death.”

Can Satan (the Devil) Be Saved?

Satan cannot be saved from the consequences of his sin. Satan’s future is clearly foretold in multiple
places in Scripture. He will try to destroy the nation of Israel during the Tribulation period. He will be
bound and thrown into the bottomless abyss for a thousand years while Christ reigns on earth (Rev.
20:1-6). He will then be released and gather a final army to try to overthrow Christ and His followers.
God will miraculously defeat Satan and throw him into the lake of fire forever (Rev. 20:10).

Can Fallen Angels be Saved?

There is no passage in Scripture that indicates that fallen Angels can be saved. In fact, the fact that their
eternal fate was determined is mentioned multiple times in Scripture. Matthew 24:41 Jesus tells the
goats “Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
So, there is no salvation from the consequences of their sin. It is also interesting to note that there is no
method of payment for their sin. Jesus had to be fully God and Fully human to pay the penalty for
mankind’s sin. For humanity Jesus blood was necessary to be able to forgive sin. Hebrews 9:22 says
“without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Angels are spiritual beings. There is no
blood to be shed. Is there an angelic equivalent? We are not aware of any from Scripture. We are aware
that their fate is sealed. Jude 1:6 mentions a specific group of fallen angels as doomed for eternal fire
“And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling,
he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.”

98 John Piper, “Can a Sinner Be Saved After Death?” https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/can-a-sinner-be-
saved-after-death. Episode 179. September 23, 2013.

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