Confused about Jesus

These are serious questions. It is not meant to offend or mock anyone. These are things I am personally confused about.

Some people say Jesus is the only way to heaven. So does that mean that anyone who doesnt believe Jesus is God will automatically go to Hell no matter how much good they have done in their life? What about those who lived before Jesus? They had no knowledge of him so does that mean they dont go to heaven either?


Question: "How were people saved before Jesus died for our sins?"

Answer: Since the fall of man, the basis of salvation has always been the death of Christ. No one, either prior to the cross or since the cross, would ever be saved without that one pivotal event in the history of the world. Christ's death paid the penalty for past sins of Old Testament saints and future sins of New Testament saints.

http://www.gotquestions.org/before-Jesus.html

So according to what this website has stated, that would pretty much mean EVERYONE who came before Jesus is guaranteed Heaven. Does that mean that those who were condemned to Hell before are then sent off to Heaven once Jesus died? Since they lived and died before Jesus was born, they could not accept him so what makes those people any different from the people who exist now that do good and believe in a higher power but dont call that higher power Jesus or Christ or any other moniker?

Negroes In Heaven

Gabriel came to the Lord and said, "I have to talk to you,
I have Black folks up here in Heaven who are causing some problems.
They are swinging on the Pearly Gates, my horn is missing,
barbecue sauce is all over their robes, ham hock, chicken, spare rib,
and pig feet bones are all over the streets of Gold.
Some folk are walking around with one wing.
They have been late taking their turn in keeping the stairway to
heaven clean.There are watermelon seeds all over the clouds.
Some of them aren't even wearing their halos, saying it is messing
up they hair." The Lord said, "I made them special, as I did you, my angel.
Heaven is home to all my children.
If you really want to know about problems, let's call the Devil.
The Devil answered the phone, "Hello? Dang, hold on."
The Devil returned to the phone and said, "Hello Lord, what can I do for you?"
The Lord replied, "Tell me what kind of problems you are having down there."
The Devil said, "Wait one minute," and put the Lord on hold.
After 5 minutes he returned to the phone, and said "Okay, I'm
back. What was the question?"
The Lord said, "What kind of problems are you having down there?"
The Devil said, "Man, I don't belie..... hold on, Lord".
This time the Devil was gone for 15 minutes.
The Devil returned and said, "I'm sorry Lord, I can't talk right now.
These Negroes dun put the fire out, and are trying to install air conditioning