What is true of people who have sinned without having a knowledge of the Law?...

They will perish without reference to the Law.

The spiritual principle is that we are judged in terms of our knowledge of God. To whom much is given, much is required. To whom little is given, little is required. When the Law comes, sin "revives" because the Law brings to us the knowledge of sin.

One error in Christian theology is the concept that people who never have heard the Gospel of Christ will be cast into the Lake of Fire. This doctrine is heartless, unrighteous, and does not agree with the manner in which the Scriptures describe the administration of the judgment of God.

Notice the following passages of Scripture. They teach that God judges us according to what we know, not according to what we do not know or what we have not heard.

And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more (Luke 12:47,48).

If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin (John 15:22).

If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father (John 15:24).

For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed (ascribed) when there is no law (Romans 5:13). "Sin is not imputed when there is no law"!