Immortality Through The Gospel
Denominational sects and parties are distinguished one from the other by their differences in doctrines. To further identify their differences of doctrines they give themselves a name, that is, they de-nominate themselves. Of the hundreds of different sects, parties, or churches, just as many different creeds identify each one. The differences in their doctrines are sufficient to make each denomination different from all the rest.
Although all denominations teach doctrines different from each other, there are some fundamental doctrines of truth that are generally held by all. They generally believe that Jesus is Christ, that God is, that there is such a place as heaven and hell. Some of today's fundamentalists are not as strong on these doctrines as they once were. There seems to be one basic common denominator that brings the denominational churches into league with each other notwithstanding their differences. And, not to their credit, that common ground is one of the most damnable religious efforts propagated by man.
"Saved without the Gospel of Christ" is the hue and cry of denominationalism. While brandishing about the Bible as the awesome sword of the Spirit, they deny one of its most fundamental claims: salvation is obtained through obedience to the Gospel. Whether it be those who speak of the "inner conscience of man," or the "leap of faith," or whether it be those who have an "experience" of grace, or those who claim the direct visitation of the Holy Spirit in the salvation of their souls, the claim is the same. Read their literature, hear their preaching, listen to their testimonies "how I got saved." They all are rather repetitious; the continual singing of the one and the same verse of a song of damnation - all deny the fundamental declarations of the Gospel.
Paul speaks of God "who hath saved us...by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel" (2 Tim. 1:9-10. Particularly note that Christ "brought life and immortality to life through the Gospel." Life, here spoke of by Paul, is everlasting life; salvation of the soul. The immortality he speaks of is the changed state of man which he enters into in his relation to God in eternity. At no place in the Scriptures is it taught that life and immortality is brought to man other than in, or through, the Gospel. Leaps of faith, Pentecostal visitations of the Spirit, experiences of grace, hot flashes or cold chills do not in any way relate to "life and immortality" of the soul. The common ground of denominationalism is deadly quicksand to those who attempt to stand thereon.
"The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16). Souls are purified "in obeying the truth through the Spirit." Men are "born again...by the word of God" (1 Pet. 1:22-23). That Gospel, the word of God, is to be obeyed. It contains certain commands that man must obey, for Christ is Savior of only those who obey His Gospel (Heb. 5:9). For those who trust a false and subjective "experience" of salvation will one day see Christ "revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power" (2 Thess. 1:7-9). Peter raises a most serious question, "what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?" (1 Pet. 4:17). The simple answer: they, with their subjective "religious experience," shall be lost eternally.
From Our Archives, 1985
The Beacon, Pensacola, FL