Marvin L. Weir
The only Gospel that saves is the Gospel of Christ (cf., Rom. 15:19; 1 Cor. 9:12; 2 Cor. 10:14; Gal. 1:7). A man-made gospel will save no one and serves only the devil’s purpose to deceive souls of men. One who refuses to believe the Truth will be allowed to believe a lie (2 The. 2:11-12). The apostle Paul sounded forth a warning that all would do well to heed today. To the Galatian brethren he said:
I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another gospel only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema (Gal. 1:6-9).
The Gospel of Christ is the “power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). Another gospel need not be proclaimed because another gospel cannot save!
The Gospel of Christ must be heard (Rom. 10:14). One cannot obey what he does not know. God’s truth can be known and obedience to such truth will free one of his sins (John 8:32). It is incumbent upon each individual to “study to shew [himself]…approved unto God” (2 Tim. 2:15). In the Day of Judgment, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Phi. 2:11). It is on this Day that “God shall judge the secrets of men” according to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 2:16).
The Gospel of Christ must also be believed. One can hear the Word of God and not believe it. On Pentecost, people heard the Gospel and asked, “What shall we do” (Acts 2:37)? Peter answered, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). Some still, however, declare they do not believe baptism is necessary for one to be saved. The Lord Himself said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). Ananias told Saul of Tarsus, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
How can one claim to believe the inspired Scriptures and then declare: “I just don’t believe that baptism has anything to do with one’s salvation?” If one refuses to believe the Word of God, he will certainly not be motivated to act upon the demands of the Word.
The Gospel of Christ must be obeyed. It is an idle boast for one to claim to have Bible faith while refusing to act upon such faith. A faith that will not act is a dead faith. James got to the heart of the matter in saying:
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also (Jam. 2:14-26).
It is ludicrous for one to claim to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and then steadfastly refuse to comply with the demands of the Gospel. Such is mere foolishness, but not even a distant cousin to Bible faith!
The Gospel of Christ must be lived. Obeying the Gospel is only the beginning. One must live the life of a Christian. John states that only “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). There are fourteen epistles that instruct the child of God in running the Christian race. It is to no avail for one to obey the Gospel
plan of salvation and then when the urge strikes live like the devil.
One who is genuine, sincere, and obedient to God’s Word will refuse to conform to the ways of the world. Instead, he will be transformed by renewing his mind and proving “what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:2).
Make sure you have obeyed the Gospel that saves!
