Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: January 11, 2009
ARE PEOPLE LOST WITHOUT THE GOSPEL?
Ben Justice
H.A. Dixon once wrote,
The real reasons we have not evangelized the world are: (1) we have never convinced ourselves that the world is lost without the
gospel, and (2) we have never convinced ourselves that we are lost if we don’t take it to the world.
The question before us is, “Are people lost without the gospel?” It will be the burden of this article to explore
this question.
The word “gospel” functions as a noun and is from the Greek word euangelion, which literally means “good
news” or “good tidings.” In the NT, it has reference to the good news concerning salvation in Jesus Christ.
The verb counterpart is euangelizo, which means “to bring or announce glad tidings.”
In Rom. 10:15-17, Paul penned these words:
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace,
and bring glad tidings of good things! (16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our
report? (17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The first time the word “preach” is used, it is from the Greek word kerusso and means “to be a herald.” The
phrase “preach the gospel” is from one Greek word; it is the verb euangelizo, meaning “to bring or announce
glad tidings.” Also, the phrase “bring glad tidings” is from euangelizo. This verse describes what a herald does.
He preaches the gospel (announces glad tidings) of peace. He brings glad tidings of good things. In summary,
those who preach, preach a message of peace and good things. The gospel is intended to bring a person peace
and good things.
Verse 16 is in contrast to verse 15, which is indicated by the contrasting conjunction “but.” Even though the
good news (the gospel) was preached (herald) “not all obeyed the gospel.” When Paul was in Roman prison, he
had opportunity to preach the gospel. Acts 28:24 tells us, “And some believed the things spoken, and some
believed not.” God intends for man to obey the gospel.
Verses 15-17 emphasize two major points:
1.) The necessity of preaching the good news (the gospel) so people can have the chance of hearing it so as to
develop faith, because “faith comes by hearing the word of God” (v. 17). In this context, the gospel and the
word of God are used synonymously.
2.) The necessity of obedience to the gospel is clearly implied (v. 16).
In 2 Cor. 4:3, Paul wrote, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:” The implication is clear: THOSE
WITHOUT THE GOSPEL ARE LOST!
Jesus said in Mark 16:15-16, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (16) He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
In Rom. 1:15-16, Paul stated, “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
(16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
In I Cor. 15:1-2, we read, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also
ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto
you, unless ye have believed in vain.”
Perhaps the most penetrating context is found in 2 Thess. 1:7-9, wherein Paul declared,
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, (8) In flaming fire
taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (9) Who shall be punished with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
Yes, people are lost without the gospel. Since God expects us to obey the gospel, the question is, “How does
a person obey the gospel?” Obviously, there is something that a person must do in order to be saved. This is
what the Bible calls obedience. As Heb. 5:9 says, Jesus is the author of eternal salvation “unto all them that
obey him.”
Going back to I Cor. 15:1, Paul said to the Corinthians that he had “preached” the gospel unto them. They
were saved by the gospel and were admonished to keep in memory what Paul had preached. In other words,
remain faithful. Note that the word “preached” in v. 1 is past tense. Hence, it refers to what Paul had done in
the past. The Corinthians had “received” it. Again, past tense is used. The actual record of this is found in
Acts 18:1-8. According to v. 5, Paul “testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.” Verse 8 tells us, “. . . And
many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.” This verse is parallel to what Jesus said to his
apostles in Mark 16:15-16 — “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (16) He that believed
and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
All who were saved were saved by obeying the gospel. There is only one gospel (cf. Gal. 1:7-9). God is no
respecter of persons; He doesn’t have one gospel for one person and another gospel for another person (cf.
Acts 10:34-35).
There is saving power in the gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:16). However, people must respond to it in
humble obedience in order to be saved. This means hearing the gospel (Rom. 10:17), believing its contents
(John 8:24), repenting of sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30), confessing Jesus to be God’s Son (Acts 8:37), being
immersed in water for the remission of past sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). This is what it means to obey the gospel,
and until a person complies with the above steps, they haven’t obeyed the gospel, and if they haven’t obeyed
the gospel, then they are still in their sins and stand lost before God.