CAN SINNERS BE SAVED WITHOUT THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL?

CAN SINNERS BE SAVED WITHOUT THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL?
Romans 10:14-17

Don Fortner


I recognize the sovereignty of God, and preach it as fully and dogmatically as anyone I have heard or read recently. "Our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased" (Psa. 115:3). Were it his pleasure to do so, he could save his elect by the merits of Christ's righteousness and shed blood and the power of his Spirit without the use of any means whatever. But it is not his pleasure to do so. I hear men say, "God is sovereign. He can save sinners with the use of means, without the use of means, or inspite of the means used." That may be a very logical supposition. And I appreciate the obvious attempt to protect God's sovereignty. But God's sovereignty does not need our protection. And the supposition is false, because it is not according to the Scriptures.

THE FACT IS, GOD DOES NOT SAVE SINNERS APART FROM THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL OF HIS FREE AND SOVEREIGN GRACE IN CHRIST. (Read Rom. 1:16-17; I Cor. 1:21-23; Heb. 4:12; James 1:18; I Pet. 1:23-25). And if God does not save men without the preaching of the gospel, then it is obvious that no man can be saved without the preaching of the gospel.

DOES THIS MEAN THAT ALL WHO BELIEVE A FALSE GOSPEL ARE LOST? Certainly it does. Those who trust the helpless god, Jesus, and spirit of free-will, works religion are as ignorant and lost as the naked tribesman who worships his dead, helpless totem-pole.

DOES THIS MEAN THAT I WAS LOST BEFORE I KNEW THE GOSPEL? Of course it does. Men may be sincere in false religion. They may have great, life changing experiences in false religion. But no one is saved in false religion, neither you, nor me, nor our kinsmen, nor our friends. It is the truth, only the truth, that makes sinners free. God does not use religious lies to save his elect. A person may mentally know the truth and not be saved. But no one can be saved who does not know the truth.

WHAT DOES THIS FACT REQUIRE OF US? We must renounce that former, false religion of works and confess Christ in baptism (II Cor. 6:17-18; Rev. 18:4). Then we must devote ourselves and all that we have to the preaching of the gospel, so that men and women may hear, know, believe, and be saved by the gospel.

Don Fortner is pastor of
Grace Baptist Church
Danville, KY