The modern Christian holds the gospel in high esteem. In fact, they’ve assigned it a function the Lord never intended. Is the gospel necessary to obtain eternal life?

The Gospel is a light. 2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

This very telling verse teaches us clearly that life and immortality are brought to light through the gospel. That is, the gospel is the light that reveals our life and immortality in Christ, not the vessel or instrument that brings it.

The Gospel power: Is there power in believing the gospel? Yes, in the sense that it has taught you about the one who brought salvation. Look at Rom 1:16 as Paul not being ashamed of the gospel, as some might be, because it does reveal God’s power to bring salvation to everyone that believeth (past tense, meaning they already believe), to the Jew first, to whom the law and oracles came, and also to the non-Jew (Greek).

Rom 1:16 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.

Does salvation depend on memory? 1Cr 15:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

This verse implies the gospel is only valid as long as our memory is active. And, scripture says it is possible to believe in vain, or without any benefit or value to your life. We don’t write or speak as eloquently as those in the past, but Paul’s message is clear.

If we can believe in vain, this cannot have reference to our eternal life.

Once saved, always saved. We take it to mean eternal life is eternal. Some are convinced one can fall from grace and lose their eternal life. Rightly dividing the scriptures reveals the word salvation does not always mean eternal. The majority of times the subject of saving or being saved occurs, it's a worldly or timely application under consideration.

If we are saved once and forever, that is, eternally, then when the bible speaks of conditions necessary to obtain salvation, or speaks of hindrances to belief and understanding, it must be speaking of something other than eternal salvation. “Lord, save or I perish...” is not an eternal saving.

It’s a timely, worldly or knowledge salvation. One that we can “work out” with fear and trembling.

If our gospel be hid: Paul suggests the gospel is able to be hidden, and minds can be blinded so that they cannot see and hear and understand the truth. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of preaching to save souls? Is it fair to try to save someone with a hidden gospel?
 

Who is a hidden gospel hidden from? 2Cr 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 2Cr 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Gospel failed to prosper some: Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. How is it that some respond and some profit and some do not? Paul says it has to do with being mixed with faith. How is it some have this faith and some do not?

Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:

The Gospel Reveals Its Purpose

The purpose of preaching is to reveal the love and perfection of God to His children. The gospel tells the story of Jesus and His sacrifice on our behalf and it is revealed to those whom he has prepared by granting them the new birth, (the birth from above, regeneration, rescue from Adam, the circumcision without hands, the new heart, the separation from sinful flesh – no matter what term you use to define the imparting of eternal life), the revelation comes at the same time, with a measure of faith. Not everyone acts on it outwardly, or responds in the same way, and they may never serve God in this lifetime, but they will live with him in eternity. Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? It would not. Nothing a person does in this lifetime can change or impact their eternal destiny. Most people will see that as a frightening statement, but if you know the word of God, you’ll see that as comfort, giving all praise, honor and glory to God. Not hindered by disbelief.

Would anyone doubt the eternal salvation of Abraham, who lived and died thousands of years before the gospel was completed in the days after the resurrection?

Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

The Gospel can be stopped, and rejected by man. In the verses below, we read of Paul complaining about the Jews of his day forbidding preaching to the Gentiles. If the gospel is paramount to salvation, it cannot be stopped. Did these all die and go to hell as a result of the Jews blocking influence? If so, then the failure doesn’t lie at their feet for rejecting a gospel they never heard.

Instead, the fault must lie with the Jews or with God, who failed to get past the angry Jews. God forbid we believe such nonsense.1Thes 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:  2:15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 2:16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

Remember our gospel rule: The Gospel IS NOT the Means, Method, Tool or Utility whereby God grants eternal life; but is the herald of good news proclaiming it.