When I was with the Hardshells, I heard a lot of preaching by them, and I heard a lot of their "pet sayings." One that I often heard was this in gist: preaching about hell is not preaching the gospel. I remember how the words of Paul in Romans 2: 16 persuaded me that such a proposition was false.
"In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."
Obviously, preaching the gospel involves saying something about "the day when God shall judge" men. In fact, preaching the gospel involves warning men about the coming judgment and of their need to believe the gospel and to repent of their sins. In fact, in Paul's preaching before Felix, it is said that he "he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come," causing Felix to "tremble." Paul also said: “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men.” (2 Cor. 5:11) The Savior himself asked some in his day - "How can ye escape the damnation of Hell?" (Matt. 23:33)
Preaching the gospel involves warning people about the coming judgment and of their need of trusting in Christ for salvation.
"And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people." (Acts 3: 24)
The good news? "Every soul" that will "hear that prophet" (Jesus) shall not be destroyed! But, those who "will not hear that prophet" will indeed be destroyed. Do our Hardshell brothers tell sinners that they will be destroyed from among the people, and suffer everlasting destruction, if they refuse "to hear that prophet"? Is it merely a "timely destruction" that these Christ rejecters receive? To affirm such is to deny the gospel. It is Offering Hope To Hypocrites and if they do not warn the wicked as did the apostle Paul, then they are not preaching the gospel.
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