The Gospel of Jesus Christ:

or, Salvation from Sin and Hell;

Based on Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience

(7/5/12)

Hell: The Place of Everlasting Punishment

I hold to the Puritan view of Hell as a literal, everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46). I reject modern concepts like Universalism and Annihilationism; and believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is essentially a revelation from God to save humanity from being doomed to that dreadful place. The classic, Biblical vision of Hell, which was so eloquently articulated by preachers like Jonathan Edwards, makes people cry out for mercy from Jesus, who died on the cross for their sins.

Donnelly, Edward. Biblical Teaching on the Doctrines of Heaven and Hell. Edinburgh, UK: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2001. 144 pages.

Edwards, Jonathan. The Torments of Hell: Jonathan Edwards on Eternal Damnation. Edited by William Nichols. Ames, IA: International Outreach, 2006. 18 fire and brimstone sermons by Jonathan Edwards. 334 pages.

Morgan, Chris. Jonathan Edwards and Hell. Fearn, Scotland: Mentor, 2004. 176 pages.

Peterson, Robert. Hell on Trial: The Case for Eternal Punishment. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 1995. Evidence of eternal punishment in the Bible and church history; arguments against Universalism and Annihilationism. 264 pages.

Shedd, William G. T. The Doctrine of Endless Punishment. Solid Ground Christian Books, 2008. 220 pages.

Whitefield, George. The Eternity of Hell Torments. Gale ECCO, 2010. This is not to be confused with Jonathan Edwards’ sermon by the same title; they are two completely different sermons on the same subject. 36 pages.

Salvation: Justification and the Christian Life

Alleine, Joseph. An Alarm to the Unconverted. Sovereign Grace Publishers, 2002.

Arndt, Johann. True Christianity. Translated by Peter Erb. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1979.

Baxter, Richard. An Extract of Richard Baxter’s Aphorisms of Justification. Edited by John Wesley. Whitefish, MY: Kessinger Publishing, 2010. 40 pages.

Church of England. Certain Sermons or Homilies Appointed to Be Read in Churches in the Time of Queen Elizabeth. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Library, 2005. Strong Gospel influence on John Wesley.

Collins, Kenneth. The Scripture Way of Salvation: The Heart of John Wesley’s Theology. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1997.

_________. Wesley on Salvation: A Study in the Standard Sermons. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan/Francis Asbury Press, 1989.

Goodwin, John. A Treatise on Justification. Gale ECCO, 2010. Edited by John Wesley; had a strong Gospel influence on him. Goodwin was an Arminian Puritan preacher; and died in 1665. Also includes Wesley’s refutation of the antinomian James Hervey. 270 pages.

Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn. Studies in the Sermon on the Mount. 2 vols. in one. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1984. A modern Evangelical preacher, who was strongly influenced by Puritan theology, expounds on what Wesley taught to be the very expression of the moral law of God, the essence of practical divinity, the means of conviction, and growth in righteousness. 585 pages.

Lindstrom, Harald. Wesley and Sanctification: A Study in the Doctrine of Salvation. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan/Francis Asbury Press, 1980. Reprint of 1946 edition; strong influence on Kenneth Collins.

Merrill, S. M. Doctrinal Aspects of Christian Experience. Cincinnati, OH: Curts & Jennings, 1882. An old-school presentation of the Wesleyan “ordo salutis” (order of salvation) comparable to Kenneth Collins’ Wesley on Salvation.

Owen, John. Overcoming Sin and Temptation. Edited by Kelly Kapic and Justin Taylor. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2006. A classic Puritan view of progressive sanctification by one of Puritanism’s foremost 17^th century theologians. 464 pages.

Ryle, J. C. Holiness. Welwyn, England: Evangelical Press, 1979. The traditional Anglican Puritan view of sanctification (progressive only). 352 pages.

Wesley, John. The Works of John Wesley. 7 vols. Edited by Thomas Jackson. 3^rd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996.

—–

UPDATE–2/8/15

R. Michael Allen’s Reformed Theology (2010)
Steven Paulson’s Lutheran Theology (2011)
Kenneth Wilson’s Methodist Theology (2011)
Stephen Holmes’ Baptist Theology (2012)
Mark Chapman’s Anglican Theology (2012)