*This post is in response to several emails received from Pastors about teaching that there were at one time two gospels. These Pastors as do many falsely believe that there has only ever been one gospel. Yes, today there is just one gospel that saves mankind. Just a cursory read of Scripture demonstrates that there ‘were’ two gospels. Twisting Scripture, denying what words mean to fit a ‘man-made’ theology is anathema. Bible Teachers, Pastors, or anyone for that matter teaching any other gospel than what was revealed to the apostle Paul will be accursed by God.
There is only one gospel that can save mankind today, and that is the gospel of grace (Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. That Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day. Appropriated by faith alone apart from the Mosaic law (Romans 3:20,21).
The gospel of grace and doctrines for the body of Christ, the Church, was a secret (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:1-11) hidden in the mind of God until revealed to the apostle Paul. In other words, between the time God called Abraham and the calling of the apostle Paul, there was NO message of salvation to the Gentile world (Ephesians 2:11,12).
The gospel of grace is most clearly defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
‘Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, ‘
I Corinthians 15:1-4
Paul’s Gospel
The apostle Paul Holy Spirit inspired of course, repeatedly referred to the gospel of grace as “my gospel” (Romans 2:16, 16.25; Galatians 2:2, 7: 2 Timothy 2:8). Paul could say this because the gospel of grace was in fact revealed to Paul alone and he was chosen by the ascended and risen Lord Himself to be the apostle of the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; Romans 11:13). These new revelations came approximately 10 years after Pentecost (Galatians 1:1,11-12;17).
All mankind during the age of grace will be judged according to Paul’s gospel.
‘in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.’
Romans 2:16
The Warning!
Paul warned mankind twice in Galatians, anyone that preached any other gospel then what was revealed to him by the ascended Lord Himself will be cursed.
‘But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.’
Galatians 1:8-9
The Gospel of the Kingdom
Jesus and the 12 preached the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 4:17; Matthew 9:35; Acts 3:19). Which was for the Jew only (Matthew 10:5,6; Luke 9,10; Matthew 15:24; John 4:22; Matthew 18:11; Romans 15:8). Appropriated by repentance, baptism, faith plus works. The content of the gospel of the kingdom was Jesus was Israel’s promised Messiah, the Son of God.
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Matthew 9:35
The Apostle Peter’s Profession of Faith
Peter’s profession of faith was that he believed Jesus was in fact the Christ, the Son of God. Not that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose from the dead three days later. No way, how could that be Jesus was still alive! And the gospel of grace wouldn’t be revealed for another 10 years.
Yes, of course! Everything is based on the finished work of the cross but in time, at that time, that was all Peter or any other Jewish person was to believe for salvation.
‘He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. ‘
Matthew 16:15-17
The gospel of the kingdom began with John the Baptizer and ended during the Acts period (Acts 15:11). The gospel of the kingdom will pick up again when the body of Christ is raptured and the Lord turns His attention back to Israel to fulfill the remaining 7 years of the 490 years prophesied in Daniel 9. Also known as the tribulation, Jacob’s Trouble, or Daniel’s 70th week.
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Matthew 24:14
Conclusion
The culmination of the gospel of the kingdom was an earthly kingdom by which Israel’s Messiah, Israel’s King, Jesus Christ would crush Israel’s enemies and rule over all the nations from David’s throne in Jerusalem. The entire old testament from Genesis 12, through the four gospels and into the early chapters of Acts, proclaims nothing but the King and the kingdom. God chose Israel to be the vehicle by which the world would be blessed. But in unbelief, just like Israel did at Kadesh Barnea, Israel rejected Jesus’ claims; ‘we will not have this man reign over us’ (Luke 19:14). And together with the Romans crucified the Prince of Life.
Because of Israel’s unbelief, God has temporarily blinded the Jewish people (Romans 11:25), destroyed the temple (as prophesied), and dispersed the Jewish people into every nation on the planet.
For the past 2000 years, since the time God called Saul who we know as Paul to be the apostle to the Gentiles. It is the gospel of grace, appropriated by faith alone in the “finished” of the cross apart from the law that saves mankind.
‘Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ‘
Ephesians 2:11-12
But Now…
‘But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.’
Ephesians 2:13
100% Unashamed of the gospel of grace.
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