One Gospel?

It is THE gospel that Paul preached, not A gospel.

Hyper-dispensationalism might tell us differently, but I strongly disagree.

Good post, OldRegular.

 

IMO, there is only one gospel which is the redemption of mankind by God Himself.

It started in Genesis with the revelation of the "seed of the woman" who would eventually crush the serpent's head. More revelation was added in the process of time to that progressive revelation.

Paul calls it "my gospel" because to him (and the other apostles) was given the final revelation: Salvation by grace through faith in that "seed" and His Atonement along with the identity of that "seed" as the incarnation of God Himself, the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

HankD

 

OldRegular,

I'm with you (and any who agree) that there is only one Gospel. Any church that preaches more than one Gospel is gravely mistaken. Good info in your second post.

In Christ,

Brooks

 

Any church that preaches more than one gospel is one to stay away from. It is under the control of satan.

 

The Scripture teaches that God preached the GOSPEL to Abraham---which is the same gospel that is preached to us today---which is the same gospel that Jesus came to preache---which is the same gospel that Peter preached---which is the same gospel that Paul preached---any other gospel is not the gospel!!!

 

C.I. Scofield taught that there were 4 Forms of the Gospel.

Here's his entry in the Scofield Bible under Revelation 14

Gospel - This great theme may be summarized as follows:

I. In itself the word Gospel means good news
II. Four forms of the Gospel are to be distinguished.

(You can look it up for yourself here)

Scofield NOTE on Gospel

 

You got it OldRegular- There is ONLY ONE Gospel. Anyother gospel is not of God!

 

What we are to do is believe God. That is all that He asks of us. I believe in that gospel to believe God as the One gospel, but God has different requirements for different dispensations.

What did He require of those before the great deluge? What was required of the children of Israel? What is required of us today? The law of ordinances today are nailed to that Cross. They are dead, but doesn’t scripture say they then were to live by the law and the ordinances? And when did Christ Jesus let us know when this became effective? Christian faith, ituttut

 

Can't we agree that Christ Jesus gave a gospel to Paul, and Paul called that gospel "his" gospel. That to me denotes it is not the gospel of Peter and the other Apostles, or of James, . Christian faith, ituttut

 

QUOTE]Originally posted by OldRegular:
Scripture teaches unequivocably that there is only one Gospel, there has always been only one Gospel, there will always be only one Gospel; that Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.[Romans 1:16, KJV]

See my post to you dated July 26, 2005 01:59AM

However, there are some who argue, incorrectly, that Jesus Christ came preaching a gospel of an earthly Messianic kingdom, that He was rejected by the Jews and that He had to change His program. So much for the Sovereignty of God.

You continue to “twist” words of dispensationalists. God did not change any program. Don’t you believe Paul? He tells you this was God’s plan all along, and God had kept it hidden. I believe the Word of God, which says ”But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory”, I Corinthians 2:7-8.

If Jesus Christ came to establish the earthly Messianic Kingdom, He would have established it, otherwise He would not have been able to say to the Father I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do [John 17:4]. To claim that Jesus Christ came to establish such a kingdom but failed in that task and established the Church instead is to deny the words of Jesus Christ Himself. To do so is to call into question either the truthfulness and deity of Jesus Christ or the sovereignty of God. The truth of the matter is that the rejection of Jesus Christ by the Jews was for the simple reason that He did not fulfill their carnal desire for an earthly Messianic Kingdom that would throw off the yoke of Rome.

Christ Jesus fulfilled prophecy and He fulfilled the Law. It was up to those through Jacob to accept Messiah, their King for wasn’t the gospel to God’s people “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins” for the kingdom was at hand? It was there. That is what was to come to pass as Pentecost came, and only a few thousand out of hundreds of thousands, or millions, desired their King, for as you say they were looking for “David”, not one humbly riding on a donkey.

If the Lord came to establish an earthly Messianic Kingdom one must marvel at His response, following the feeding of the five thousand to the desire of the crowd to make Him king:

John 6:14,15, KJV
14. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
15. When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

He had not yet fulfilled all of His work. Jesus Christ did not quit because men wanted Him as King. Satan had already offered Him more than that.

Jesus Christ rejected the overture of the crowd because His Kingdom is not of this world as He clearly teaches:

John 18:36, KJV
36. Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Jesus says His kingdom is not from hence, that is that world at that time, for He says His servants would fight to keep Him from being delivered to the Jews. Jesus “Had” to be crucified, so to be their King during the time of the world in the millennium, after the tribulation. The tribulation had to come, for God tells them over and over He is going to pour out His wrath on them, the earth, the nations, and Satan.

Not all the Jews, however, rejected Jesus Christ. There were those who, like Nathanael, declared Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel [John 1:49] or who, like Peter, declared Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God [Matthew 16:16]. Those Jews who exercised such faith were born again into the Kingdom of God [or as Paul writes in Colossians 1:13] translated into the kingdom of his dear Son and formed the nucleus of the Church, the Bride of Jesus Christ, holy and without blemish [Ephesians 5:27].

We must believe the Holy Ghost as He gave utterance to Esaias, referenced in Acts 28:25-29.

The Apostle Matthew writes in his account of the mission of the Christ, the Messiah as follows: [All Scripture is from the 1769 KJV unless otherwise noted]

Matthew 3:1-3, KJV
1. In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2. And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

According to John the Baptist the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand as he announces the coming of the Lord. We also see that the preaching of John the Baptist was the fulfillment of prophecy [Isaiah 40:3].

Amen to all Bible references you give here and below.

Matthew writes further:

Matthew 4:23, KJV
23. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Matthew 9:35, KJV
35. 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 24:14, KJV
14. 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.

According to Matthew’s account Jesus Christ is preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. Perhaps Matthew is somewhat ambiguous, but Mark is not. John Mark opens his account of the ministry of Jesus Christ as follows:

Mark 1:1, KJV
1. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

Mark in writing a parallel account of the life of Jesus Christ declares he is writing about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mark further writes about the Gospel quoting Jesus Christ Himself:

Mark 1:14-15, KJV
14. Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

From these two passages in the Gospel according to Mark it is obvious that the gospel of Jesus Christ and gospel of the kingdom of God are the same.

Luke’s account of the life of Jesus Christ quotes Him as follows:

Luke 4:43, KJV
43. And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

John the Baptist preached that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Jesus Christ taught that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Obviously the kingdoms are the same. The term Kingdom of Heaven appears only in the Gospel of Matthew; the term Kingdom of God is used on five occasions[Matthew 6:33; 12:28; 19:24, 21:31; 21:43]. Mark, Luke, and John use the term Kingdom of God only. Jesus Christ used both terms but generally referred to the Kingdom of God. Some have argued that there is a difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. Walvoord in Major Bible Prophecies, page 213] states that when Matthew uses the term Kingdom of Heaven he is referring to the sphere of profession but that when he uses the term Kingdom of God he is referring to those who are truly saved. However, a comparison of parallel passages in Matthew, Mark, and Luke shows that Matthew uses the Kingdom of Heaven in the same context that Mark and Luke use of the Kingdom of God. A comparison of the explanation of Jesus Christ as to why He spoke in parables [following the parable of the sower] demonstrates without doubt that there is no difference in Matthew’s use of the Kingdom of Heaven and Mark’s and Luke’s use of the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 13:10,11, KJV
10. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11. He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Mark 4:10,11, KJV
10. And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
11. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables:

Luke 8:9,10, KJV
9. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10. And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

II Corinthians 5:16-21, ”Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

The Book of Acts closes the history of the early Church with the Apostle Paul in Rome awaiting trial before Nero with these words:

Pentecost, with Peter the head of the church, the stoning of Steven and Israel cut-off, Damascus Road; the first Gentile saved with the “Christian message” of believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost was given at that saying. James begins taking over the dieing Pentecostal church, and Paul in Rome going to the Gentile for they will believe. Then to Acts 28:30-31 below.

Acts 28:30-31, KJV
30. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Jesus Christ came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. The Gospel that He preached is the same Gospel that the Apostle Paul preached. There is only one Gospel, the Gospel of Redemption through Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul declares to the church at Galatia:

We must not lose sight of Christ giving to him (Paul) the gospel for the Gentile and the Jew. Paul preached the kingdom of God just as verse 31 above says, and taught those things, which concern the Lord Jesus Christ’s kingdom.

Galatians 1:6-9, KJV
6. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Who were the culprits here? It was the Judaizers, telling the Gentiles, and any Jewish Christians that they would have to be circumcised, and do the works of the Jew. This was that other gospel of “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins”. It was not the gospel of Grace that came through Jesus Christ. It was the same gospel, but it was not for those in the Body of Christ, and any that preach other than the Body of Christ that came by the Grace of God, is to be cursed. Paul says any man that doesn’t preach His gospel to the Gentile is in trouble.

Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem and talked to James, Peter and all the rest about this, and the Jewish Pentecostal shook hands with Paul and Barnabas and said they would go only to the circumcised. But some members continued this practice.

Jesus Christ came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, not an ‘earthly’ Messianic Kingdom. He came to establish and to die for His Church, not for an ‘earthly’ Messianic Kingdom.

Matthew 16:18, KJV
18. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Acts 20:28, KJV
28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

And Paul was told not to build on the foundation of Peter. Christ told Paul to build on His (Jesus Christ’s) foundation, but to be the “master builder” for the kingdom of Jesus Christ, that is in the kingdom of God. I Corinthians 3:10; Romans 15:20, ” Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:”

After His resurrection and prior to His ascension Scripture tells us the following:

Acts 1:3
3. To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

What did the early Church preach concerning the Kingdom of God:

To the Samaritans:

Acts 8:12
12. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

This is before Damascus Road.

At Antioch:

Acts 14:22
22. Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

At Ephesus

Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

Acts 20:25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

The “kingdom message of the Twelve Apostles" was not the kingdom message of the Mystery. Paul still speaks of the kingdom of God, however the prophecies in the Old Testament, and the Gospels on into early Acts, are in reference to the earthly kingdom phase that will come when Christ returns to earth, or to the New earth after the millennium. Paul’s message is to those believers forming the Body of Christ’s Church, and Paul always points to a heavenly existence in the kingdom of Christ Jesus, in the kingdom of God. The Epistles of Paul are replete with this information.

Later in discussing the Second-Coming of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, writes to the church at Corinth as follows:

1 Corinthians 15:50, KJV
50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, therefore, the so-called millennial kingdom or so-called Messianic Kingdom cannot be the Kingdom of God as some claim [See Clouse the Millennium, Four Views, page 84ff].]

Consider the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Kingdom into which all believers are translated [Colossians 1:13]. Is this Kingdom the Kingdom of God? Most certainly unless the believer is in two kingdoms since Nicodemus is told in John 3:3-5 that those who are “born again” are born into the Kingdom of God. There is one God and one Kingdom, the Kingdom of God. There is only one Gospel, there has always been only one Gospel, there will always be only one Gospel; that Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.[Romans 1:16, KJV] [/QUOTE]

Then we both agree with the One gospel of Paul in Romans 1:16. No, these flesh and blood bodies we now live in cannot be received in heaven, but at the rapture we will have our New glorified bodies, and we will be like Jesus Christ, but we are not sure what that is at the present, I John 3:2. Christian faith, ituttut

 

I really think we need to be sure we are speaking the truth about what different groups in the church believe and teach. Those who are dispensational in their view of the Scripture do not teach that there is more than one Gospel. There may be extreme fringe groups that do and call them selves dispensational in their view and teach several different gospels, but that is not true of every dispensational believer. Careful in painting with such a broad brush as you may be pulling the "wheat out with the tares"

Bro Tony

 

You know - Paul tells early Christians not to get into fights that only divide and do nothing to further the gospel.

I've been thinking lately - if we spent even 1/4th the energy on witnessing for Christ that we spend defending our church-doctorinal-statements - how could we change the world?

 

Hey Old Regular,
Are you checking out your sermon for next Sunday? It's good teaching.

 

And whose gospel is it that you are quoting. It is the gospel of Paul, given to Him by Christ Jesus in heaven. Christian faith, ituttut

 

Thanks Bro Tony for your input. I don’t mean to be contentious in a combative attitude, but in a “inform, and be informed” attitude.

May I inquire, and perhaps you can inform me “Those who are dispensational in their view of the Scripture do not teach that there is more than one Gospel.” Can you please “inform me” why this is not a New gospel when I read in God’s Word that Paul had a “dispensational gospel” that Christ Jesus from heaven gave to him, I Corinthians 9:17, II Corinthians 5:17, and Ephesians 3. Paul was faithful and dispensed what Christ Jesus from heaven gave to him, and it became the “gospel of Paul”, just as the Word gave to Moses, Moses’ Law, and that was the gospel that was preached until John.

I see from your post you understand the gospel of Paul, and Peter says one must understand it. From your position in Christ Jesus will you please enlighten on what Paul means by "My Gospel" in Romans 2:16?

It also seems I don’t quite understand the ambiguous why that Paul has of informing us of just who he may be. Perhaps you can help me understand this confusing passage of scripture Paul lays on us in Romans 11:13, ”For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.” I seem to read this so much differently than most.

Also, perhaps you can enlighten, explaining why Paul doesn’t preach the same gospel as James and Peter that shook Paul’s hand, saying they would not preach to any but the circumcised? Should I go to them for my understanding, even if they said they would not come to me with their gospel? I went to them, but I found I was acceptable to their gospel, but only coming as a proselyte, but I found I was offered better than that, so I found by the Grace of God, through the Grace of Christ Jesus, my own Apostle. This gospel I believe, for it is of Believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be Saved. This is the gospel to the “uncircumcised” of today, and not that gospel of John the Baptist of “repent and be baptized for the remission of sin”, for the kingdom is at hand.

Paul builds on the foundation of Christ Jesus, as does Peter, but Paul says he will not build on another mans foundation. If it is the same gospel, then why wouldn’t Paul build on and preach the same gospel as Peter, James and the rest?

I believe only One gospel as all say they do, so am I any different? You are free to inform if you believe I am not in the Body of Christ. I do not believe the gospel that was of the Law and the Prophets. I do not believe in that next gospel of the kingdom is at hand of John the Baptist, (This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John – Acts 18:25). I believe in that One gospel for today of believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Can you inform me if I’m one of those dispensationalists in the “extreme fringe groups”? Is there any hope for me, or others like me? What should I do to be saved?

 

I don’t totally disagree TexasSky, but, cannot we reason among ourselves, honing our belief, perhaps giving more light to some, and perhaps gaining more light ourselves. As we teach, or preach, or are being preached to, or taught, are we not to ever question? I heard a man of God say if he ever found anyone that believed every thing he said, he would know he was talking to an imbecile. We are all not placed in the same part of the Body of Christ.

I see I believe differently than most here on some issues, and to varying degrees on some other websites also, but I believe as the Baptist (not everything) of what they say they believe concerning salvation. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, for it is by the Grace of God, Through faith, that we come, without any work for Jesus Christ did it all for us today, both Gentile and Jew.

To me this looks like the dispensational gospel of Paul. I could have left out the preceding sentence, and perhaps many of you would cheer, and say “right on”. But so very many have a “hang-up” on a word, and that word seems to have been reserved by God for Paul to use. And Christ gave to Paul other words, and phrases not before used in explaining salvation. When is it we first hear of the Body of Christ? Meeting the Lord in the air; or we will always be with the Lord? Circumcised saved By faith, and the Gentile Through faith, two foundations on the foundation of Jesus Christ, and others.

Isn’t this what you preachers preach, and what we teachers teach, and what we Baptists believe? It seems we believe it all, but it also seems most believe this information was given by Jesus as He walked on this earth, in that dispensation.
Christian faith, ituttut Galatians 1:11-12