Gospel of the kingdom or the gospel of grace which one is it ?
This is just a quick study to outline the differences in the gospel that Jesus preached to the nation of israel and the gospel that is given to the gentiles by paul. I’m writing this so that we can recognise the differences between the two, the distinct purposes they both carry and how we should never blend the two together.
When Jesus arrived on the scene the first time 2000 years ago, he came specifically for the people of Israel and NOT the gentile nations.
Matthew 15:24
"I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
He even commanded the disciples only to go out and witness to Israel and not the gentile nations.
Matthew 10:5-7
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
So we can see that in order to be eligible to enter this kingdom that Jesus was preaching you had to be of Jewish heritage.
This reason for this is because Jesus’s original objective was to bring in the prophesied earthly kingdom which was promised to Israel through their forefathers (David, Abraham ect...).
Jesus was ready to do this however Israel were not, they were not in the right state for this to occur. Therefore there were certain works that the entire nation of Israel needed to do, in order to get the nation as a whole into the right condition so that Jesus could then bring in the kingdom.
That’s why there’s lots of passages within the gospels that say things such as ”the kingdom is at hand” or the “kingdom is near”. The Gospel of the kingdom was something that was spoken of with a sense of urgency because Jesus was ready to implement it.
Matthew 10:6
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mark 1:15
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Now some of the things they were required to do were things like.....
Water baptism
Water baptism today is not a requirement for someone to be saved.
But back in this time in order to receive the Holy Spirit they had to be baptised.
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Everything that Jesus preached was pertaining to the nation of Israel.
However this is not the same under the gospel of grace, once someone puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ death burial and resurrection as full payment for their sin they receive the Holy Spirit at the very moment they make the decision to do this. We become baptised within the spirit.
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.
1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we bebond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
The Jews were also required to sell all of their possessions if they wanted to inherit the kingdom and have everlasting life
Luke 12:32-33 KJV
[32] Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. [33] Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Acts 2:44-45
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Even when the rich man asked what he must do to inherit eternal life Jesus said
Matthew 19:21
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Another requirement is that they also had to forsake family too.
Matthew 19:29
And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
From this we can gather if one wanted to inherit eternal life and gain access into the earthly kingdom Jesus was preaching one had to..
Believe in Jesus as messiah as well as
Sell all their possessions to their poor
Forsake unbelieving family
Be baptised
Keep the commandments
We can see from these scriptures that this gospel that Jesus preached required an element of works in order to be eligible to fufill its requirements.
Now let’s move onto the gospel of grace
Because israel rejected their messiah Jesus Christ, the kingdom that was going to be brought into action to them was postponed and God turned his attention to the gentiles. The bible says that israel is now in darkness until God is finished with the gentiles at the rapture.
Romans 11:25
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Because of this, a new gospel was given to the world in which we would be saved.
This is the gospel of grace that was given to Paul by Jesus Christ himself to be preached among the nations. Paul was raised up by God in order to instruct the gentiles on how to live their lives
Galatians 1:3-4
[3] Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, [4] Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: …
Galatians 1:11-12
Galatians 1:11-12 KJV
[11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. [12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. …
The gospel of grace is that
Salvation is now freely provided to anyone who simply believes in the death and shed blood of Jesus Christ as atonement for their sins. It is completely void of works or behaviour and is a free gift given by solely by his grace through faith.
Romans 3:22-26
[22] Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that BELIEVE: for there is no difference: [23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his BLOOD, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
1 Thessalonians 4:14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Philippians 3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
So from this study we can conclude that both of the messages that Jesus preached to israel and what Paul taught the gentiles are two totally different gospels that are used for different purposes.
Many preachers today do not correctly rightly divide the word and instead blend the two together, which not only causes confusion amongst believers but produces a gospel of works.
I will state again, we are under the gospel of grace if anyone wants to receive eternal life and enter into a personal relationship with God. Then all one must do is believe that Jesus died and shed his blood for their sins.
if you would like to receive eternal life and enter into a personal relationship with God just simply believe, if your not sure how to pray then start praying this prayer with a genuine heart.
Dear God
I admit that I am a sinner. I have done many things that don’t please, I believe that your son Jesus Christ died on the cross for me, to save me and I believe that he risen from the dead three days later to pay the penalty for my sins so that I could be forgiven. You did what I could not do for myself. I come to you now and ask you to take control of my life, I give it to you. Help me to live every day in a way that pleases you. I love you, Lord, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you in Jesus’ name amen.
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