The Gospel of the Kingdom “and” The Gospel of the Grace of God
The Gospel of the Kingdom
In the New Testament, God tells of the two gospels. The first gospel is called the gospel of the kingdom. This gospel is written of in the books of Matthew through John, and Hebrews through Revelation. The second gospel is called the gospel of the grace of God. This gospel is written of in the 13 epistles of Paul. These books are Romans through Philemon.
To believe the gospel of the kingdom, the Jews were to believe that Jesus was the Son of God and had come to earth to establish His earthly kingdom. In this gospel, the Jews believed that Jesus Christ was their redeemer, messiah and king.
The gospel of the kingdom is the gospel that Jesus Christ (while on earth) preached. This gospel of the kingdom is also the gospel that Peter and the 11 preached.
The gospel of the kingdom is the “good news” that God would provide an earthly kingdom for His chosen people, the Jews. In fact, when Jesus Christ came to earth, the Jews had an opportunity to have this gospel be fulfilled. However, as the Bible tells us, the Jews rejected their king and thus rejected this gospel of the kingdom.
God knew that the Jews would reject this gospel and their king. As seen in the Book of Revelation, Jesus Christ will return to earth, defeat Satan and establish His kingdom on earth. This kingdom will start with Christ’s 1000 year reign on earth, which is known as the Millennial Kingdom.
Below are verses in which Jesus Christ refers to His “gospel of the kingdom,” and His kingdom.
Matthew 9:35 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.
This gospel was also known as the gospel of the kingdom of God as seen in Mark 1:14-15.
Mark 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
We see in the Book of Matthew, that Matthew refers to this gospel of the kingdom as the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.
We also see in Matthew 4:17 that Jesus Christ referred to His kingdom as the “kingdom of heaven,” and preached repentance for the “kingdom of heaven” is at hand.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
We see in Matthew 10:5-8 where Jesus sent out His twelve, telling them to go preach, saying “The Kingdom of Heaven” is at hand.
Matthew 10:5-8
5 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.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
The requirement for salvation through the gospel of the kingdom was by belief in Jesus as their Lord and Messiah. They believed that Jesus was the Son of God and would establish His earthly kingdom and be their King.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
The Gospel of the Grace of God
The gospel of the grace of God is the gospel of the death, burial and resurrection. God tells us of this gospel in I Corinthians 15:1-4. In this gospel we see that Jesus Christ died for our sins upon the cross, was buried and rose on the third day.
We are saved by our belief in the gospel of the grace of God. We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins upon the cross, was buried and was resurrected three days later. God gave this “gospel of the grace of God” to the entire world when the Jews rejected the gospel of the kingdom when they stoned Stephen to death and thus rejected the gift of the Holy Spirit which was given to those who believed the gospel of the kingdom, as seen in Acts Chapter 7.
The word grace used as a doctrinal term is defined as “unmerited favor.” This means that we have done nothing to deserve God’s mercy. It is only through our belief in what Jesus Christ has done on our behalf that God promises us hope of salvation. This hope of salvation becomes “salvation realized” when we believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, was buried and was resurrected – it is just that simple.
Jesus Christ only entrusted Paul to preach this gospel to us. Paul was given this gospel by divine revelation from Jesus Christ as seen in Galatians 1:12.
Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Peter and the 11 were entrusted with the gospel of the kingdom, but only Paul was entrusted to preach the gospel of the grace of God. Below, we see where God tells us in I Corinthians 15:1-4 what is the “gospel of the grace of God.”
I Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how 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.
Paul tells us in Acts 20:24 that he received his ministry to testify of the gospel of the grace of God, which he received from Jesus Christ.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Please tell others how easy and simple that it is to be saved under the gospel of the grace of God. Please tell them that once they believe this gospel they are then sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise until Christ redeems us.