How the Gospels Transitioned through ACTS (Part 4)

How the Gospels Transitioned through ACTS

(Part 4 --- The Gospel of God)

Before I get into the topic, I'd like to remind you of the infallibility of God's Word as printed in the King James Bible (1611). As I have written in other posts, we can trust that every word of every paragraph in this version is accurate and has inspired meaning and context. 

So, when we read of the 'gospel of God' in some places, and in other places of the 'gospel of Christ', we, as students of the Word, should take note and understand that it's not just an inconsistency or a reference to the same gospel with two different names. No! 

It's similar to the expressions, the "day of the Lord" (Amos 5:18), the "day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor.1:8; 2 Cor.1:14), the "day of God" (2 Peter 3:12; Rev.16:14), or "the last day(s)", which are specifically used in the context of future events when Christ will intervene decisively for judgment and/or salvation at different stages of His return.

We should therefore understand that there are reasons for these descriptions, and we should know (or find out) what these reasons are. In this study we will learn that the gospel of the Kingdom is different from the gospel of God, which in turn is different from the gospel of Christ.

Where do we find the Gospel of God?

The gospel of God was prevalent throughout the Acts period, which is approximately from 30AD to 60AD. We find references to the gospel of God in the missionary epistles of Paul, specifically, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Corinthians, and Romans, and also in 1 Peter.

1 Thessalonians 2:9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

2 Corinthians 11:7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Who preached it, and to whom was it preached?

The gospel of God was preached by the early apostles, most notably the 12 Apostles and also Paul (and his co-workers). The church of God* was entirely based on this gospel; in other words, Jews, proselytes, and allies** (uncircumcised Gentiles that blessed Jews and believed in Jehovah (eg: the Roman Centurion of Acts 10, and Pauls' companion, Titus). These are the persons who heard the gospel of God, believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and were saved into the church of God and into the 'little flock', that short program of God (or work on the earth), referenced by Paul***,

* Galatians 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

* 1 Thessalonians 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

** Acts 13:16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. ... 26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

*** Rom.9:28 For he [God] will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

With this point clarified, I'd like to raise an interesting question. 

If Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles, with a God-given message to the Gentiles, why did he keep going to the synagogues where he encountered these people described above?

My answer would be that he couldn't go anywhere else, but to the synagogues during these early days. Consider this. If Paul went directly to the Gentiles*, —to the pagans, to the idol worshippers, to the people who knew absolutely NOTHING of the God of Israel, let alone the man, Jesus Christ, how in the world would he be able to convince them that this man died for their sins, to justify them before a righteous and holy God?

* Eph.2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12  That at that time ye 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:

* Acts 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

No! Paul went to the synagogues of the only people who had a basis for believing his message, which, by the way, could be proved by the scriptures (Acts 18:28, Rom.16:26), that the Jews already knew and revered. At least, this would make it easier to convince some, and then progressively lead them into greater truths which would be presented in the gospel of Christ, (to be expounded in my next post).

Act.9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

Act.13:5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: 

Act.13:14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

Act.14:1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

Act.17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where [there] was a synagogue of the Jews:

Act.18:19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

What is the Gospel of God?

As defined in my previous post, we know that the Kingdom Gospel was preached by John the Baptist and Jesus during the four gospel books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. (See Matt.9:35; Matt.24:14; Mk.1:14). The focus of this gospel was to believe in Jesus as the Messiah, get water baptized (for the remission of sins and enter into that national position of priesthood (Exo.19:6), obey the Mosaic Law and do works that proved your faith (as encouraged in the book of James). The gospel of the Kingdom was wholly Jewish and literally only suitable for the Jewish way of life, (Matt.10:6, Matt.15:24).

When we get to the book of Acts, we encounter the first preaching of the gospel of God. The gospel of the Kingdom was able to progress to the gospel of God because of one HUGE, singular event! The resurrection of Jesus Christ. The fact that Christ was risen, and alive, meant that he could come back again as King and set up that promised Kingdom. The gospel of God can thus be identified by the addition of this one criterion, and we hear Peter passionately preaching exactly this, when he mentioned that God raised Jesus from [out of] the dead, in his first message after the Pentecost event.

Notice how the emphasis in Peters message is all about the resurrection of Christ. He tells how David is still dead in his grave, but that Jesus did not see corruption,

Acts 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

As additional examples, we see much of the same in Peters second message in Acts 3:13-21, and also in the beginning of Paul's message in Acts 13:30-39.

So, what was the Gospel of God? It was taking the message of the Kingdom and focusing it entirely on the resurrection and return of Jesus Christ as King and Messiah. Jesus had risen and was indeed the Lord of Glory. The Jews, whom Peter said had murdered the Messiah, had to repent and be baptized in His name, identifying themselves with Him. The call was for ALL of Israel to be saved so that their Christ could come back and restore the Kingdom and bring in times of refreshing, Acts 3:19-21.

What is the outcome or result of the receiving it?

There are other factors to consider in this view, bearing in mind that we have a 'sprinkling' of Gentiles involved here; as Paul identified by saying, "whosoever among you feareth God". During this time, the gospel of God was building up the "little flock", (Jews who believed in Jesus as their Messiah), and these would inherit the Kingdom (Luke 12:32). It is my personal view that the Gentiles who were caught up in this program would be counted as 'the sheep' who supported Israel and would enter into the Millennial Kingdom after the preceding 'Sheep and Goats' judgement.

The transition period of Acts is like a ball of string that is looped in an infinite number of ways, some of these we can untie with insights and logic from the studying and cross referencing we do in the Word. Other strings just cannot be undone, and it's these that I leave in the hands of God who Himself will determine the fate and assignment of men's hearts into the earthly program of Israel or into the heavenly program of the Body of Christ. 

On the other hand, and as we will learn in the next part of this series, Paul, being the apostle to the Gentiles would have certainly attempted to win these Gentiles into the Body of Christ as he went from city to city and synagogue to synagogue. But more on this point in the next post.