How the Gospels Transitioned through ACTS (Part 5)

How the Gospels Transitioned through ACTS

(Part 5 --- The Gospel of Christ)

As we build on the transition of the gospels through the book of Acts, it is important to keep in mind a progression of events that influenced its message. To do this, I'd like to reflect on the details we have already discussed, and just build it up again to get a good understanding of the progress of change, not only from the gospels, but also from the practicality and presentation of the good news to the people of that day.

We can logically deduce that the lifestyle and mentality of a typical Jew (let's call him Jacob), who lived during the Acts period was as follows. Jacob was law abiding, —well, as far as possible! The main laws were no problem to keep as it was part of the routines that Jacob was used to. Jacob went regularly to the temple to offer sacrifices. He upheld the Sabbath and did the best he could to remember and practice the many intricate laws he learned from childhood from his father and the visits to the synagogue. Jacob had a good general understanding of the scriptures and would know about the history of his people, about the promises of God to his ancestral fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He would know of the many prophecies for Israel, about the coming of a Messiah and King who would vanquish the enemies of Israel and reign in a restored and glorious Kingdom, in which the Jews would be kings, rulers, and priests, over the Gentile nations. Since Israel was under the dominant boot of Rome at that time, these promises and prophesies sounded like heaven! When would God speak again? It had been 400 years since the last prophet to encourage Israel!

The gospel of the Kingdom

But, one day, Jacob hears about a prophet in the wilderness, and soon after that, about a Nazarene, both preaching about the good news that the Kingdom of God is near. The Pharisees would have nothing to do with this Jesus, even though He did the most incredible miracles. Surely these signs proved that God was with Him? The Kingdom gospel that Jesus preached was only for the Jews. It was a call of repentance, to turn back to God and be baptized in water as a prophetic statement of being washed for priesthood. But the Jews, stirred into unbelief by the Pharisees and the High Priest, would reject Him and His message, and eventually, like all other past prophets, kill Him.

The gospel of God

Jacob was surprised to later find out that this Kingdom gospel did have effect and that there was a group of 120 devout followers that were meeting in an upper room in Jerusalem. What is more is that they were speaking a new message, proclaiming that unlike King David who was still in the grave, this Jesus did not see corruption. He was alive. He had risen, and He was the prophesied Messiah. Peter who preached that morning, —in more than one language by the way, were calling all Jews to recognize that their Messiah had come, and that if Israel wanted to see restoration and have freedom from Rome, they had to repent for their unbelief and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and follow Him alone. There was great remorse and response in the city that morning and many converted and in an act of great faith, sold all they had and distributed their belongings amongst each other in the Jewish church of God, the assembly in Jerusalem.

The gospel of God was clear, and every believing Jew knew exactly what it offered them. If one believed that Jesus was the Christ, then sell all one had and join the church in Jerusalem. There was no need to have earthly wealth as Jesus was coming back and the Kingdom was soon going to appear and every Jewish believer would have a mansion in the Kingdom, prepared for them with every Gentile offering them service with willingness and joy. To have this inheritance, one would have to continue steadfastly in the law and endure the trials faithfully right up until the last day. One's works were important as it proved your faith and commitment to the King. Like the parable of the talents that Jesus taught, one had to use everything that God provided you for the enrichment of the Kingdom. If you were not faithful in your increase for the Kingdom sake, you would be cast out. The price was all or nothing. You had to pick up your cross and follow the Christ. In order to find life one had to lose it. But the prize was worth it, like a great pearl, or a rich treasure in a field.

The apostles continued to preach this gospel of God, taking it out into Judaea and surrounding areas, but Jacob saw their struggles to convince the elites, and he knew that the apostles could not go much further into the world until the Jews were converted themselves. Persecution was escalating too with the apostles first instructed to not preach in 'that name', then they were beaten and thrown into prison, and finally on a fateful day, Stephen, one of the church deacons was stoned to death for his faith in the Messiah. Things were seemingly falling apart, especially with Saul going on the rampage against those who belonged to 'the Way'. But things were not falling apart, they were actually falling into place, at least in the context of God's greater plan.

The gospel of Christ

In about 34-35AD, at the height of Saul's persecutions, God intervened. God would start a new program through Saul's conversion, and set new pattern of grace. As the Kingdom program diminished, so the mystery program would increase. The Lord revealed many revelations to Paul throughout his ministry, but the most important would be the gospel of Christ which would pave the way for Gentiles to be saved by grace without the use of Israel, and subsequently become known and the Body of Christ.

Now, having painted a picture of this transitional time through the eyes of our fictional character, Jacob, who saw how the Kingdom gospel developed into the gospel of God, and why, I'd like to discuss the gospel of Christ in greater detail, describing what I believe would be the strategy of Paul in presenting this gospel, to whom it was preached, and what it's message was all about.

Paul's Strategy

Paul knew from early in his ministry that he was called as the Apostle to the Gentiles (Rom.11:13). Yet, his strategy was to go to the Jewish synagogues as he travelled from city to city, preaching not the gospel of Christ, but rather, the gospel of God. This gospel was his entry point into converting people to Christ. Going directly to the pagan Gentiles would be fruitless as they knew less than nothing of Israel's God and the Son of man, Jesus Christ. Going to the synagogues of the Jews made sense because they already knew the scriptures upon which the gospel of God was based on. It was just a matter of proving that Jesus Christ was the one prophesied about in the scriptures and that He had already come, was killed, but had risen again, fulfilling what the prophets had spoken (since the world began, Acts 3:21). This gospel was the same gospel that the 12 Apostles preached all over Jerusalem and surrounds. The 'church of God' (Acts 20:28) was wholly based upon this, and it is my personal view that Jewish converts* of this gospel were added to the 'little flock' (Lk.12:32) of Israel.

So, how do we get to the gospel of Christ? It is my view that Paul would approach these converts of the gospel of God, and he would encourage them to hear of a new and deeper revelation that he received of the Lord. For those who were interested, Paul would invite them to come out of the synagogue and meet in a home of a friend or a contact in that city. It is here were Paul would present them with the gospel of Christ, to which those who converted to this gospel would become the first members of the fledgling Body of Christ.

Acts 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

There is still much to say to clarify this gospel and compare it with the gospel of God. This I will do in the next post of this study.

---Footnote-------------------
*I say this as there were Gentiles, (friends of Israel), who also visited the synagogues and believed in the God of Israel. If these Gentiles chose not to convert to Paul's gospel of Christ, they would find salvation as the 'sheep' in the 'Sheep and Goats' judgement before the Millennial Kingdom. It is important to remember that this was not yet the grace gospel! The gospel of God was still based on the Kingdom gospel which required works and to endure to the end, (Matt.10:22). Even though they believed and received the gospel of God, and were members in the church in Jerusalem, since they were not proselyted into the Jewish faith they could not become part of the little flock of Jews and could not share in the Jewish promises and national preeminence of Israel during the Millennium. If they continued in their friendship and support of Israel, they would enter the Millennium under the blessing of the 'sheep' judgement of Christ and form part of the other Gentile nations who would enter the Millennium because they supported Israel during the Tribulation.

Where do we find the Gospel of Christ?

The gospel of Christ is preached throughout the Acts period, approx. 40AD - 60AD. It is typically referenced in Paul's early epistles, specifically, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians and Galatians. This gospel was presented to converts of the gospel of God.

Have a look at the opening statement of the book of Romans. It provides a beautiful context of BOTH the gospel of God and the gospel that Paul called, "my gospel", the gospel of Christ, which Paul held so dear to his heart,

Romans 1:1-17 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: [notice the clear content of this gospel, the identity and resurrection of Jesus]. 

5 [Now notice the switch to the gospel of Christ. Paul, referring to Jesus in the previous verse, now continues], By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations [not only limited to Israel], for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son [the gospel of Christ], that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Now that we know by assumption, how the gospels were presented, I'd like to match up the gospel of God vs. the gospel of Christ in the next post. Things become easier to see and identify when the two gospels are compared. Finally, we will tackle the gospel of the grace of God once we have better clarity on these two.

Click here to continue this study with Part 1 of 'Understanding the New Testament Gospel Differences'.