Below is a summary of the details discussed in the preceding lesson parts of this gospel (the gospel of God), as well as additional points that highlight its unique standing in relation to the other gospels in this study. The table will also be a useful means to run comparisons with the other gospels to really get a grasp on the differences and transitions that occurred within each.
I will use this section to cover my tracks and remind you of things I may mentioned in previous posts about the gospel of God. Tracing one's steps and reminding one of things said is quite scriptural as both Peter and Paul did this, based on these verses,
Phil.3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous [tedious], but for you it is safe.
2 Peter 1:12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.
To quickly recap on my views regarding salvation in the Kingdom gospel, I believe that when saved into this gospel and one passed away, their inheritance and destination would be similar to the Old Testament saints who died in faith according to the good news God had made known in their day. Since these Kingdom believers, just like all Old Testament believers before them, placed their faith in a coming Redeemer and Messiah, they all, at death, would be asleep in Christ, and would experience resurrection at the sound of the trumpet* during the last stage of Christ's second advent. This means that they will awake in resurrection just before the Millennial Kingdom which they will inherit.
At Pentecost and during the early Acts period, the gospel of God was still predominantly Jewish. It was not actively being preached to Gentile's barring those who were in the synagogues, namely, the Greeks who were allies of the Jews and responsive to their religion! On the day of Pentecost, Peter specifically addressed Jews. Notice the following designations, "men of Judea" (Acts 2:14), "men of Israel" (Acts 2:22), and the "house of Israel" (Acts 2:36).
As with the gospel of the Kingdom, the gospel of God had works-based conditions that went apart with faith. We can get a good context of the conditions of this gospel by the preaching of Peter in Acts chapters 2 and 3. As already mentioned, the gospel of God is the gospel of the Kingdom with two added element, the resurrection of Jesus, their Messiah and the requirement of Holy Spirit baptism. So, we see in Peter's first message after Pentecost how he lays out the conditions,
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. ... 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.
Repentance was needed. They had to turn their mindset around 180 degrees and repent for their unbelief and in killing their Messiah. They had to confess His name and get baptized in water for the remission of their sins. This was necessary as acts of preparation for receiving the Kingdom. In addition, we find the baptism of the Holy Spirit which in the context of priesthood (Israel's covenant role in the Millennium), is the anointing oil for their office (Exodus 29:4; Leviticus 8:6), and the empowerment of signs to prove to the rest of Israel that their message was indeed ordained by God.
We clearly see evidence, just like in the Kingdom gospel, of additional acts, or works, to prove their faith in the message. The early church members sold all they had and brought the money to the apostles. They continued in breaking of bread and prayer, they continued in temple worship and sacrifices, and they obeyed the law.
Part 12 will continue with the 'participants' of the gospel of God.
In this final extension of the "message" section of the gospel of God, I'd like to draw attention to why it was "necessary" for Paul to go to the synagogues and teach this gospel, and what was the "strategy" for doing so.
The Necessity (to go to the synagogues)
If Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles, with a God-given message to the Gentiles, why did he keep going to the synagogues with a majority Jewish attendance, and why was he not preaching the gospel of grace?
The church of God had grown in great numbers in the early part of Acts. The 12-apostles were operating in the power of the Holy Spirit accompanying their message of the gospel of God with remarkable miracles, to the point that they were reverently feared,
Acts 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
Acts 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Acts 5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
At the end of Part 7 I raised a few rhetorical questions,
Before I get into the origin of the Gospel of God, 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 in this blog, we can trust that every word of every paragraph in the King James 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! This actually means two different gospels.
