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 Jews and the gospel that is given to the gentiles by paul. I’m doing this so that we can understand that both are different and are for different purposes and we should not blend the two together.
When Jesus arrived on the scene the first time 2000 years ago, he came specifically for the Jews 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 the Jews 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 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 things that the Jews 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, however it is a great thing to do.
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.
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
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the WASHING of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Acts 1:5
For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit......
Romans 8:9-11
- For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
The Jews were also required to sell 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 kingdom one had to..
Believe in Jesus as messiah as well as
Sell all their possessions to their poor
Forsake 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 the Jews rejected their messiah Jesus Christ, the kingdom that was going to be brought into action to the Jews was postponed and God turned his attention to the gentiles. The bible says that the Jews are 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 resurrection of Jesus Christ as atonement for their sins. It is completely void of works or behaviour and his solely dependent upon belief.
Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son: that whosever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
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
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 the Jews 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 rose again 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 then pray this prayer with a genuine heart.
Dear God
I admit that I am a sinner. I have done many things that don’t please you. I am sorry and I repent. I ask you to forgive me.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.