Comparing ‘Two Different Gospels’

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Acts 28

This is to explain how that after ‘the fall of Israel’ was initiated with the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58) and completed with Paul’s judicial declaration of Acts 28:26-28, setting aside Israel, blinded, as it temporarily is to this day. Then in Acts 28:28 Paul turned from His “Jew first” ministry to begin his 2nd ministry to “make ALL men see the fellowship of the mystery” (Eph. 3:9), whereby Jews and All Men Alike are seen as Gentiles as ‘non-Jews’ (Col. 2:16) during today’s Post-Acts Gentile “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2).

It was after the stoning of Steven, that Jesus from heaven saved and commissioned Paul (Act 9) sending him “to the Jew first” as he did throughout the balance of the Acts period. Yet, in Romans Paul is 1st called “the Apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13). After Acts Paul formed the Gentile “church” (Eph. 3:1-12) that he called “the church, which is His body,” “the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12) as seen in His Seven Post-Acts epistles.

“And [God] hath put all things under his [Jesus’] feet, and gave him to be ‘the HEAD’ over all things to The Church, 23 Which Is HIS BODY, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22-23 (KJV)

  • Any title other than “the body of Christ” for “the church” today is an affront to Christ as the “HEAD” of His BODY. Yet Christ’s Cross-work was on behalf of ALL Men of ALL Races, for “Whosoever Believeth.”
  • By contrast, Jesus and His “Twelve” Apostles preached “the gospel of the Kingdom” to ISRAEL ONLY. The “kingdom come On Earth was “the hope of Israel” during Acts until Acts 28:28.

“he [Jesus] answered and said, I am not sent but [ONLY] unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matt. 15:24)

“These twelve [Apostles] Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go NOT into the way of the GENTILES, … 6 But GO RATHER To The Lost Sheep of the house of ISRAEL.” (Matt. 10:5-6)

The Two Most Notable NT Apostles:

  1. PETER was “the Apostle to the circumcision” preaching Jesus’ “Gospel of the Kingdom” at Pentecost to “ye men of Israel” and “ye men of Judah.” Peter at Pentecost had these opening words.

“YE MEN Of ISRAEL, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God … (Acts 2:22-36)

But the Nation Israel REJECTED God’s Prophets, His Son, as then the Holy Spirit who spoke through Stephen at his stoning (Act 7:57-58). Thus, Israel became “fallen,” “blinded,” and “Cast away” for a time.

“Let their [Israel’s] eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. 11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather THROUGH THEIR [ISRAEL’S] FALL SALVATION IS COME UNTO THE GENTILES, for to provoke them [Israel] to jealousy. (Romans 11:10-11)

“… the Casting Away of Them [Israel] be the reconciling of the world [Gk. kosmos] …” (Rom. 11:15a)

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this MYSTERY [‘secret’ plan of God], lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that Blindness In Part Is [temporarily] Happened To ISRAEL, UNTIL The Fulness of The GENTILES be come in.” (Rom.11:25)

2. PAUL: After God set the Nation Israel aside the Acts period ended. Jesus in His heavenly ministry gave Paul a ‘100% Pure GRACE Gospel,’ the “Gospel of the GRACE of God” (Acts 20:24) for ALL Races since ALL men, including the Jews, are now seen of God as GENTILES [as Non-Jews] during today’s GENTILE “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2) … while Israel is temporarily “LO-AMMI” (Hebrew, “not my people,” Hosea 1:9) “Then said God, Call his name Lo-Ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.” Hosea 1:9 (KJV). Paul preached and declared Grace for all men of faith.

“… so that I [Paul] 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.” (Acts 20:24b)

To the believers Paul wrote: “ye are NOT under the Law, but under GRACE.” (Romans 6:14b (KJV)

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you GENTILES,” Ephesians 3:1 (KJV)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is The GIFT of God: 9 Not of [religious] works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)

“… If By GRACE, Then Is It NO MORE OF [religious] WORKS [for salvation]: otherwise grace is no more grace…” (Romans 11:6)

Today, since after Acts 28:28, “… there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ Is All, And In All [in all the believers].” Colossians 3:11 (KJV)

Paul’s Grace Gospel for today must be received 100% Apart from Dependence upon Any affiliation with Israel, or its religious Laws or calling. We are “saved by grace through faith [alone]” and ‘regenerated’ (Titus 3:5) with Christ’s “Spirit of life” (Rom. 8:2)! Thus, AFTER the ACTS 28:28 setting aside of Israel, Paul wrote:

“For By GRACE are ye Saved Through Faith; and that NOT of yourselves: it is THE GIFT OF GOD: 9 NOT OF [religious] WORKS, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

We note TWO ‘CONTRARY’ N.T. GOSPELS preached by ‘TWO DIFFERENT APOSTLES’ for TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE groups:

  1. Peter preached Jesus’ “Gospel of the Kingdom” (Matt. 24:14) to “the Circumcision (lost sheep of Israel).”
  2. Paul preached “the Gospel of your salvation” (Eph. 1:13) to the “Uncircumcision,” to All men as Gentiles.

“But CONTRARIWISE, when they saw that The Gospel of [for] the UNcircumcision [the GENTILES] Was Committed Unto Me [PAUL], as the gospel of the CIRCUMCISION [ISRAEL ONLY] was unto Peter;

8 (For he that wrought effectually in PETER To The Apostleship Of The Circumcision [ISRAEL, cf. Matt. 10:5-6], the same was mighty In Me [PAUL] Toward The GENTILES:” Galatians 2:7-8 (KJV ONLY)

COMPARING The TWO DIFFERENT GOSPEL MESSAGES:

Note in the verses below how that which was “SPOKEN” by Israel’s prophets … “Since The World Began” (Acts 3:21) Cannot Be The Same as that which was “KEPT SECRET Since the World Began” (Rom. 16:25).

  1. Peter preached to “Ye men of ISRAEL” (Act 2:22) concerning that which was “SPOKEN by all His [God’s] Holy prophets SINCE the World Began” (Act 3:21).
  2. Paul preached; “The Revelation of the MYSTERY [God’s secret gospel]” “that was KEPT SECRET Since The World Began.” (cf. Rom. 16:25), seeing ALL races today as non-Israelites (as GENTILES).

The “MYSTERY” Defined: The word “Mystery” in the Greek is ‘musterion,’ “a God-ordained ‘secret’” that was “Hid In God,” “Kept Secret” until Jesus from heaven revealed it directly to Paul “for you Gentiles” (cf. Eph. 3:1) for us today during today’s age of “the dispensation of the GRACE of God” (Eph. 3:2).

“For I [Paul] speak to you GENTILES, inasmuch as I AM THE APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES” (Rom. 11:13)

 “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you GENTILES, 2If ye have heard of the Dispensation Of The Grace Of God which is given me to you-ward: Ephesians 3:1-2 (KJV)

Today our relationship with God is built upon Paul’s TWO NOW REVEALED MYSTERIES;

1. Cor. 2:7-8 concerns the revelation of Christ’s precious Cross-Work on behalf of all mankind buy which we are saved, redeemed, forgiven, and justified, destroying the power of Satan’s evil plan. This specific “Mystery [secret plan of God]” concerns the precious Cross of Christ Having To Be “KEPT SECRET” … so the Devil would do his necessary evil work of crucifying the lord Jesus Christ … for our benefit.

“For I [Paul] neither received it [this revelation] of [from] man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of [from] Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:12 (KJV) “But we speak the wisdom of God in a Mystery [secret], even the Hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our [eternal] glory: 8 Which None of The Princes of This World Knew [princes = Satan’s fallen angels and their earthly inspired authorities]: for had THEY known it [the Mystery/secret], they would NOT Have Crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7-8)

NOTE: Satan and his ‘princes’ (angelic, and earthly religious and governmental rulers) did NOT KNOW “the Mystery [secret]” plan of God for the CRUCIFIXION of “the Son of God.” The fact is that God used Satan to Crucify the Lord Jesus in accord with His eternal plan… for our Redemption. No doubt, Satan in Retrospect, would NOT have Crucified Jesus since Satan now has to contend with millions of eternally saved Christians who bear the very same Resurrected “Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Christ” INDWELLING each of them.

2. Then after Acts Paul wrote of a “GREAT [Grk. megas] mystery: but I [Paul] speak Concerning Christ And The Church. Eph. 5:32 (KJV) This is Paul’s Post-Acts “revelation of the mystery” of the heaven-bound Gentile “church, which is His BODY” (Eph. 1:22b-23a) of which Christ is “the HEAD.” (Eph. 4:15, 5:23).

“Whereof I [Paul] am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil [Gk. pleroo, to complete] the word of God; 26  Even [that is] ‘The Mystery [secret]’ which HATH BEEN HID From Ages And From Generations, …: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of THIS ‘MYSTERY AMONG THE GENTILES’; which is CHRIST IN YOU [plural, the member of His body], the Hope of [heaven’s] Glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (complete) in Christ Jesus:” (Colossians 1:25-28a (KJV)

“… I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you GENTILES, 2 If ye have heard of ‘the dispensation of the grace of God’ which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that By Revelation he made known unto me The Mystery [secret]; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in The Mystery of Christ)” (cf. Eph. 3:1-4 (KJV)

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my [Paul’s] gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the Revelation Of The Mystery, which was Kept Secret Since The World Began,” (Rom. 16:25 (KJV)

TWO ETERNAL DESTINIES for the TWO PEOPLE GROUPS of GOD ALMIGHTY.  

  1. The Eternal Destiny of The Remnant Nation Israel is to co-reign with Christ ON EARTH after Christ’s return to earth (cf. Rev. 5:10, 20:6). Then “Thy kingdom come thy will be done ON EARTH.”
  2. The Eternal Destiny of The Gentile Church, “the Body of Christ,” is to Reign with Him “In the Heavenly places” (cf. 2Tim. 2:12, Eph. 1:2).

“For our conversation [Old English for ‘citizenship’] is IN HEAVEN; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious [resurrection] body…” Phili. 3:20-21

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious APPEARING of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 “When Christ, who is our life [Gr. Zoe, spirit-life], shall APPEAR [Grk. phaneroo, be made visible], then shall ye also [simultaneously] APPEAR [be made visible], with him in [heavens] glory.” Col. 3:4 (KJV)

Today we as faithful believers have no need to ask for blessings since we have already been “blessed” and “sealed” “with all spiritual blessings in THE HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST” (Eph. 1:3, 13) having the

‘Since We Are “SEALED WITH THE ONE SPIRIT” [Eph. 1:13], IN AN ETERNAL UNION WITH THE RESURECTED SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST [Eph. 1:3, 1Cor 6:17] … Our “Life Is Hid with Christ In God” (Col. 3:3) Until Christ Shall Is Made Visible In Heaven’s Glory.’

and “If we suffer [endure, living by His life], We Shall also REIGN With Him…” (2 Tim. 2:12a)

Knowing His love, His grace, and our Eternal destiny, we as believers meanwhile serve Him, while waiting to ultimately “Appear with Him in [Heaven’s] glory” (cf. Col. 3:4).

  1. Thus, we are to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
  2. Thus, we are to “Rightly Divide” what in the Bible applies to Israel … from what applies to the Gentile “body of Christ.”  We adhere only to that which applies to us as the GENTILE “body of Christ” as seen in Paul’s POST-ACTS Epistles (i.e. Eph., Phili., Col., 1&2 Tim., Titus, Philemon).
  3. We know we are “not under the Law, but under Grace” (Rom. 6:14), thus we live in the rarified realm of God’s ‘pure grace’ where our Sins are ‘Not Counted Against Us’ (cf. Rom. 4:5-8).
  4. We know that All Things occurring in our daily lives work for our eternal good and in accord with God’s Eternal Plan & Purpose (cf. Rom. 8:28-29).
  5. We can rejoice in “All Things” knowing we are “sealed” securely in Christ’ (Eph. 1:13) and that “nothing can separate us from the love of God” (Rom. 8:31), nor alter our relationship with Him while He is at Work In Us … Renewing Our Soul’s Mind, Emotion and Will. (cf. Rom. 5:2, Phili. 2:13, 1:6)
  6. We know that ultimately;

“in the Dispensation of The Fulness of Times he [God] might gather together in one ALL THINGS IN CHRIST, both which are IN HEAVEN, and which are ON EARTH; even In Him:” (Eph. 1:10)

We remain “faithful” as we are;

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Titus 2:13)  “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in [heaven’s] glory. (Col. 3:4)