Comparing ‘Two Different Gospels’

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Acts 28

Comparing ‘Two Different Gospels’

Preached by ‘Two Key Apostles’ for the ‘Two Different People Groups of God’

Unto ‘Two Different Eternal Destinies’

by Arthur J. Licursi (updated 07/23/26)

The “diminishing of them [Israel]” (Rom. 11:12) progressed with the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58) until “the fall of them” was sealed with Paul’s judicial declaration of God turning away from Israel … to the Gentiles (Acts 28:26-28, Eph. 3:1-2). Thus, being blinded, The Kingdom “hope of Israel” was set aside (cf. Rom. 11:25), as Israel remains. Thus began Israel’s current prophetic ‘Lo-ammi’ period of two thousand years.

Hos. 1:9 “Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.”

Hos 6:2 “After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.”

Shortly after the stoning of Steven, Jesus ‘from heaven’ saved and commissioned the Apostle Paul (Act 9) sending him to “the Jew first” with the New Covenant gospel he preached throughout his Acts period ministry. Paul is called “THE Apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13). Later, with Acts 28:28, Paul turned from His “Jew first” ministry to begin a 2nd ministry “to make All Men see the fellowship of The Mystery” (Eph. 3:9). Thus today unbelieving Lost Jews and ALL LOST Men are seen alike as ‘non-Jews,’ i.e., Gentiles (cf. Col. 2:16) during today’s Post-Acts Gentile “Dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:1-2). It was only after Acts, began today’s Gentile “church,” the Spiritual “church, which is His body,” “the body of Christ” (Eph. 1:22-23), as clearly seen mainly in Paul’s Post-Acts prison epistles of Ephesians and Colossians.

  • “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 insult to Christ as “the HEAD” of His BODY. Yet, Christ’s Cross-work is on behalf of ALL Men of ALL Races, for “Whosoever Believeth.”
  • By contrast, Jesus and His “Twelve” Apostles preached His “the gospel of the Kingdom” to ISRAEL ONLY (see Matt. 15:24, 10:5-6). The “kingdom come ON EARTH was “the hope of Israel” and Paul during Acts, UNTIL Acts 28:28, when ‘the Offer’ of ‘The Kingdom’ EXPIRED. Israel was utterly ‘fallen’ after hundreds of years of evil sin and rebellion in unbelief.
  • God then turned to the “Gentiles” (cf. Eph. 3:1-2) revealing The Mystery [former secret] Gospel to Paul.

The Two Most Notable N.T. Apostles:

  1. PETER as “the Apostle of the circumcision” preached Jesus’ “Gospel of the Kingdom” at Pentecost to “YE MEN of ISRAEL, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God … (Acts 2:22-36). But the Nation Israel REJECTED and killed God’s Prophets, His Son, and the Holy Spirit in stoning Stephen (Act 7:57-58). Thus, Israel was “fallen,” “blinded,” and “cast away” for a time (see below).

“Let their [Israel’s] EYES BE DARKENED [blind], 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. Then Jesus in His celestial ministry gave Paul a GRACE “Gospel for ALL Races, ALL lost men; including unbelieving Jews, are now seen of God as lost 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” - “Then said God, Call his name Lo-Ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.” (Hosea 1:9).

Paul testified to the Grace Gospel for ALL men of saving ‘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)

“… ye are NOT under the Law, but under GRACE.” (Rom. 6:14b (KJV) “… If By GRACE, Then Is It NO MORE OF [religious or good] WORKS [for salvation]: otherwise, grace is no more grace…” (Romans 11:6)

It was after Acts that Paul most succinctly declares the 100% PURE GRACE GOSPEL in Ephesians.

“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)

Today, after Acts 28:28, “… there is neither Greek [i.e., Gentile] 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)

Thus, Paul’s Grace Gospel for today must be received 100% Apart from Dependence upon Any affiliation with Israel, its Laws, Hope, Or Calling. We are “saved by grace through faith [alone]” and ‘regenerated’ (Titus 3:5) with Christ’s “indwelling life” (Col. 1:27)! AFTER the ACTS 28:28 setting aside of Israel, Paul wrote:

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this “mystery [secret]” among the Gentiles; which is Christ IN YOU, the hope [expectation] of [heaven’s] glory:” (Col 1:27)

Thus, 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 ALL men as the “Uncircumcision;” (Gentiles).

“7But CONTRARIWISE, when they saw that The Gospel of [for] the UNcircumcision [non-Jews] 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 Two Different Gospel Messages:

Note: Peter’s gospel had been “SPOKEN” by all the prophets … Since The World Began” (Acts 3:21) CANNOT be the Same as Paul’s Post-Acts Gospel which was “KEPT SECRET Since the World Began” (Rom. 16:25).

  1. Peter had 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 now preached; “The Revelation of the MYSTERY [God’s secret gospel]” “that was KEPT SECRET Since The World Began.” (Rom. 16:25), seeing ALL races as Non-Israelites (i.e., as GENTILES).

The word “MYSTERY” Defined: “Mystery” in the Greek is ‘musterion,’ meaning “a God-ordained SECRET” “HID in God,” “Kept Secret” until Jesus revealed it directly to Paul for us today. The Knowledge of “the Mystery” is for us “Gentiles” during today’s age of “the DISPENSATION of the GRACE of God.”

“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)

Our relationship with God is built upon Paul’s ‘TWO’ Now Revealed ‘MYSTERIES’;

1. The 1Cor. 2:7-8 ‘Mystery’ concerns the revelation of Christ’s precious Cross-Work on behalf of all men by which we are saved, redeemed, forgiven, and justified, destroying the power of Satan. This specific “Mystery [secret plan of God]” concerns the precious Cross of Christ Having To Be “KEPT SECRET” … so that 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 evil 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’ (celestial and earthly angelic religious and governmental rulers) did NOT KNOW “the Mystery [secret]” plan of God for the CRUCIFIXION of “the Son of God.” God, who uses the negative, 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 believers who bear the very same Resurrected “Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Christ” Now INDWELLING each one.

2. Then AFTER Acts, Paul wrote of this; “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. 1:22-23a) 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, 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 [Jesus as revelator] made known unto me [Paul] The Mystery [secret]; (as I wrote afore in few words [i.e., likely in the Rom. 16:25 post-script], 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 God’s Two People Groups 

  1. The Eternal Destiny of The Remnant Nation Israel is to reign with Christ ON EARTH fter Christ’s 2nd coming to earth (cf. Rev. 5:10, 20:6). Then is “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. 1:3-4).

“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 [Transliteration; symmorphos, ‘in character, not only in form’], 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)

We as ‘faithful’ grace believers have no need to ask for blessings since we have ALREADY been supplied, “blessed” and “sealed” “with ALL Spiritual Blessings in THE HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST” (Eph. 1:3, 13).

We Are “SEALED With The SPIRIT” [Eph. 1:13], IN AN ETERNAL UNION WITH THE Robust RESURECTED “SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST” [Eph. 1:3, 1Cor 6:17]. We are ‘Complete in Him’ since our “Life Is Hid with Christ in God” Until We and Christ are Made Visible In Heaven’s Glory’ (cf. Col. 3:3-4).

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

Now, knowing His love, His grace, His provision, and our Eternal Destiny, we as believers meanwhile serve Him in our daily walk, until we ultimately “Appear with Him in [Heaven’s] glory” Col. 3:4 (KJV).

  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 “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, even while He ‘Worketh In You’ (cf. Phili. 2:13, 1:6), ‘Renewing’ Our Soul’s Mind, Emotion, and Will. (Tit. 3:5)
  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).

Today, while remaining on planet earth, we are to be “the faithful” (Eph. 1;1) … “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Titus 2:13). Then;

“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also [simultaneously] appear with him in [heaven’s] glory. (Col. 3:4)