DIFFERENT GOSPELS
Pastor J. C. O’Hair
Pastor J. C. O’Hair
We have often heard the statement that there is only one gospel in the Bible. In I Corinthians 15:1 to 4, we are told that the gospel, by which we are saved, is the truth that Christ died, was buried and was raised the third day. Then in Romans 10:8 to 10 we are told that the Word of faith is in our hearts and mouths. Think this over. Confess Jesus as Lord, and believe in His bodily resurrection, and be saved. So we see that there is no salvation in this age of grace, except by faith in the shed blood and bodily resurrection of Christ. We have often heard that the people of faith, who were saved before Christ’s death and resurrection were saved by looking forward to his perfect sacrifice; so to speak, “on credit.”
But now note Luke 9:6: “And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.” Here we learn that the twelve apostles were doing two things which have no place in God’s program in this present age and dispensation of grace. They were healing every where and preaching the kingdom gospel of Matthew 10:7 and 8 and Luke 9:2. When people learned that the sick and crippled could be cured, that was good news, “gospel.” Some months later Christ told these Twelve that He was going to die on the cross, be buried, and be raised the third day. (Luke 18:31 to 33). This is what Christ did to provide the gospel of I Corinthians 15:1 to 4, by which we are saved.
How did the Twelve receive this truth? “THEY UNDERSTOOD NONE OF THESE THINGS: AND THIS SAYING WAS HID FROM THEM, NEITHER KNEW THEY THE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN.” (Luke 18:34). Was the Word of faith of Romans 10:6 to 10 in their hearts? Dwell carefully and prayerfully on this statement and you will never again say there is only one gospel in the Bible; However you can and should dogmatically contend that there is only one gospel of the grace of God by which sinners can be saved. (Ephesians 2:13 and Ephesians 2:8 to 10). When the twelve apostles were preaching the gospel and healing every where (Luke 9:6), we know that they were not saying to lost sinners “the word of faith is in your heart and mouth; acknowledge the Deity of Christ and believe that God hath raised Him from the dead, and thou shalt be saved.” In the gospel of the kingdom Israel is in favor with God and David’s throne and kingdom is included, and the Gentiles are in subjection to Israel. In John 20:9 we read that Christ’s two leading apostles knew not the Scriptures that Christ should be raised from the dead. In Acts 1:6, after Christ’s resurrection, the twelve wanted to know if Christ would restore the kingdom to Israel. Nothing of the gospel of the grace of God is in this. (Acts 20:24). So what is the answer to this question: “what gospel were the twelve apostles preaching when they were healing every where and preaching the gospel?” (Luke 9:6). Were they saying to their people, “soon Christ is going to be rejected and die on the cross and be buried and be raised from the dead, and if you will believe this is going to happen, you may be saved in accordance with I Corinthians 15:1 to 4 and Romans 10:8 to 10?” The answer is Luke 18:34. “The twelve apostles understood none of these things.” The saying was hid from them. Neither knew they the things that Christ spoke of His approaching death and resurrection. So, of course they were not preaching the saving gospel of I Corinthians 15:1 to 4; but the kingdom gospel of Isaiah 35:4 to 6 - Matthew 4:23 and 4:17 - Matthew 10:5 to 8. The gospel of the kingdom is quite different from Paul’s “my gospel” according to the revelation of the mystery. (Matthew 24:13 - Romans 16:25). The fall of Israel marked the beginning of the gospel of grace. (Romans 11:11 - 10:30).
In another lesson we shall consider the difference between the gospel of the circumcision committed unto Peter and the gospel of the uncircumcision committed unto Paul. (Galatians 2:7). But let us be assured that either Jew or Gentile can be for ever saved by trusting and resting in the perfect redemptive work of CHRIST.
Jesus Is JEHOVAH The
One True God
Posted By Cecil Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com
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