HOW MANY GOSPELS IN THE BIBLE?
Pastor J. C. O’Hair
The Gospel of Christ is God’s power untosalvation on to every one that believeth. (Romans 1:16). This saving gospel is thus described in I Corinthians 15:1 to 4, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; He was buried and He was raised again, the third day, according to the Scriptures.” There we are told that this is the gospel, by which ye are saved. Christ delivered the message to Paul and Paul delivered it to the people.
Now note Luke 9:6 concerning the twelve apostles when Christ on earth first sent them out to preach THE GOSPEL: “And they departed and went through the towns, preaching THE GOSPEL, and healing every where.”
In Matthew 4:23 we read that Christ preached THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM and healed many diseased people.
Some months after the twelve apostles preached the gospel (Luke 9:6), they understood absolutely nothing of the truth of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. (Luke 18:31 to 34). Carefully compare Luke 9:6 with Luke 18:31 to 34 and then compare Luke 18:31 to 34 and John 20:9 with Romans 10:5 to 15, and learn that the Twelve were not preaching the gospel of Romans 10:9 and 10 or I Corinthians 15:1 to 4, during the years Christ was on earth. They were preaching THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM. This will again be preached. (Matthew 24:13 and 14). The GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM suggests the King and a Kingdom rather than the Church and the Head.
Christ gave to Paul THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD. (Acts 20:24). Paul’s testimony was that Christ gave him the “grace” gospel by revelation. (Galatians 1:11 and 12). It was not after man or from the twelve apostles; but from Christ in heaven.
Now note Galatians 2:7: “But contrariwise, when they saw that THE GOSPEL OF THE UNCIRCUMCISION was committed unto me, (Paul), as THE GOSPEL OF THE CIRCUMCISION was unto Peter.” All Christians are agreed that there is only one way to be saved, by faith in the shed blood of Christ, but the apostles at Jerusalem were undoubtedly surprised, if not startled, when they learned from the lips of Paul, who was sent by revelation to Jerusalem, the difference between THE GOSPEL OF THE UNCIRCUMCISION and THE GOSPEL OF THE CIRCUMCISION. This was about fourteen years after Paul was saved. (Galatians 2:1 to 7). If the Twelve did not know the “uncircumcision” gospel, they certainly knew nothing of “the mystery of the gospel.” (Ephesians 6:19 and 20).
The twelve apostles knew the message for Jews and Gentiles based on the covenant of circumcision. (Acts 7:8 - Genesis 17:9 to 14). This covenant was made at the time Abram was circumcised and became Abraham, at the age of ninety-nine. But Christ called to Paul’s attention the truth that Abram, the heathen, was justified in uncircumcision twenty-four years before he was circumcised. (Romans 4:7 to 12 - Genesis 12:1 to 4 - Genesis 15:6 to 8). Have you learned the significance of Romans 4:7 to 10 and the truth that at the time God declared Abram, the uncircumcised heathen, righteous by faith, the Scriptures saw Paul’s GOSPEL OF THE UNCIRCUMCISION? (Galatians 3:8 and 14 - Romans 4:21 to 25).
Some of the Twelve perhaps did not receive the new revelation very graciously. (Galatians 2:10 to 14). Paul wrote of THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF THE BLESSED GOD. (I Timothy 1:11). Then later Paul wrote of “MY GOSPEL” according to the revelation of the mystery. (Romans 16:25). Then he was in jail for “THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL.” Yes, for this message Paul became the prisoner of the Lord for Gentiles (Ephesians 6:19 and 20 - Ephesians 3:1 to 6 - II Timothy 2:8 and 9 - Colossians 4:3 and 4).
Peter in I Peter 3:18 did write clearly of the gospel by which we are saved. BUT SURELY we see that there is a difference between the gospel, in fulfillment of the Scriptures, and THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL, not in fulfillment of prophecy, but according to the eternal purpose of God which no prophet foretold. Read Colossians 1:24 to 26.
What is the Gospel?
Believing
Christ died, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ died for YOUR sins and rose again, that’s SALVATION.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto
you the gospel which the preached unto you, which also ye have received, and
wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached
unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first
of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according
to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the
third day according to the scriptures. 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
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Bible: King James Version
Posted By – Cecil Spivey
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