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by Bernie Parsons 08-27-06
One Gospel & One Kingdom
presented by Bernie Parsons
before the Load church of Christ on 08-27-06
Men fabricate all sorts of doctrines. Ego-driven
teachers come up with new things to impress their viewers, listeners, or
readers, and to develop a dedicated following.
I once heard a radio preacher expounding upon two gospels. It was his
contention that the Jews received the gospel of the kingdom, while the
Gentiles received the gospel of a risen Christ. This is, of course, a false
doctrine.
One of the verses used to justify this false doctrine is:
Galatians 2:7: “But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the
uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was
unto Peter;
8: (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the
circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)”
This is not a description of two gospels, but a description of two
audiences. Paul preached primarily to Gentiles, while Peter preached
primarily to Jews. To say that this describes two different gospels is to
entirely lift these verses out of context.
Here is a description of Jesus and His doctrine of the kingdom to the Jews:
Matthew 4:23: “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner
of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.”
Notice that this same gospel was to preached “in all the world”, meaning
among Gentiles:
Matthew 24:4: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the
world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
Speaking of the woman who anointed Him with expensive perfume, Jesus said:
Matthew 26:13: “Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be
preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath
done, be told for a memorial of her.”
Peter is the first to have preached the gospel to the Gentiles after Jesus
died.
Acts 15:5: “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which
believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command
them to keep the law of Moses.
6: And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7: And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto
them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice
among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel,
and believe.
8: And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the
Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9: And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by
faith.
10: Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the
disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11: But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall
be saved, even as they.”
Paul, later chosen to take the gospel to the Gentile world, had this to say:
Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the
power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek.”
Greeks were Gentiles. The same gospel of Christ was preached to both Jew and
Gentile!
Acts 13:44: “And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to
hear the word of God.
45: But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and
spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and
blaspheming.
46: Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the
word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from
you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the
Gentiles.
47: For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light
of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the
earth.
48: And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word
of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
49: And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.”
Acts 26:19: “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the
heavenly vision:
20: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout
all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent
and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.”
In fact, Christ died to take away the distinction between Jew and Gentile.
Ephesians 2:11: “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in
the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the
Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12: That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having
no hope, and without God in the world:
13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by
the blood of Christ.
14: For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the
middle wall of partition between us;
15: Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments
contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so
making peace;
16: And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross,
having slain the enmity thereby:
17: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that
were nigh.
18: For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21: In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy
temple in the Lord:
22: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through
the Spirit.”
Those who were afar off were the Gentiles. They were at one time “aliens
from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of
promise, having no hope, and without God in the world”. Christ Jesus united
them with the believing Jews (those who “were nigh”), in the covenant
relationship with God, to make one body, which is the church—the ekklesia.
1 Corinthians 12:13: “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 gospel of the kingdom is the gospel of Christ. There are not two
gospels, but one. The kingdom is not geographical or political Israel
situated on the Mediterranean Sea, but a spiritual kingdom of Jesus Christ,
which He was to turn back over to His Father.
Let’s examine some statements by Mark as to this gospel of Christ, and of
the kingdom.
Mark 1:1: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;”
Mark 1:14: “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee,
preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,”
Mark 1:15: “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at
hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Mark 13:10: “And the gospel must first be published among all nations.”
Mark 16:15: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the
gospel to every creature.”
The gospel of Christ was preached to Jew and Gentile alike, to put them into
one body in the kingdom of God. Peter preached the gospel of a risen Christ
to the Jews.
Acts 4:8: “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers
of the people, and elders of Israel,
9: If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by
what means he is made whole;
10: Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from
the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11: This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is
become the head of the corner.
12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Obeying this gospel call to faith, repentance, and obedience puts one into
the kingdom of Christ. This is not a future kingdom. It is here, now. It
started with that generation.
Mark 9:1: “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some
of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen
the kingdom of God come with power.”
Colossians 1:13: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of
sins:”
John 18:36: “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom
were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be
delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
1 Corinthians 15:50: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot
inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”
Matthew 21:42: “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures,
The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the
corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
43: Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you,
and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
44: And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on
whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
45: And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they
perceived that he spake of them.”
The kingdom was taken from the disbelieving Jews and given to the believers,
whether Jews or Gentiles. Regarding the kingdom, Luke wrote in:
Luke 17:20: “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of
God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not
with observation:
21: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom
of God is within you.”
Jesus told Nicodemus:
John 3:5: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Just as there is one gospel for all unbelievers, there is one kingdom for
all believers. It is not of this world, and flesh and blood cannot inherit
it. It is a spiritual kingdom. It is entered through the rebirth of water
and the Spirit.
The political and geographical area known as Israel today is not the Israel
of the Old Testament. Because they refused the Son of God, their house was
left desolate.
Matthew 23:37: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and
stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy
children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and
ye would not!
38: Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.”
Romans 2:28: “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that
circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the
heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but
of God.”
Hebrews 8:8: “For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come,
saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and
with the house of Judah:
9: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day
when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because
they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10: For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after
those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write
them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a
people:”
The new covenant includes both Jews and Gentiles—whosoever receives the
gospel of Jesus Christ is in the kingdom of God!
