PAUL’S GOSPEL
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by John W. White
The purpose of this tract is to show that Paul’s gospel or the expressions “my
gospel” or “our gospel” is not a reference to the salvation of
Acts 16:30-31. Before Jesus was
crucified, Gentiles were denied the message of the kingdom of the heavens and
only saved Israel could qualify to have an heavenly inheritance. Gentiles have
always been able to be saved; but they had no hope of having an
entrance
into the kingdom of the heavens. As a saved Gentile he would have
the privilege of seeing the kingdom of the heavens.
John 3:3 “Except a man be born again, he cannot
see the kingdom of God.”
The
following passages of scripture will provide insight into God’s love for the
nation of Israel and their special place in His purposes for them.
Deuteronomy 7:6 “For thou art
an holy
people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to
be a special
people unto himself, above
all
people that are upon the
face of the earth.” Romans 9:4-5
“Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth
the adoption, and the
glory, and the
covenants, and the giving of the
law, and the service
of God, and the
promises; 5. Whose
are the fathers, and of whom as
concerning the flesh Christ came...”
Ezekiel 37:12-14 “Therefore
prophesy ...Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to
come up out of your graves, and bring you
into the land of Israel.
13. And ye shall know that I am
the LORD, when I have opened your graves, ... and brought you up out of your
graves, 14. ...
I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the
LORD have spoken it...” The hope of
Israel was the land. Jesus Christ came preaching the kingdom of heavens, a
heavenly inheritance, and not
the
land, an early inheritance. At the beginning of His ministry Jesus
was calling only many of the
nation of Israel unto this inheritance.
Matthew 22:14 “For
many are called, but
few
are
chosen.” Jesus and the Apostles
were preaching to those of Israel that had ears to hear.
Matthew 13:9 “Who hath
ears to hear, let him hear.” The mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens had
not been revealed to the nation of Israel until Jesus began his ministry.
There were a few in the Old Testament referred to in Hebrews 11 that
“...looked for a city ...whose builder and maker
is God.”
Hebrews 11:10 Those who lived by
faith desired “...a better country,
that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for
he hath prepared for them a city.”
Hebrews 11:16
The
revelation made to Paul was not that Gentiles could now be saved since Jesus
Christ had died on the cross. Gentiles have always been able to be saved. The
prime example of this is found in Jonah
3:5 “So the people of Nineveh
believed
God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest
of them even to the least of them.”
Isaiah 56:6-7 “Also the sons
of the stranger, that join
themselves to the LORD, to
serve him, and to
love the
name of the LORD, to
be his
servants, every one that
keepeth the
Sabbath from
polluting it, and taketh
hold of my covenant;
7. Even them will I bring to my
holy mountain, and make them joyful
in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and
their sacrifices
shall be accepted upon mine altar;
for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for
all people.”
Saved
Gentiles were given an inheritance in the land of Israel.
Ezekiel 47:22-23 “And it shall come to pass,
that ye shall divide it by lot for an
inheritance unto you, and to the
strangers that sojourn among
you, which shall beget children among
you: and they shall be unto you as
born in the country among the children of Israel;
they shall have inheritance with you
among the tribes of Israel.
23. And it shall come to pass, that
in what tribe the stranger sojourneth,
there shall ye give him his
inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.” Gentiles were to be given an inheritance
among the tribe in which they
dwelt. An example of this is found in the inheritance of Caleb, a Gentile.
Caleb’s name means ‘dog’ in Hebrew.
Joshua 21:12 “But
the
fields of the city, ... gave they
to Caleb ... for his possession.”
Before Christ was crucified, saved Gentiles were not allowed to have an
entrance into the kingdom of the
heavens. Peter and the apostles were taught and
learned well in Matthew 10:5-7
“These twelve Jesus... commanded ... saying,
Go not into the way of
the Gentiles, and into
any city of the
Samaritans enter ye
not:
6. But go
rather to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel. 7.
...preach ...The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus refused, for a
time, the pleas of the woman of Canaan in
Matthew 15:24,26,28
“But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the
house of Israel [saved Israel]. 26. ..., It is not meet to take the
children’s bread, and cast it
to dogs [saved Gentiles like
Caleb]. 28...O woman, great is thy
faith...”
Ephesians 2:12
“That at that time ye [Gentiles] were
without
Christ, being aliens from
the common-wealth of Israel, and
strangers from the covenants of
promise, having
no hope, and
without
God in the world:” Gentiles had no hope of a
Messiah as did the nation of Israel. Gentiles had no promise of
having an inheritance in any of the cities of the land of Israel. God did not
make any covenants with Gentiles as he did with the nation of Israel. The LORD
was not the God of the Gentiles but the God of Shem.
Genesis 9:26 “Blessed
be the LORD God of Shem...” The Word
of God has been revealed only through Israel.
Psalms 147:19-20
“He showeth his
word unto
Jacob, his statutes and
his judgments unto
Israel. 20. He hath not dealt so
with any
nation” Yet, as it has
already been noted, Gentiles could “join
themselves to the LORD” in
Isaiah 56:6.
Romans 16:25-26
“Now to him [Wise God v. 27] that is of power to
stablish [establish, fix] you
according to my
gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the
revelation of the mystery, which
was kept secret since the world
began, 26. But
now [at the present time] is made
manifest [to bring to light, make known], and by the scriptures of
the prophets, according to the
commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all
nations [Gentiles] for the
obedience of faith:” Paul’s
gospel was a mystery kept secret by God since the ages began. The common
salvation was not kept secret. Adam and Eve knew how to be saved from the time
they left the garden. John 1:9
“...the true Light, which
lighteth
every
man that cometh into the world.”
Romans 1:19-20 “Because that
which may be known of God is
manifest in them; for God hath
showed it unto them.
20. ...so that they are without excuse.” The Old Testament prophets
wrote of the blessings that would come to the Gentiles but what that blessing
was in full was not revealed unto them.
Isaiah 56:7 “Even
them [Gentiles] will I bring
to my holy mountain, and make
them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
shall be accepted upon mine altar;
for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people [Jew and
Gentile].” This is beyond salvation. The way of salvation for Gentiles is
found in verse 6. Paul gospel was made known to Gentiles for the obedience of
faith. The words “Obedience” and “Faith” are fraught with meaning.
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith
it is impossible to please
him....”
Galatians 5:6 “...faith
which worketh by love.” Obedience
is the result of love as in John 14:15
"If ye love me, keep my
commandments." Those who are obedient are just, and only the “The
just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17
If you are disobedient you are living in sin and there is no way you
can please God by trying to live by faith. (See tract on Faith or Believe
Check It Out).
Galatians 1:11-12
“But I certify you, brethren, that the
gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught
it, but by the revelation of Jesus
Christ.” At the time Paul received this revelation none of the apostles could
tell him that Gentiles would be about to enter the kingdom of the heavens,
because they believed they could not. That is what the Lord had taught them.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:3, 5-6
“How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; ...
5. Which in other ages was not made
known unto the sons of men, as it is
now
revealed unto his holy
apostles and
prophets by the Spirit; 6.
That the Gentiles should be
fellowheirs, and of the
same
body, and partakers of
his promise in
Christ by the gospel:”
Ephesians 2:16-19
“And that he might reconcile both [Jew and
Gentile] unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the
enmity thereby: 17. And came and preached
peace to you [Gentiles] which were
afar off [made nigh by the
blood, v.13; this is not the salvation of Gentiles], and to them [Jews] that
were nigh. 18. For through him we
both have access by one Spirit unto
the Father. 19. Now therefore ye [Gentiles] are
no more
strangers and
foreigners, but
fellowcitizens with the saints, and
of the household of
God;”
From the
time that Paul was confronted by Jesus Christ
in Acts 9 until Paul went up to Jerusalem to see Peter for the first
time was about three years. Galatians
1:17-18 “Neither
went I up to Jerusalem to them
which were apostles before me; but I
went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18. Then after three years
I went up to Jerusalem to see
Peter...” This fifteen day meeting
in Jerusalem did not convince Peter that Gentiles would now be able to hear
and receive what was once denied them in
Matthew 10:5 “Go not into the way
of the Gentiles.” It was about three years later that Peter was
persuaded by the Lord in Acts
10:15 “...What God hath cleansed,
that call not thou common.” After this vision Peter went to a Gentiles
home and “said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:”
Acts 10:34 Before this time Peter knew that God was a respecter of
persons, Gentiles were excluded. Yet
Acts 10:44-45 “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on
all them which heard the word. 45.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished...” When Cornelius
and his house spake in tongues, it was a sign unto those who did not believe
that this message was to be preached unto the Gentiles. Peter and those who
were with him could no longer deny the message that was only for Israel was
now open to Gentiles.
Galatians 1:9
“As we said before, so say I now again, If any
man preach any other gospel unto you
than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Was Peter and the other
apostles accursed because they were preaching something other than what Paul
was preaching? No! Paul and Peter preached the same gospel of the kingdom of
the heavens, but to different audiences.
Galatians 2:7-8 “...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:)”
2 Thessalonians 2:14
“Whereunto he
called
you by our
gospel, to the
obtaining [gaining] of the
glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Before one can be called he
must be
saved. 2 Timothy 1:9 “Who
hath saved us, and
called
us with an holy calling...” The holy calling is “...unto his
kingdom and
glory.” in 1 Thessalonians
2:12. Who are the ones that have been called by “our gospel, to the
obtaining of the glory?” We find the answer to this question in
2 Thessalonians 2:13
“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you,
brethren
beloved of the Lord, because God
hath from the beginning chosen you
to
salvation...”
They are the ones that were chosen “To salvation ... Whereunto” they
were called by Paul’s gospel. The words “brethren
beloved” is used to address
those who are called. Both words
are in the vocative case which is the case of
address. “O Brethren, O ones having been loved.” (The word “beloved” is
a perfect passive participle.) This phrase is only found here and in
1 Thessalonians 1:4
“Knowing, brethren beloved, your
election of God.” “Brethren beloved” are the elect in Christ that have been
chosen “to salvation” that is in Christ. This salvation is referred to by Paul
in 2 Timothy 2:10
“... I endure all ... for the
elect’s sakes, that they may
also obtain the salvation
which is in
Christ Jesus with eternal
glory.” This is not the “common
salvation” that is offered to those who are
not in
Christ. The salvation offered unto
the elect
in Christ is the “..so
great salvation; which at
the
first began to be spoken by the Lord,...” Hebrews 2:3 The “So
great salvation” is associated with the mysteries of the Kingdom of the
heavens which was offered to the nation of Israel at the beginning. This
salvation offered to the elect may
or may
not be
gained; it depends if the elect
“...give diligence to make your
calling and election sure...
11. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord.”
2 Peter 1:10-11
Romans 2:16
"In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men
by
Jesus
Christ according to my
gospel." This is the judgment seat
of Christ and not the great white throne judgment. (The saved are judged in
the context of verse 16) Romans 2:6-7
“Who will render to every
man according to his
deeds: 7. To them who by patient
continuance in
well doing
seek for
glory and honour and
immortality [incorruption], eternal
life:” Romans 2:10-11
“But glory,
honour, and peace, to every man
that worketh
good, ... For there is no
respect of persons with God.”
Colossians 3:24-25 “...of the Lord ye shall receive the
reward of the inheritance:
for ye serve... 25. But he that
doeth
wrong shall
receive for the
wrong which he hath done: and
there is no respect of persons.” 2
Corinthians 5:9-10 “Wherefore
we
labour,
that, ... we
may be accepted [well
pleasing] of him. 10. For we must
all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the
things done in
his body, according to that he hath done, whether
it be good or bad.”
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