There is more than one gospel in the Bible. It is imperative to comprehend not only to whom each gospel was given, but how they differ. It is also of the upmost importance to know which gospel is for our salvation unto eternal life.
Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
The gospel was given to Abraham. A gospel is glad tidings, good news. The obligation of mankind is to believe what God said. Abraham believed that God would bless all the nations through him.
Genesis 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
It is always and only by faith that God saves, by believing God. It is always and only by grace that God saves in doing for us what we are incapable of in and of ourselves.
The gospel was given to Israel in the wilderness.
Hebrews 4:1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
What gospel was the writer of Hebrews referring to?
Deuteronomy 1:8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.
The gospel of entering into God's rest through belief in Hebrews 4 is not the same gospel given to Israel in the wilderness to possess the land. It can be seen from this comparison alone that there is more than just one gospel.
Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom.
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The Davidic kingdom was promised to Israel, wherein, they would inherit an earthly kingdom and reign with Christ (Daniel 2:44 Revelation 20:4). Israel was to believe on the name of Jesus, that Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah. Placing faith and trust in Jesus and his name would justify them unto eternal life (John 20:31). Obeying his commandments would physically save them to enter the kingdom (Matthew 5:20). Upon belief the kingdom would have been ushered in.
The Jews had to only believe on the name of Jesus to have eternal life.
[John 20:31 KJV] 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
[John 3:16, 18 KJV] 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ... 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
This differs from Paul saying that we receive eternal life by the grace of God.
[Titus 3:7 KJV] 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Christ began to speak of his death and resurrection, but the twelve apostles did not understand it at that time. If the twelve did not understand the cross, the death and resurrection, how then could they be preaching the same gospel as Paul?
[Luke 18:31-34 KJV] 31 Then he took [unto him] the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge [him], and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
Christ commissioned the twelve to preach the kingdom of heaven, the gospel of the kingdom (Luke 9:2).
[Matthew 10:5-7 KJV] 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, 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 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
This is the gospel Peter preached; the gospel of the circumcision (Galatians 2:7).
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter preached Jesus was the Son of God, the Christ. Peter preached the same baptism of John for the remission of sin, plus receiving the Holy Ghost to enter the kingdom.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Peter preached that the resurrection of Christ would assure he would come and establish the kingdom on earth to believing Israel. Israel will be saved at the coming of Christ Jesus. The risen Christ will sit on the throne of David.
[Act 2:30 KJV] 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
God promised a new covenant to Israel in Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
God, by his Spirit, will enable Israel to be the blessing to the Gentiles that Israel was unable to fulfill. All the Gentile nations that will enter the kingdom along with believing Israel (Matthew 25:34) will learn of God through saved Israel.
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
The gospel of the circumcision, preached by Peter and found in Galatians 2:7 is that Christ died and rose again to put in force the new covenant. By the new covenant, God will forgive Israel, and by his Spirit, enable Israel to obey his commandments and enter the kingdom to be a light to the Gentiles. Israel fell due to unbelief and rejection of this gospel; only a remnant believed, the little flock.
Paul was given the gospel of Christ. Israel was temporarily set aside, and Paul became the apostle to the Gentiles. Revealed was salvation and justification given freely to all by faith alone, in Christ alone. Both Paul and Peter preached to Jews and Gentiles. Paul was given revelation by Christ and a gospel in the dispensation of grace.
1 Corinthians 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
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.
This is Paul's gospel; not of his own invention but by revelation of The Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:3).
2 Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
Below is Paul's gospel; the complete, finished salvation provided by Christ Jesus freely given to all who believe. This is the gospel that saves us today.
[1Corinthians 15:1, 3-4 KJV] 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ... 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Paul was given revelation of a mystery. Paul preached "my gospel".
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish 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,
The everlasting gospel will be preached during the tribulation.
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Clearly there is more than one gospel. Paul did not preach the gospel of the kingdom as Jesus and the twelve did. The gospel of the kingdom will be preached again in the tribulation.
The gospel of God is the progressive revelation of God's provision of salvation to mankind. It has always been by grace. It has always been by the blood of Christ, whereby God from the beginning could offer forgiveness to all. It has always been by faith, by believing God.
