The Gospels Project: Accurately Identifying the Different Gospels

The Gspels Prject: Accurately Identifying the Different Gspels A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF COLUMBUS BIBLE CHURCH AND GRACE LIFE BIBLE CHURCH The purpse f this prject is t accurately identify the different gspels in Scripture. All f the ntes in this bklet were presented at Grace Life Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI ver the weekend f Octber 18-20, 2013. Written and Presented By Bryan C. Rss & David W. Reid

2 nd Editin Revised and Expanded Octber, 2013 The Gspels Prject acknwledges with gratitude the cmments and feedback prvided by many thughtful Bible students, which has made this study better than it wuld have been therwise. In particular, we wuld like t acknwledge the cntributins f Matthew D. Hawley, S. Lee Hmki, Ernest McArthur and Craig Hlcm. All truth is Gd s; all errrs are the respnsibility f the authrs.

The Gspels Prject Lessn 1 Intrductin: What Des the Wrd Gspel Mean? Why This Prject? There is a cmmn miscnceptin that whenever the wrd baptism appears in scripture it refers t water. This is a serius misunderstanding because there are many baptisms in scripture that have nthing t d with water. A few examples include: baptism with the Hly Ghst (Matthew 3:11) baptism with fire (Matthew 3:11) baptism int Jesus Christ (Rmans 6:3) baptism int ne bdy (1Crinthians 12:13) Just as there is a cmmn failure t understand the many different baptisms described in the scriptures, there is a similar cmmn failure t understand the different gspels revealed in the scriptures. As riginally cnceived, the scpe f this prject was t include all f the different named gspels in the New Testament, including sme gspels mentined infrequently, such as the everlasting gspel and the gspel f peace. Hwever, it became apparent in the curse f preparatin that it wuld be mst prfitable t fcus n the three majr gspels f the New Testament: (1) the gspel f the kingdm, (2) the gspel f Gd, and (3) the gspel f Christ. What The Wrd Gspel Means The wrd gspel appears 104 times in the scriptures, all f which are fund in the New Testament. The clearest scriptural definitin f what the wrd gspel means is gd tidings r glad tidings, i.e. gd news r glad news. Isa 61:1 KJV - The Spirit f the Lrd GOD [is] upn me; because the LORD hath aninted me t preach gd tidings unt the meek; he hath sent me t bind up the brkenhearted, t prclaim liberty t the captives, and the pening f the prisn t [them that are] bund; Mat 9:35 KJV - And Jesus went abut all the cities and villages, teaching in their synaggues, and preaching the gspel f the kingdm, and healing every sickness and every disease amng the peple. Luk 4:18 KJV - The Spirit f the Lrd [is] upn me, because he hath aninted me t preach the gspel t the pr; he hath sent me t heal the brkenhearted, t preach deliverance t the captives, and recvering f sight t the blind, t set at liberty them that are bruised, Luk 8:1 KJV - And it came t pass afterward, that he went thrughut every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings f the kingdm f Gd: and the twelve [were] with him, 1

tidings, n. plu. News; advice; infrmatin; intelligence; accunt f what has taken place, and was nt befre knwn. (Webster s 1828 Dictinary) The dictinary definitin f the wrd gspel indicates that it can be used in multiple different ways. It des nt always refer t a plan f salvatin and can refer t the Lrd Jesus Christ s entire earthly life r Gd s wrd r any general dctrine. GOS'PEL, n. [L. evangelium, a gd r jyful message.] The histry f the birth, life, actins, death, resurrectin, ascensin and dctrines f Jesus Christ; r a revelatin f the grace f Gd t fallen man thrugh a mediatr, including the character, actins, and dctrines f Christ, with the whle scheme f salvatin, as revealed by Christ and his apstles. This gspel is said t have been preached t Abraham, by the prmise, "in thee shall all natins be blessed." Ga.3.8. It is called the gspel f Gd. Rm.1.1. It is called the gspel f Christ. Rm.1.16. It is called the gspel f salvatin. Eph. 1.13. 1. Gd's wrd. 2. Divinity; thelgy. 3. Any general dctrine. (Webster s 1828 Dictinary) Cntrary t widely-held myth, there is mre than ne gspel in the scriptures (e.g., the gspel f the kingdm, the gspel f Gd, the gspel f Christ). These different terms are nt all synnyms. When the wrd gspel appears withut a specifying phrase, it smetimes has a brad applicatin t mre than ne gspel. Other times it is necessary t examine the cntext and crss-references t determine which particular gspel is intended. While there are multiple gspels in the scripture, a sinner cannt simply pick any gspel f his chice t believe. He is bligated t believe the gspel r gspels that Gd intends fr him t believe (Galatians 1:6-9). Nt all gd tidings / gspel pertain t salvatin. Sme are simply just new infrmatin that is gd (1Thessalnians 3:6). Sme uses f the term gspel pertain simply t infrmatin that is part f the accunt f the Lrd Jesus Christ s earthly life. The gspel f Jesus Christ, the Sn f Gd is an accunt f the details f the Lrd s earthly life (Mark 1:1-2) When a certain gspel is preached, the accunt f the wman wh aninted the Lrd Jesus Christ with spikenard is tld in memrial f her (Matthew 26:13, Mark 14:9). 2

Knwing f r believing this incident is nt smething that is necessary fr salvatin. Rather, this incident is part f the Lrd Jesus Christ s earthly life that Gd has chsen t memrialize in the scriptures. Review summary f the majr gspels chart (Exhibit A) 3

The Gspels Prject Lessn 2 The Gspel f the Kingdm The Initial Cntent f the Gspel f the Kingdm is that the Kingdm is at Hand The phrase gspel f the kingdm appears nly fur times in scripture (Matthew 4:23, 9:35, 24:14, Mark 1:14). The initial cntent f the gspel f the kingdm is that the kingdm is at hand. The initial cntent f the gspel f the kingdm is explicitly said t be that the time is fulfilled and the kingdm f Gd is at hand, repent ye and believe the gspel (Mark 1:14-15). In saying that the time is fulfilled and the kingdm is at hand, what Jhn the Baptist was saying was prepare the way f the Lrd (Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 3:1-3). Jhn was preaching that peple shuld believe n him which shuld cme after him, that is n Christ Jesus (Acts 19:4). Once Jesus Was Identified As the Christ, the Gspel f the Kingdm Included the Infrmatin That Jesus Was the Christ Jhn the Baptist prclaimed that the kingdm was at hand but he did nt knw Christ until he saw the Spirit descending and remaining n him (Jhn 1:29-33). After seeing this, Jhn the Baptist bare recrd that Jesus was the Christ (Jhn 1:34). Christ = Messias (Jhn 1:41, 4:25). Christ = the Sn f Gd (Matthew 26:63, Jhn 6:69, 20:31). Under the gspel f the kingdm, it is necessary t believe that Jesus is the Christ (Jhn 11:25-27, 9:35-38, 6:67-69) if ye believe nt that I am he, ye shall die in yur sins (Jhn 8:24-25) Nte that nce it is time fr Jesus t g t the crss, he instructs his disciples nt t declare that he is the Christ (Matthew 16:20, Mark 8:27-30, Luke 9:18-21). The gspel f the kingdm des nt include the death, burial and resurrectin f Jesus Christ. During the Lrd s earthly ministry, the twelve did nt understand the scriptures that the Lrd was t be crucified and rise frm the dead (Matthew 16:21-22, Mark 9:31-32, Luke 9:44-45, Luke 18:31-34, Jhn 2:19-22, Jhn 20:9). 4

Manifestatin f Faith in the Gspel f the Kingdm Required Wrks A sul is saved under the gspel f the kingdm by taking actin t fllw Jesus Christ (Mark 8:35). Endurance is required fr salvatin under the kingdm gspel (Matthew 10:22, 24:13, Mark 13:13). The suggestin that the salvatin spken f in these verses is a man s physical life is disprven by the fact that many f these believers are delivered up unt death (Matthew 10:21, Mark 13:12). Jhn the Baptist preached the baptism f repentance fr the remissin f sins (Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3). Baptism was central t Jhn s preaching (Matthew 21:25, Mark 11:30, Luke 20:4). The refusal t be water baptized was the rejectin f the cunsel f Gd (Luke 7:29-30). Water baptism as an expressin f faith was thus required fr salvatin under the gspel f the kingdm. The Purpse f the Gspel f the Kingdm The gspel f the kingdm is repeatedly linked t healing (Matthew 4:23, 9:35, 11:5, Luke 4:18, 7:22, 9:1-2, 6). The kingdm described in the gspel f the kingdm is the kingdm f priests that Gd intends t frm. Gd will frm a kingdm f priests, an hly natin ut f Israel (Exdus 19:6). This kingdm is similarly described as a chsen generatin, a ryal priesthd, a hly natin (1Peter 2:9). The gspel f the kingdm is Gd s invitatin t becme part f the earthly kingdm f priests that Gd will frm. Installatin int the Levitical Priesthd Required Perfect Physical Specimens Wh Were Washed With Water and Aninted T be inducted int the Levitical priesthd, a man had t be a perfect physical specimen (Leviticus 21:16-21). This Levitical requirement explains why healing is inseparably cnnected t the gspel f the kingdm. 5

T frm a kingdm f priests, there must f necessity be a healing prgram t address the natin f Israel s physical infirmities. T hallw a man int the priest s ffice, he was washed with water and then aninted with il (Exdus 29:1-4, 7). This requirement f the law explains why water baptism is an integral part f the gspel f the kingdm. Water baptism is the ceremnial cleansing f the natin f Israel symblic f its installatin int the ffice f a priest. The aninting with il crrespnds t the aninting f the Hly Ghst that teaches kingdm saints the truth (Jhn 14:26, 1Jhn 2:27). Wh Preached the Gspel f the Kingdm The gspel f the kingdm was first preached by Jhn the Baptist (Luke 16:16, Matthew 11:13). Prir t that, the law and the prphets were in effect. The preaching f the kingdm is nt the destructin f the law and the prphets but the fulfillment f them (Matthew 5:17). The Lrd Jesus Christ preached the gspel f the kingdm (Matthew 4:23, Matthew 9:35). The Twelve preached the gspel f the kingdm (Luke 9:1-2, 6). The gspel f the kingdm with its emphasis n water baptism is the gspel message that is the subject f the Great Cmmissin (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16). The gspel f the kingdm will be preached during the tribulatin (Matthew 24:14, Mark 13:10). The gspel f the kingdm is first preached by Jhn the Baptist and is thereafter preached up t and including the tribulatin, excluding the dispensatin f grace. 6

The Gspels Prject Lessn 3 The Gspel f Gd The Gspel f Gd The phrase gspel f Gd appears seven times in scripture (Rmans 1:1, 15:16, 2Crinthians 11:7, 1Thessalnians 2:2, 2:8, 2:9, 1Peter 4:17). The gspel f Gd is bth a Pauline and a Petrine term (Rmans 15:16, 1Peter 4:17). Paul describes himself as being put in trust with the gspel f Gd (1Thessalnians 2:2, 2:4). The gspel f Gd cnsists f tw elements: (1) that Jesus Christ was made f the seed f David accrding t the flesh and (2) that he was declared t be the Sn f Gd with pwer, accrding t the spirit f hliness, by the resurrectin frm the dead (Rmans 1:1-4). The gspel f Gd des nt cntain a call t actin, such as repent and be baptized. Thus, believing the gspel f Gd, by itself, will nt prduce salvatin. There must als be faith in anther gspel either the gspel f the kingdm r the gspel f Christ depending upn the pint in time. The gspel f Gd was a prphesied gspel in that it was prmised afre by his prphets in the hly scriptures (Rmans 1:1-2). All f the fllwing items were fretld by Old Testament prphecy: That the Lrd wuld raise unt David a righteus Branch... he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jeremiah 23:5-6, 33:15). That a child wuld be brn wh wuld be the mighty Gd and wh wuld sit upn the thrne f David (Isaiah 9:6-7). That Gd wuld establish frever the kingdm f David s seed (2Samuel 7:8, 12, 13). That Gd wuld nt suffer his Hly One t see crruptin, i.e. the Hly One wuld be resurrected (Psalm 16:10). Peter s Preaching f the Gspel f Gd As previusly demnstrated, the gspel f the kingdm was preached during the Lrd s earthly ministry withut any reference t the death, burial and resurrectin f the Lrd Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:21-22, Mark 9:31-32, Luke 9:44-45, Luke 18:31-34, Jhn 2:19-22, Jhn 20:9). Hwever, after the resurrectin, the Lrd appeared t Peter and the rest f the eleven t pen their understanding that they might understand the scriptures, particularly the fact 7

that it behved Christ t suffer and t rise frm the dead the third day (Luke 24:33, 36, 45-47). The scriptures fretld: That the Lrd s righteus servant wuld justify many, that he wuld bear their iniquities, and that his sul wuld be an ffering fr sin, pured ut unt death (Isaiah 53:10-12, 5, 6, 8). That the resurrectin f the Lrd wuld ccur after three days (Jnah 1:17, Matthew 12:39-40, 16:4, Luke 11:29-30). Subsequently, Peter prclaimed the gspel f Gd, which includes the Lrd s resurrectin (1Peter 4:17). In Acts 2, Peter preached the gspel f Gd in that he preached (1) that Jesus Christ was made f the seed f David accrding t the flesh (Acts 2:29-30) and (2) that Jesus was declared t be the Sn f Gd by the resurrectin frm the dead (Acts 2:30-31, 2:24, 2:27, 2:32, 2:36). While Peter preached the crss, he did nt preach t his audience that Christ died fr their sins (Acts 2:23, 2:36). Peter hlds Israel respnsible fr the death f Christ and instructs them t repent (Acts 2:23, 2:38). The reasn Peter des nt preach that Christ died fr their sins is that thse under the kingdm prgram cannt lk at the crss as already having accmplished payment fr their sins as they must wait fr them t be bltted ut at the Secnd Cming (Acts 3:19). Thus, the gspel f Gd des nt include the infrmatin that Christ died fr sins. Anther example f Peter preaching the gspel f Gd is fund in Acts 10. Peter makes explicit reference t the crucifixin, the resurrectin, and the fact that Gd rdained Jesus t be the judge f the quick and the dead (Acts 10:38-40). Scripture states that the Father hath cmmitted all judgment unt the Sn (Jhn 5:22). Thus, when Peter states in Acts 10 that Jesus Christ was rdained f Gd t be the Judge f the quick and the dead, it is equivalent t a declaratin that Jesus Christ is the Sn f Gd (Acts 10:42). Paul s Preaching f the Gspel f Gd Paul preached the gspel f Gd in Damascus after he returned frm Arabia (Acts 9:19-20, Galatians 1:16-17). The gspel f Gd preached by Paul in Acts 9 is the same gspel preached by Phillip in Acts 8 (Acts 9:20, 8:37). 8

Paul s preaching f the gspel f Gd, which had earlier been preached by Peter and thers under the kingdm prgram, explains hw Paul can state that he nw preacheth the faith which nce he destryed (Galatians 1:23). Paul ministered the gspel f Gd t bth Jews and Gentiles (Acts 17:1-3, Rmans 15:16). Paul preached the gspel f Gd t the Thessalnians in Acts 17 and the Crinthians in Acts 18 (1Thessalnians 2:2, 2:8, 2:9, 2Crinthians 11:4, 7). In Acts 17 in Thessalnica, Paul preached in a synaggue, bviusly t Jews, and reasned ut f the scriptures (Acts 17:1-2). What Paul preached in Thessalnica was that Christ suffered and rse frm the dead and that Jesus was the Christ (Acts 17:1-3). In Acts 18 in Crinth, Paul preached t the Jews in a synaggue that Jesus was the Christ (Acts 18:4-5). 9

The Gspels Prject Lessn 4 The Gspel f Christ, Part I Intrductin Bth the gspel f the kingdm and the gspel f Gd are part f the prphetic prgram and can be fund in the prphetic scriptures. Thus, aside frm certain parts f the first lessn, all f the studies t date have fcused n what was prphetically revealed. This lessn and certain lessns fllwing will fcus n the gspel f Christ, which is distinctly Pauline. The gspel f Christ: (1) is a particular dispensatin f the gspel cmmitted t Paul that (2) cntains the cntent that Christ died fr ur sins, (3) is equivalent t the grace f Christ, (4) is the clearest manifestatin f grace in histry, and (5) reveals the salvatin f Gentiles apart frm Israel. The Gspel f Christ is a Particular Dispensatin f the Gspel Cmmitted t Paul The phrase gspel f Christ appears eleven times in scripture (Rmans 1:16, 15:19, 15:29, 1Crinthians 9:12, 9:18, 2Crinthians 4:4, 9:13, 10:14, Galatians 1:7, Philippians 1:27, 1Thessalnians 3:2). The gspel f Christ is an exclusively Pauline term. The gspel f Gd and the gspel f Christ are nt the same thing called by different names. The gspel f Gd is a prphesied gspel (Rmans 1:1-2). The gspel f Christ is the particular dispensatin f the gspel cmmitted t Paul (1Crinthians 9:17-18). Paul was an ambassadr in bnds because f the mystery f the gspel, i.e. the prtin f Paul s gspel that was new infrmatin (Ephesians 6:19-20). Therefre, Paul was imprisned because f the gspel f Christ, the dispensatin f the gspel cmmitted t Paul, and nt the gspel f Gd, which was prphesied. The Cntent f the Gspel f Christ Is That Christ Died Fr Our Sins In 1Crinthians 15, Paul specifically declares the cntent f his gspel as three cmpnents: (1) that Christ died fr ur sins accrding t the scriptures, (2) that he was buried, and (3) that he rse again the third day accrding t the scriptures (1Crinthians 15:1-4). Cmpnents 2 and 3, Christ s burial and resurrectin, are part f the gspel f Gd (Rmans 1:1-4). 10

It is cmpnent 1, Christ s death fr ur sins, that is the cre cntent f the gspel f Christ. Peter never preached that Christ died fr ur sins as a past tense cmpleted act. On the cntrary, Peter preached a future bltting ut f sins. Repent ye therefre, and be cnverted, that yur sins may be bltted ut, when the times f refreshing shall cme frm the presence f the Lrd (Acts 3:19). Paul refers t the preaching f the gspel f Christ as the preaching f the crss (1Crinthians 1:17-18). The gspel in 1Crinthians 1:17 must be the gspel f Christ since it must be a gspel that is incnsistent with water baptism Fr Christ sent me nt t baptize, but t preach the gspel. Since the cntent f the gspel f Christ is that Christ died fr ur sins, belief in the gspel f Christ can be simply summarized as faith in his bld (Rmans 3:25). The Gspel f Christ is Equivalent t the Grace f Christ The gspel f Christ is the pwer f Gd unt salvatin t every ne that believes during the dispensatin f grace (Rmans 1:16). What saves the believer is grace (Ephesians 2:5, 8-9, Titus 2:11). The phrase gspel f Christ is used interchangeably with the grace f Christ. The Galatians were remved frm the grace f Christ unt anther gspel (Galatians 1:6). Thus, the grace f Christ must be sme srt f gspel in rder t be remved frm it unt anther gspel. Verse 7 reveals that the name fr the gspel described in verse 6 as the grace f Christ is the gspel f Christ (Galatians 1:6-7). It is thus prper t use gspel f Christ interchangeably with grace f Christ. Paul uses ther terms t describe the gspel cmmitted unt him by the Lrd, but the cmmn theme is grace. the ministry, which I have received f the Lrd Jesus, t testify the gspel f the grace f Gd (Acts 20:24) the wrd f the truth f the gspel... the grace f Gd in truth (Clssians 1:5-6) 11

The Gspel f Christ is Nt the Revelatin f Grace but Instead the Clearest Manifestatin f Grace The gspel f Christ is nt the first time that grace was revealed as grace clearly existed in time past. In time past, Gd shwed grace t thse with faith (Genesis 6:8, Exdus 34:6, Jnah 4:2). Righteusness withut the law is a truth that was witnessed by the law and the prphets (Rmans 3:21). Abraham believed Gd and it was cunted unt him fr righteusness (Rmans 4:3, Genesis 15:6). David describeth the blessedness f the man, unt whm Gd imputeth righteusness withut wrks (Rmans 4:6). While grace existed under the Old Testament law, grace was bscured. Grace is the ppsite f the law (Rmans 6:14). Grace is the ppsite f wrks (Rmans 11:6). Thus, while grace existed under the Old Testament law, grace was bscured by the heavy emphasis f the Old Testament law n tw things that are the ppsite f grace: (1) the hundreds f pints f the law and (2) the law s fcus n wrks as required evidence f faith. And the law is nt f faith: but, The man that deth them shall live in them. (Galatians 3:12). Abel had t ffer a sacrifice; Nah had t build an ark (Hebrews 11:4, 7). Peter s gspel f the circumcisin is an advancement in understanding frm the Old Testament law, but it still required wrks and ffered nly a future bltting ut f sins. Peter s gspel f the circumcisin required water baptism and endurance (Acts 2:38, Matthew 24:13). When Peter preached the gspel f the circumcisin after the crss, he preached bth the crss and the resurrectin, but he preached a future bltting ut f sins (Acts 3:19). The gspel f Christ is the clearest manifestatin in histry f Gd s grace. The gspel f Christ simply requires faith in what Christ has already accmplished, and therefre, the gspel f Christ can stand alne withut any required wrks t evidence faith. 12

Paul s gspel f Christ emphasizes justificatin by faith alne withut the perfrmance f any wrks, which makes grace manifest (Rmans 3:21). 13

The Gspels Prject Lessn 5 The Gspel f Christ, Part II The Gspel f Christ Reveals the Salvatin f Gentiles Apart frm Israel Paul culd state in 1Crinthians 15 that Christ died fr ur sins accrding t the scriptures because Isaiah prphesied that: he was wunded fr ur transgressins, he was bruised fr ur iniquities (Isaiah 53:5) the LORD hath laid n him iniquity f us all (Isaiah 53:6) thu shalt make his sul an ffering fr sin (Isaiah 53:10) fr he shall bear their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11) he hath pured ut his sul unt death (Isaiah 53:12) he bare the sin f many (Isaiah 53:12) While Paul culd describe his gspel as accrding t the scriptures based n Isaiah, it is nnetheless clear that the gspel f Christ is a revelatin beynd what Isaiah fretld, which was limited t Israel. fr the transgressin f my peple was he stricken (Isaiah 53:8) and thu shalt call his name JESUS: fr he shall save his peple frm their sins (Matthew 1:21) As a general matter, Gentiles have n hpe under the kingdm prgram (Ephesians 2:11-12). Hwever, a Gentile can becme a Jew (Esther 8:17). A Gentile can als first bless Israel and then receive blessing (Genesis 12:3, Luke 7:1-5). Under the kingdm prgram, there is n blessing fr Gentiles apart frm Israel. The gspel f Christ is the pwer f Gd unt salvatin t the Gentile directly rather than thrugh Israel (Rmans 1:16, 11:11, 11:30, Ephesians 2:13). The pr kingdm saints in Jerusalem glrify Gd fr the Crinthians prfessed subjectin unt the gspel f Christ, and their liberal distributin unt them, and unt all men (2Crinthians 9:12-13). 14

2Crinthians 9 references the gspel f Christ rather than the gspel f Gd because the gspel f Christ is part f the dispensatinal change that ccurs in the middle f Acts. It is the interruptin f the prphetic prgram by the dispensatin f grace that (1) causes the kingdm saints t be pr and (2) places a mral bligatin n mystery saints t assist the kingdm saints (Rmans 15:19, 20, 22, 25-27). In Antich sme walked nt uprightly accrding t the truth f the gspel because they drew a distinctin between Jew and Gentile (Galatians 2:11-14). The gspel that must be in view in Galatians 2:11-14 is the gspel f Christ because a distinctin between Jew and Gentile is cmpletely cmpatible with the gspel f Gd. The gspel f Christ draws n distinctin between Jew and Gentile and enables Gentiles t be saved apart frm Israel. Paul Received and Preached the Gspel f Christ Befre He Wrte His First Epistle Paul preached the gspel f Christ frm early n in his ministry as he preached it in Galatia befre he wrte his first epistle (Galatians 1:7). The Acts 15 cnference in Jerusalem was prmpted by certain men frm Judaea teaching the brethren in Antich that they cannt be saved withut being circumcised after the manner f Mses and keeping the law (Acts 15:1, 15:24). Under the gspel f the kingdm, keeping the cmmandments f the law is required (Matthew 19:16-17). Even after the Jerusalem cnference in Acts 15, the kingdm church cntinued t bserve the law (Acts 21:17-20). It is thus bvius that neither the gspel f the kingdm nr the gspel f Gd is incnsistent with the keeping f the law. In Acts 13, Paul preached frgiveness f sins and justificatin apart frm the law f Mses (Acts 13:37-39). Paul was thus preaching the gspel f Christ befre Acts 15. What Paul Knew and When He Knew It: Understanding the Chrnlgy f Acts 9 As stated abve, that Paul preached the gspel f Christ in Galatia befre he wrte his first epistle is beynd dispute. Hwever, identifying the first time that Paul preached the gspel f Christ is mre difficult. An imprtant related questin is when did Paul receive the revelatin f the gspel f Christ. We knw frm the fact that Paul preached the gspel f Christ in Antich f Pisida in Acts 13:37-39 that he must have knwn it prir t that time. 15

Understanding the rder f events in Acts 9 prvides clarity t the questins at hand (Exhibit B). Acts 9:1-9 Saul encuntered Christ n the rad t Damascus (Acts 22:1-10, Acts 26:9-19). What was Saul tld, i.e., what did he knw at that pint? Arise and g int the city where he will be tld what t d next (Acts 9:6, 22:10). The accunt in Acts 26 prvides additinal details abut what tk place n the rad t Damascus: Saul was t be a minister bth f the things which he had seen (Christ n the rad) and the things that wuld appear unt him (Acts 26:16). Saul was sent t the Gentiles t pen their eyes and t turn them frm darkness t light and frm the pwer f Satan unt Gd that they might receive the frgiveness f sins (Acts 26:17-18). It was n the rad t Damascus that Paul s apstleship f the Gentiles began as that was the pint in time he was tld that he was sent t the Gentiles (Acts 26:17, Rmans 11:13). Acts 9:7-9 Saul s travel cmpanins heard a vice but saw n man. Saul was blinded and led by the hand int the city (Acts 22:11). Fr three days, Saul was blind and ate n fd (Acts 9:9). Acts 9:10-16 The Lrd appeared t Ananias and tld him t lay hands n Saul. Ananias was a kingdm saint. There is n further recrd f this exchange. The Lrd tld Ananias that Saul was a chsen vessel t bear his name befre Gentiles, kings, and the children f Israel (Acts 9:15). Acts 9:17-18 Ananias visited Saul, restred his sight, and baptized him (Acts 22:12-16). Ananias instructed Saul t be baptized, and wash away thy sins (Acts 22:16). Based upn what is cntained in the text f the scriptures, there appears t have been n way that Saul knew his unique gspel at that pint in time. It appears that Ananias dealt with Saul in a manner that was cnsistent with the gspel f the circumcisin, which is all that Ananias r any ther human being wuld have knwn at that pint. Acts 9:19a Saul received meat prir t leaving the city fr Arabia. After Saul ate and was strengthened, he left Damascus fr Arabia (Galatians 1:16-18). 16

Halfway thrugh Acts 9:19 is the nly sensible place t lcate the events f Galatians 1:16-18 because Paul explicitly states that immediately I cnferred nt with flesh and bld. Thus, Paul had t depart Damascus fr Arabia shrtly after his arrival in Damascus. It seems t fllw then that Paul did nt knw the cntent f his unique gspel, the gspel f Christ, until half way thrugh Acts 9:19 at the earliest (Galatians 1:7, 11-12, 17). Acts 9:19b-23 Saul was many days in Damascus. Upn returning frm Arabia, Saul spent time with the disciples in Damascus (Galatians 1:17). The many days f Acts 9:23 are the three years spken f in Galatians 1:18. During Paul s time in Damascus, he preached the gspel f Gd (Acts 9:20, 22). Acts 9:23-25 Paul was run ut f Damascus by the Jews fr preaching the gspel f Gd in verses 20 and 22. The disciples f the Lrd that Saul riginally came t the city t destry (Acts 9:1) helped him escape the Jews f the city wh were angered ver Saul s preaching that Jesus was the Christ. There is n evidence in the text f scriptures that Paul preached the gspel f Christ in Damascus. This absence f evidence des nt mean that Paul did nt knw the gspel f Christ but simply that there is n evidence that he preached it at that time in Damascus. In summatin, The Gspels Prject believes that Paul received the revelatin f the gspel f Christ in Acts 9. The first RECORDED instance f it being preached is fund in Acts 13. This des nt mean that Paul did nt preach the gspel f Christ prir t Acts 13 but simply that n such preaching f the gspel f Christ is recrded in the scriptures. Acknwledging these facts and limitatins in n way threatens the mid-acts view but aids it by nt stating mre than can be clearly supprted by scripture. 17

The Gspels Prject Lessn 6 The Gspel f the Circumcisin and the Gspel f the Uncircumcisin Gspel f the Circumcisin and Gspel f the Uncircumcisin The terms gspel f the circumcisin and gspel f the uncircumcisin appear in nly ne verse (Galatians 2:7). Peter preached the gspel f the circumcisin, and Paul preached the gspel f the uncircumcisin. It is clear frm Galatians 2 as a whle that Paul is nt identifying the gspel f the uncircumcisin as a different bdy f infrmatin frm what he elsewhere refers t as my gspel. Instead, the gspel f the uncircumcisin is simply that gspel which I preach amng the Gentiles (Galatians 2:2). It is the same thing that Paul elsewhere calls my gspel r ur gspel. Since the gspel f the uncircumcisin is that gspel which I preach amng the Gentiles (Galatians 2:2) and since Paul preached amng the Gentiles bth (1) the gspel f Gd (Rmans 15:16) and (2) the gspel f Christ (Rmans 15:19), it is clear that the gspel f the uncircumcisin includes bth the gspel f Gd and the gspel f Christ. Since the gspel f the circumcisin is what Peter preached unt the circumcisin, it is clear that the gspel f the circumcisin cnsists f (1) the gspel f the kingdm (Luke 9:1-2) and (2) the gspel f Gd (1Peter 4:17). Peter s Preaching f the Gspel f the Circumcisin in Acts 2 As shwn abve, the gspel f the circumcisin cnsists f (1) the gspel f the kingdm and (2) the gspel f Gd. In Acts 2, Peter preaches bth gspels. Peter preached the gspel f the kingdm in Acts 2 in that he instructed his listeners t repent and be baptized fr the remissin f sins (Acts 2:38). Peter preached the gspel f Gd in Acts 2 in that he preached (1) that Jesus Christ was made f the seed f David accrding t the flesh (Acts 2:29-30) and (2) that Jesus was declared t be the Sn f Gd by the resurrectin frm the dead (Acts 2:30-31, 2:24, 2:27, 2:32, 2:36). Review the pie illustratin (Exhibit D) Paul s My Gspel and Our Gspel Paul uses the term my gspel three times (Rmans 2:16, 16:25, 2Timthy 2:8) and the term ur gspel three times (2Crinthians 4:3, 1Thessalnians 1:5, 2Thessalnians 2:14). He als refers t the glrius gspel f the blessed Gd that was cmmitted t my trust (1Timthy 1:11). My Gspel Paul s gspel was received by him thrugh direct revelatin frm the Lrd Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12). 18

While Paul s my gspel was received directly frm the Lrd Jesus Christ, it cntains elements that were accrding t the Old Testament scriptures (1Crinthans 15:1-4). This is why Paul can say that frm a child Timthy had knwn the hly scriptures, bviusly the Old Testament, which were able t make him wise unt salvatin thrugh faith which is in Christ Jesus (2Timthy 3:15). The term my gspel includes the gspel f Gd. My gspel includes Jesus Christ f the seed f David being raised frm the dead (2Timthy 2:8, Rmans 1:1-4). The term my gspel includes the gspel f Christ. Paul declared that a dispensatin f the gspel is cmmitted unt me and that it was called the gspel f Christ (1Crinthians 9:17-18). The judgment f men s secrets at the great white thrne judgment is accrding t Paul s my gspel (Rmans 2:11-16). Just as the Lrd Jesus Christ being f the seed f David is specifically said t be part f Paul s my gspel (2Timthy 2:8) even thugh it was previusly revealed as part f the prphetic prgram, the great white thrne judgment is als accrding t Paul s my gspel. It makes sense that the great white judgment wuld be accrding t my gspel as thse wh reject Paul s gspel during the dispensatin f grace end up at the great white thrne. Paul s gspel is the clearest manifestatin f grace and thus an apprpriate basis n which t judge all men thrughut time, irrespective f what particular prgram they happened t live under. Althugh the details f the particular instructins given t men differed ver time, all f Gd s different instructins required men t have faith in rder t access Gd s grace, which truth is mst clearly expressed by Paul s my gspel (Hebrews 11:6). Our Gspel The term ur gspel includes the gspel f Gd. Our gspel came t the Thessalnians, and what Paul preached t them was the gspel f Gd (1Thessalnians 1:5, 2:2). The term ur gspel includes the gspel f Christ (2Crinthians 4:3-4). Paul s ur gspel is hw peple are called during the dispensatin f grace (2Thessalnians 2:13-14). 19

My gspel and ur gspel appear t be identical. Our gspel seems t be a reference t the gspel that Paul and his fellwlaburers preached. 20

The Gspels Prject Lessn 7 Overview and Cnclusin A Summary f the Majr Gspels in the Scriptures Review the Summary f the Majr Gspels in the Scriptures (Exhibit A) The gspel f the kingdm The initial cntent f the gspel f the kingdm is explicitly said t be that the time is fulfilled and the kingdm f Gd is at hand, repent ye and believe the gspel (Mark 1:14-15). After the Lrd s baptism, Jhn the Baptist bare recrd that Jesus was the Christ (Jhn 1:34). Jhn the Baptist preached the baptism f repentance fr the remissin f sins (Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3). T be inducted int the Levitical priesthd, a man had t be a perfect physical specimen (Leviticus 21:16-21). T hallw a man int the priest s ffice, he was washed and then aninted with il (Exdus 29:1-4, 7). The gspel f Gd The gspel f Gd cnsists f tw elements: (1) that Jesus Christ was made f the seed f David accrding t the flesh and (2) that he was declared t be the Sn f Gd by the resurrectin frm the dead (Rmans 1:1-4). In Acts 2, Peter preached the gspel f Gd in that he preached (1) that Jesus Christ was made f the seed f David accrding t the flesh (Acts 2:29-30) and (2) that Jesus was declared t be the Sn f Gd by the resurrectin frm the dead (Acts 2:30-31, 2:24, 2:27, 2:32, 2:36). The gspel f Christ In 1Crinthians 15, Paul specifically declared the cntent f his gspel as three cmpnents: (1) that Christ died fr ur sins accrding t the scriptures, (2) that he was buried, and (3) that he rse again the third day accrding t the scriptures (1Crinthians 15:1-4). The phrase gspel f Christ is used interchangeably with the grace f Christ (Galatians 1:6-7). The gspel f Gd is fundatinal infrmatin fr the gspel f Christ since a man must first understand wh Jesus is, i.e. the Sn f Gd, in rder t understand why believing that he died fr ur sins wuld accmplish anything. 21

The gspel f the circumcisin Since the gspel f the circumcisin is what Peter preached unt the circumcisin, it is clear that the gspel f the circumcisin cnsists f (1) the gspel f the kingdm (Luke 9:1-2) and (2) the gspel f Gd (1Peter 4:17). As shwn abve, Peter preached the gspel f Gd in Acts 2. Peter als preached the gspel f the kingdm in Acts 2 in that he instructed his listeners t repent and be baptized fr the remissin f sins (Acts 2:38). The gspel f the uncircumcisin Since the gspel f the uncircumcisin is that gspel which I preach amng the Gentiles (Galatians 2:2) and since Paul preached amng the Gentiles bth (1) the gspel f Gd (Rmans 15:16) and (2) the gspel f Christ (Rmans 15:19), it is clear that the gspel f the uncircumcisin includes bth the gspel f Gd and the gspel f Christ. The Timeline f the Gspels Review the timeline f the gspels (Exhibit C) Paul s Preaching f Multiple Gspels Des Nt Supprt the Acts 28 Psitin but Disprves It Sme may perceive the fact that Paul preached multiple gspels (e.g., the gspel f Gd, the gspel f Christ) as prviding supprt t the Acts 28 psitin. On the cntrary, an accurate understanding f the timing f when Paul began t preach his different gspels shws the untenability f the Acts 28 psitin. The Acts 28 psitin views the bdy f Christ as nt beginning until Acts 28 r later and draws a dividing line between Paul s Acts perid ministry and his pst-acts perid ministry. Accrdingly, Acts 28 prpnents typically claim that Paul s Acts perid epistles (Rmans, 1&2 Crinthians, Galatians, 1&2 Thessalnians) are nt intended fr the bdy f Christ. Hwever, as demnstrated abve, Paul preached the gspel f Christ, als knwn as the gspel f the grace f Gd, prir t Acts 15 and prir t writing his first epistle, Galatians. Paul knew the gspel f Christ, his particular dispensatin f the gspel, befre he wrte his first epistle (1Crinthians 9:17-18, Galatians 1:7). Every gspel that Paul preached the gspel f Gd, the gspel f Christ, the gspel f the grace f Gd, was preached befre Acts 28. Mrever, there is n new gspel referenced in any f Paul s pst Acts epistles. 22

Thus, clarity abut the fact that Paul received and preached bth the gspel f Gd and the gspel f Christ befre he wrte his first epistle is a cmpelling reasn t reject the Acts 28 psitin. Supprters f the Acts 28 psitin have used the fact that prtins f Paul s teaching are said t be prmised afre by his prphets in the hly scriptures r accrding t the scriptures (Rmans 1:2, 1Crinthians 15:3-4) as suppsed prf f a difference between Paul s Acts perid and pst-acts perid ministries. Understanding that the gspel f Gd is fundatinal t the preaching f the gspel f Christ helps dispel this cnfusin and supprts the mid-acts rigin f the bdy f Christ. 23

EXHIBIT A A Summary f the Majr Gspels in the Scriptures Gspel Wh preached first Others wh preached Key cmpnents Gspel f the kingdm Jhn the Baptist Jesus Christ, The Initially: The kingdm at hand Twelve, Tribulatin Added after Christ s baptism: Jesus is the Christ, the saints Gspel f Gd Peter Paul, kingdm saints, the bdy f Christ Sn f Gd Jesus f the seed f David Jesus declared t the be the Sn f Gd by the resurrectin Gspel f Christ Paul The bdy f Christ Christ died fr ur sins, was buried and rse again the third day The grace f Christ Gentile salvatin apart frm Israel Gspel f the circumcisin Peter Kingdm saints Gspel f Gd + Gspel f the Kingdm Gspel f the uncircumcisin Paul The bdy f Christ Gspel f Gd + Gspel f Christ ( my gspel, ur gspel ) 24

EXHIBIT B 25

EXHIBIT C 26

EXHIBIT D Crust Fundatin The lgical place t start building a pie Necessary fr a gd pie Can be used with any filling. Gspel f Gd Peter & Paul use the same crust 27

Filling Mre than ne type. What makes the pie distinct. Cherries=Gspel f the Kingdm Apples=Gspel f Christ Cntents f the filling is what saves. 28

Perspective f the Pie Wrkman Gspel f the Circumcisin Gspel f Gd (Crust) Gspel f Kingdm (Cherries) Gspel f the Uncircumcisin Gspel f Gd (Crust) Gspel f Christ (Apples) A gd pie wrkman understands the parts 29

Perspective f the Pie Recipient A gd presentatin f a pie presents the crust and filling as a single package. The recipient sees the ttality f the pie, crust and filling, at the same time. 30

Bxed Pie One can present a perfectly prper pie withut understanding hw a pie is made. 31