The gospel Paul received by revelation from Christ for the current dispensation is detailed throughout Paul’s 13 epistles. Two popular summary examples are 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and Romans 4:24-25.
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I 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
“But for us also, to whom it (righteousness) shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 4:24-25
The Gospel Preached Before Paul
Using two verses a person can irrefutably prove that the content of the gospel of the kingdom is different from Paul’s gospel. The fundamentals of the gospel of the grace of God given to Paul were: unknown, not understood, and hidden from the 12 disciples.
“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. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.” Luke 18:31-34
Peter even tried to rebuke and prevent Jesus from fulfilling prophecy by dying on the cross.
“From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Matthew 16:21-23
Matthew 16 proves too much when it says that Jesus began to show the disciples, “from that time forth.” The 3 year preaching ministry of the little flock did not include preaching the crosswork of Christ.
The little flock was hand-picked and sent by Christ preaching the gospel of the kingdom for a good while to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matt 10:1-7). The content of this message is also found at the beginning of Mark.
“Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15
Jesus’ crucifixion had not happened nor is it the content being preached.
Present Offer of Grace Now
Paul never preached the gospel of the kingdom nor the kingdom of God at hand but Jesus in his earthly ministry, the 12, the 70 in Luke 10, and John the Baptist did. Recognizing when God reveals progressive or new information is key to knowing God’s will.
Israel’s kingdom gospel blessed Israel and worthy gentiles during the believing remnant of Israel’s ministry. Unbelieving Jerusalem never received the kingdom offer (Acts 3:19-21) and persecuted the believing little flock (Acts 8:1). Then Christ appeared to Paul with a dispensation of the gospel in agreement with the scriptures revealed now to be preached (Rom 16:25-26, 1 Cor. 9:17).
Paul knew what the 12 preached. Their teaching of Christ added nothing to him but contrarywise he added unto them. His gospel was separate from theirs. They isolated their diminishing ministry to Israel and Paul continued to expand his gospel of the uncircumcision to the heathen (Gal 2:1-9).
How Does This Help?
Israel is fallen in this dispensation and salvation without Israel, their law, or their covenants is going to Jew or Gentile without distinction. These doctrines are outlined in Paul’s epistles and when he is considered reveal what God has done, is doing, and will do (2 Tim 2:7-8).
Rightly dividing these messages and audiences as distinct and separate is the solution (2 TIm 2:15). God progressively revealed more information to Paul for this age that was hid in God from ages and generations until Christ started appearing to the heavenly-appointed apostle of the gentiles beginning in Acts 9 (Acts 26:13-18, Eph 3:1-9, Rom 11:13).
Knowing what God is doing relates to what he has communicated for faith. Preaching the gospel is not good enough because there are different gospels in the bible which differ in content.
The gospel of the grace of God revealed first to Paul is the message God is offering for sinners to be saved by God’s grace through faith now (1 Tim 1:15-16, Acts 20:24, Gal 1:11-12, 2 Cor 6:2, Eph 2:8-9).
