Apostle Paul, oil on wood, by Rembrandt
Jesus Christ and the twelve apostles preached the gospel of the kingdom of God. Did Paul preach a different gospel?
Jesus was sent by God to preach the kingdom of God [Luke 4:43]. He first preached the gospel at Galilee [Mat.4:23], then to cities and villages [Mat.9:35]. He also taught and instructed His disciples to preach the same gospel of the kingdom [Mat 10:5-7].
Christ also said that the same gospel shall be preached to all the world:
Mat 24:14 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.
Quite consistent, isn’t it? It is the gospel about the kingdom of God.
Now, how about the apostle Paul – what gospel did he preach?
Paul was taught directly and personally by Christ, just like the other apostles. Only this time, it’s the resurrected, glorified Jesus Christ who did.
Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
What gospel message did Paul preach?
Was it different from the one that Christ and the apostles preached?
Acts 28:23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. [NIV]
Did you see that? Paul here is at the end of his ministry, under house arrest in Rome. After writing many epistles, we see him still preaching the gospel of the kingdom, as well as things concerning Jesus.
Now, read on to the last two verses of the book of Acts:
Act 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
Act 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
“The Gospel which I preached unto you”
In his first epistle to the Corinthians, Paul gave details of the gospel that he preached.
1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
Notice that Paul introduced his message as the gospel “which I preached unto you”. Obviously Paul had been preaching the gospel that he was writing in this message to the Corinthians.
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
SO the gospel that Paul preached included Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. But most preachers stop here, leaving out important details that follow!
But let us continue reading them, and see what many miss by skipping it:
1Co 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
Some, during Paul’s day, claim that there is no resurrection — and today, resurrection is de-emphasized and is hardly preached as an essential belief. This obviously is because of the teaching of immortal soul which is incompatible with the concept of resurrection. Yet resurrection as Paul said is the only hope of eternal life for those who have died. Notice:
1Co 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
1Co 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
Without resurrection – according to Paul — our faith is empty!
As he said in verse 29: “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.” Without resurrection everything becomes useless — we have nothing to hope for — and it deteriorates into “let’s live it up while it lasts, come what may” mentality! Paul says that that is miserable [v.19]!
1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
Christ’s resurrection served as a forerunner of the same resurrection that has to happen for those who died. Because of Christ’s resurrection we know, by faith, that the dead in Christ will rise again!
Jumping to verse 50:
1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Here’s the core message. The gospel looks forward to the coming kingdom of God. However, it has become popular to leave out the “kingdom of God” from the gospel message. What remains is a hollow message about grace and salvation. Salvation is about entering the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not for “flesh and blood”. It is not for mortals. A change from our present physical state to spirit state has to happen!
Paul is actually echoing the message that Christ told Nicodemus:
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…
Paul is here explaining to the Corinthians what Nicodemus had a hard time understanding – our birth into the kingdom of God. Here’s how Paul explains it:
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Did you get that?
That is how we will enter the kingdom of God. Christ is the “firstfruits” [v.20] or firstborn from the dead [Col.1:18]. He was born by a resurrection from the dead – the very first to be born in that manner. That is how we will be born again, too – born from above – into the kingdom. That is the end result of the promised salvation. The popular gospel on the other hand says you are born again, when you are baptized, or when you have accepted Christ. That’s what happens when you take out the kingdom from the gospel. It becomes a fake salvation. Real salvation is when you have escaped the power of death completely. Notice:
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Real salvation is COMPLETE VICTORY OVER DEATH through our Lord Jesus Christ!
With this vital truth omitted, preachers and followers today talk about how God loves them unconditionally – clueless that God is coming in great wrath because of man’s disobedience.
Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named [mentioned] among you, as becometh saints;
Eph 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient [proper, right]: but rather giving of thanks.
Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Or as Christ simply puts it:
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
That is the gospel message that Paul preached.
That is the gospel of Christ.
May God help you understand this central truth that has been God’s focus since time immemorial.
