"And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32)
This “word of His GRACE” is not the same Word as the Word concerning the Kingdom. The word of His Grace is for all mankind and sets forth the Salvation of mankind by God’s grace. The word concerning the Kingdom has to do with Israel and God’s promises to them alone. Both are good news (gospels) but are completely separate. Following is how I understand and distinguish the two gospels…
THE GOSPEL (Word) OF THE KINGDOM: "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand". It was first preached to ISRAEL only by John the Baptist, then Jesus Himself and his 12 chosen Jewish disciples. It will also be preached again during the Great Tribulation (Day of the Lord) just before Jesus returns. It was directed ONLY to the Nation of Israel (God's CHOSEN nation) and to Gentile proselytes (like Cornelius). It focused on Jesus being the Jewish Messiah. It was preached by Peter, James, John and Paul to the Circumcision/Israel until blindness came to the nation of Israel at the close of the book of Acts. When the 70th week of Daniel begins, the blindness will be lifted God and God will again focus His attention on Israel's national repentance, and "ALL Israel will be saved"(Romans 3:25-32). The book of Revelation gives the conclusion to the Word of the Kingdom promised to Israel and details the Tribulation period otherwise known as the 70th week of Daniel, the time of Jacob’s trouble, and the Day of the Lord.
THE GOSPEL (Word) OF GRACE: "Christ died for the sins of all mankind, he was buried, and rose again according to Scripture." And “as in Adam all time, even so in Christ shall all be made alive...that God may be ALL in ALL” (1 Corinthians 15). To ENJOY the benefits of that good news one simply needs to "believe/have faith in” that good news. It was entrusted to Paul by our Lord who also gave him an "abundance of revelations" (2 Corinthians 12:1, 7) which were revealed only to Paul by Jesus after his ascension. Paul was chosen to preach it among individuals of ALL Nations. There was no call to repent, be baptized, or accept Jesus as Messiah but simply to believe the Salvation God is providing for mankind through Christ Jesus who was the first fruit of that salvation. It included the following revelations…that "God was in Christ reconciling to World to Himself, not counting their transgressions against them". Salvation is for those "chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world" and would become the “Body of Christ” with the heavenly destiny of displaying the marvelous grace of God among the heavens (Ephesians 2:4-10). It taught that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"; and that "the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". It says that Jesus "came into the world to save sinners", and that God "wills ALL men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the Truth"; and that there is only "one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for ALL".
It is my opinion that failing to keep these two gospels separate is the source of all error within Christianity today…and not many Christians seem to understand that or care.
This “word of His GRACE” is not the same Word as the Word concerning the Kingdom. The word of His Grace is for all mankind and sets forth the Salvation of mankind by God’s grace. The word concerning the Kingdom has to do with Israel and God’s promises to them alone. Both are good news (gospels) but are completely separate. Following is how I understand and distinguish the two gospels…
THE GOSPEL (Word) OF THE KINGDOM: "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand". It was first preached to ISRAEL only by John the Baptist, then Jesus Himself and his 12 chosen Jewish disciples. It will also be preached again during the Great Tribulation (Day of the Lord) just before Jesus returns. It was directed ONLY to the Nation of Israel (God's CHOSEN nation) and to Gentile proselytes (like Cornelius). It focused on Jesus being the Jewish Messiah. It was preached by Peter, James, John and Paul to the Circumcision/Israel until blindness came to the nation of Israel at the close of the book of Acts. When the 70th week of Daniel begins, the blindness will be lifted God and God will again focus His attention on Israel's national repentance, and "ALL Israel will be saved"(Romans 3:25-32). The book of Revelation gives the conclusion to the Word of the Kingdom promised to Israel and details the Tribulation period otherwise known as the 70th week of Daniel, the time of Jacob’s trouble, and the Day of the Lord.
THE GOSPEL (Word) OF GRACE: "Christ died for the sins of all mankind, he was buried, and rose again according to Scripture." And “as in Adam all time, even so in Christ shall all be made alive...that God may be ALL in ALL” (1 Corinthians 15). To ENJOY the benefits of that good news one simply needs to "believe/have faith in” that good news. It was entrusted to Paul by our Lord who also gave him an "abundance of revelations" (2 Corinthians 12:1, 7) which were revealed only to Paul by Jesus after his ascension. Paul was chosen to preach it among individuals of ALL Nations. There was no call to repent, be baptized, or accept Jesus as Messiah but simply to believe the Salvation God is providing for mankind through Christ Jesus who was the first fruit of that salvation. It included the following revelations…that "God was in Christ reconciling to World to Himself, not counting their transgressions against them". Salvation is for those "chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world" and would become the “Body of Christ” with the heavenly destiny of displaying the marvelous grace of God among the heavens (Ephesians 2:4-10). It taught that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"; and that "the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". It says that Jesus "came into the world to save sinners", and that God "wills ALL men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the Truth"; and that there is only "one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for ALL".
It is my opinion that failing to keep these two gospels separate is the source of all error within Christianity today…and not many Christians seem to understand that or care.