The Gospel: Peter's Gospel and Paul's Gospel and The Difference. Part 2 – LLM

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QUOTATIONS FROM PETER'S AND PAUL'S EPISTLES

Now let us compare Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 with Peter's statement in 1 Peter 3:18. Ok, here’s the Holy Spirit through Paul, “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.”

And now the Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle Peter, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”

Believers are saved by the Gospel set forth by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. But, in my judgment, there is no more definite, true statement of the Gospel, in any of Paul's messages, than we have in 1 Peter 3:18. This is one of my favorite verses in preaching to the unsaved. Then think of 1 Peter 2:24 and 1 Peter 1:18-20. In these verses we learn that we are redeemed by the precious shed blood of the LORD Jesus Christ, because the LORD Jesus bare our sins in His own body on the tree. Then in 1 Peter 5:10 we learn that it is Peter who calls God, “the God of all Grace.”

With that said, it is true that there seems to be quite a difference between Peter's message to the Gentiles in Acts 10:34-35, and Paul's message to the Gentiles, in Romans 4:4-5. Note the difference:

Here is Peter in Acts 10, “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth Him, and work­eth righteousness, is accepted with Him.” Acts 10:34-35

Now here is Paul from Romans 4, “Now to him that worketh is the reward NOT reckoned of Grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but BELIEVETH on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:4-5

Then look, we have Peter continuing in his message to Gentiles to say that Christ died and was raised from the dead and whosoever BELIEVETH on Him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:39-43)

Every Spirit‑taught Christian knows that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins; and that Christ's blood was ONCE shed for the remission of sins and that there is no remission of sins, or redemption, for one single person apart from the Faith in the shed blood of the LORD Jesus Christ. Period! (Romans 5:10; Matthew 26:28; Colossians 1:14; Colossians 1:20-21; Ephesians 1:6-7.)

But because we know that the Faith in the shed blood of the LORD Jesus Christ is the ONE and ONLY way for the sinner to be saved, are we to say there is only one Gospel in the Bible, and that the meaning of Galatians 2:7 is that Paul and Peter preached the same Gospel to different groups? Those, who DO say this, think they have proved their assertion by Galatians 1:9, ”If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

In the verses immediately preceding this ninth verse the Holy Spirit led Paul to write that the PERVERTED Gospel, a mixture of law and Grace, was NOT another Gospel. So from these verses there are sincere faithful servants of the LORD who teach that there is no Gospel in the Bible other than 1 Corin­thians 15:1-4, the fact that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and raised again; all in fulfillment of prophecy. (Acts 13:29-30) (Luke 18:31-35).

These sincere brethren seem to think they must dogmatically and uncompromisingly contend for one and only one Gospel in contending earnestly for the Faith once‑for‑all delivered unto the saints. There is such a thing as being sincerely wrong...having zeal without knowl­edge. If these brethren are wrong, it is because they have very much limited the word “Gospel.”

Let us note the “Gospel” in several verses of Scripture:

Matthew 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.”

Now, Acts 20:24, Colossians 1:5, and Colossians 1:23, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the LORD Jesus, to testify the GOSPEL of the Grace of God.”...“For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the GOSPEL; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the GRACE of God in truth.”...“If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the GOSPEL, which ye have heard, and WHICH WAS PREACHED to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”

In these Scriptures we read of “the Gospel of the Kingdom” and “the Gospel of the Grace of God.” Are these two Gospels identical? The LORD Jesus, about 33 A.D., declared that the end would come when "the Gospel of the Kingdom" had been preached as a witness among all nations. About 25 years later the Aposlte Paul left Ephesus to end his course in preaching “the Gospel of the Grace of God.” About 67 A.D. Paul declared that he had FINISHED his course. (2 Timothy 4:7.) A little later his earthly career ENDED. About the time Paul declared that he had ENDED his course he wrote that the Gospel HAD come into all the world and was preached to every creature which is under heaven.

But now, understand this, when Christ said, in Matthew 24:14, the end would come, He was OBVIOUSLY NOT referring to the end of PAUL's earthly ministry. The end to which Christ referred in Matthew 24:14, did NOT come when Paul's Gospel had been preached in all the world. You see, Israel's tribulation is the chief subject of Matthew 24. And the end of the Age, in THAT chapter, must be the end of an Age different from this present Age of Grace.

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "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 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

LLM - Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)