1Corinthians 15:1-4

v1. Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

v2. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

v3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

v4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Warning

2Corinthians 4:3-4

v3. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

v4. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Before God saved the apostle Paul the Gentiles were without God in this world and they had no hope. But God saved Paul outside of the nation of Israel to show that his gospel was different and it had to be kept separate. The Lord Jesus Christ appointed Paul, as the Apostle of the Gentiles. He gave him the titles:

Apostle of the Gentiles, Chief of Sinners and Masterbuilder. As was their custom the Jews called the Gentiles sinners and dogs, therefore a very fitting title for the apostle Paul was chief of sinners. As the apostle of the Gentiles Paul was also commissioned, Masterbuilder of Christ's new church which he called the body of Christ. According to 1 Corinthians 3:10 God says that Paul laid the foundation for the church the body of Christ and that foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we can build on no other foundation than the one laid by the apostle Paul, or we will be building upon sand.

Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

1Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

1Corinthians 3:10-13

v10. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

v11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

v12. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

v13. Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

We should never loose sight of this fact that the Lord Jesus Christ's earthly ministry did not include the Gentiles at all.

Matthew 15:24, But Jesus answered her and said, I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

We must also keep in mind, that the Gentiles were not included in the house of Israel. Did you know that the law forbade the Lord Jesus from having anything to do with the Gentiles before His death, burial, resurrection and assention back to the Father's right hand. That is why the Scriptures tell us: He spoke not a word to the Canaanite woman at first.

But the Lord did make at least three exceptions, among the Gentiles because of the recipients great faith and thankful hearts. The first was the Canaanite woman, second a Roman centurion and third was the leper who was a foreigner, he was one of the ten that the Lord healed, to come back and thank Him.  The Lord Jesus commanded the twelve: Go not into the way of the Gentiles, also go not to the Samaritans, they were only half Jews. (Matthew 10:5). Matthew 15:24, the Lord Jesus clarifies His position, as to why they should go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

With this said, we find many other very good reasons to become familiar with the both the Kingdom writers and the Apostle Paul's writings, so we can determine what the Lord Jesus Christ said, and to note what He did not say. All things written before were written for our learning. The four Gospels, the writings of Peter, James, John and Jude are all for our learning.

Matthew 10:5-7 

v5. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not

v6. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

v7. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 15:24  But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  

Also see:

Romans 15:8  Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

Ephesians 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope

Starting with Acts 9 through Acts 28:28 we find: "two statements of Faith" one for the (Jews only) the other for all mankind:

The Jewish Statement of Faith Is: I believe in the name of Jesus Christ, I believe that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

The Gentile Statement of Faith Is: I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ did all that was necessary for my salvation; in His finished work on the cross. He died on the cross for my sins, He was buried and after three nights and three days he arose from the dead, He ascended back to the Father's right hand to make intercession for me. The only message for salvation we have today is called Paul's gospel, because he alone received the mystery from the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ from heaven. Romans 16:25.

Paul's gospel is the only gospel for all mankind today. Paul's gospel is to us, it is for us and it is about us. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ did all that was necessary for our salvation through His finished work on the cross. We find His basic gospel of salvation clearly laid out for us in the first four verses of 1 Corinthians 15.

Paul's gospel is the only gospel by which we are saved, Paul's gospel is the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. Do not be deceived, all of the other so called gospels are fake or they are not for the body of Christ. The kingdom gospel is not for the church the body of Christ. Because it is on hold. If we know God, or rather we are known by God this fact should be perfectly clear to us, or it soon will be as our knowledge and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ increases.

All who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ and we are sealed at the moment of salvation. This is the one baptism spoken of in Ephesians 4:5. We are one body with many members and we have only one baptism and it is a Spiritual baptism, not a physical one.

Ephesians 4:5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Again this one baptism is performed by the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation and it is without a drop of water. When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ's finished work on the cross, the gospel we are saved. Paul's gospel is the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. Paul calls the revelation of the mystery "my gospel" because, he alone received it. And furthermore: ("It is that which is perfect").

We are admonished by the Holy Spirit to follow Paul as he followed the Lord Jesus Christ. We can not follow Christ as the twelve followed Him! First of all Christ's earthly ministry was not to the Gentiles it to the Jews only, and we are not Jews. The Jews that followed Christ were under the law and we are not under the law we are under pure Grace. There are many more reasons to follow Paul as he follows Christ, but for the dispensation of grace the only way to Christ is through the apostle Paul for Jew and Gentile alike. Remember! Christ said, I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and we are not of the house of Israel. The Lord Jesus Christ had to die before the Gentiles could claim the salvation that He offered.The twelve were part of Christ's earthly ministry to the Jews only, and they had nothing to do with Gentiles.

As we said before Christ's earthly ministry did not include the Gentiles. The Lord Jesus Christ made that perfectly clear when He commanded the twelve in Matthew 10:5 "go not into the way of the Gentiles". The reason He gave for this command was, I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel to confirm the covenant promises made to the fathers. We also learn that Christ's earthly ministry, was called the gospel of the kingdom, but the Jews rejected and killed their Messiah and the nation was set aside and put on hold till the tribulation. It is high time that all the nations including the Jews, start following the apostle Paul as he followed the Lord Jesus Christ. God chose the apostle Paul to be our pattern, for everlasting life; therefore we must follow Paul as he followed the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

1Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

1Corinthians 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

1Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

2Thessalonians 3:7  For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

2Thessalonians 3:9   Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us.

Colossians 1:25-26 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;

v26. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

In Acts chapter 15 and in Galatians chapter 2 we find the Jerusalem Council where Paul communicates his gospel to the eleven plus James the Lords half brother. The Lord sent Paul, up to Jerusalem by revelation to communicate the gospel that he preached among the Gentiles to the eleven plus the Lords half brother. Paul's gospel is the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is also called the gospel of the grace of God and by inspiration Paul calls it my gospel.

The Jerusalem council was held some fourteen years after Paul received his gospel from the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore the twelve never preached the gospel that Paul preached, because as yet they did not know it, it was hid from them in the mind of God.

Galatians 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

When Paul finished his final epistle probably 2-Timothy he had fulfilled the Word of God or in other words he put an end to the Scripture writing. (That which is perfect has come).  And really what could be more perfect than writing the final word for God.

Ephesians 4:4-6.

v4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

v5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

v6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Paul always writes, to believers:  One body, One Spirit, One hope, One Lord, One faith, One baptism performed by the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation, and One God. That which is perfect has come. But now, why is water baptism still being required by men, it was never part of the gospel of grace? Paul said, in [1Corinthians 1:17] God sent me not to baptize, and the Lord says we must follow Paul as he follows Christ. Many churches today require baptism a Jewish ritual for church membership? These requirements are from misguided men and the mix law and grace, and they are not from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Please, if you can! Show me one scripture that requires water baptism for the Gentiles in the dispensation of Grace, or even in the dispensation of law? Water baptism was a Jewish ritual under the law but those requirement are on hold for now.  God's Word for today clearly states in Eph. 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism. (and the Holy Spirit performs that baptism without water).

 Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

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.

Wait a minute, just stop and think: who was the Lord Jesus speaking to when He gave this command? We must rightly divide the word of Truth. Which gospel did He tell them to preach? The Lord Jesus was speaking to the twelve apostles, under the law! And He told them to preach the gospel of the kingdom to every creature and to baptize them. He told them preach the gospel of the Kingdom. But something had to change, first!  But the nation of Israel just would not believe, and become that nation of priests. They rejected their Messiah, by hanging Him on a Roman cross. They rejected the Father by killing the prophets and they rejected the Holy Spirit by stoning Stephen. That commission was put on hold awaiting the tribulation.

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

This is the offer and refusal of the kingdom. The nation of Israel was warned three times that God would turn to the Gentiles, with the third and final warning God put their program which is under the law on hold. Therefore neither the Jew nor Gentiles should seek to follow the gospel of the kingdom , because it is not valid for today and coincidently it is not valid for the Jew either in the dispensation of Grace! We both must follow Paul as he followed the Christ from heaven. In retrospect Mark 16:15 was not accomplished by the twelve making Mark 16:16 unnecessary at this time as well.

The twelve did not win the nation of Israel first as they were commanded to do. Therefore the gospel of the kingdom is put on hold. Salvation for all mankind comes only by Paul's gospel. According to 1Corinthians 15:1-4 the basic gospel for all mankind. We need to study all of Paul's writings to see what God has in store for all mankind today. If you really want to understand; the Word. Right division is the only key that will unlock the mystery that was hid in God before the world began. Right division separates the kingdom gospel from the gospel of the grace of God. It also separates Prophecy from Mystery. It separates the nation of Israel from the church the body of Christ.

If God separated them, then who are we to mix them up again. God made one provisions for mixing Law and Grace and it is called judgment. Truly we need a good working knowledge of both gospels; but we must remember the kingdom gospel is for our learning, while the gospel of the grace of God is for our salvation and our doctrine.  Christ did not send Paul to baptize. Therefore He did not send us to baptize either. But He did send the twelve to baptize, in Israel's program under the law. But now, that program is on hold. Mark 16:16 does not belong to the church the body of Christ.

We are Ambassadors; we do not to preach the gospel of the kingdom to every creature. But we preach the gospel of the grace of God to every creature. Let's stop just reading words and saying it is in the Bible so it is mine. First we must determine who is writing or speaking at what time to what intent, what goes before and what comes after and we must not claim the things that are not written to and for us. For example we were never given the great commission, the great commission was given to the twelve apostles. Mark 16:16. What a difference the gospel of the grace of God can make in our Christian lives if we only take time to rightly divide the Word of Truth.

We must understand that only the twelve apostles were sent to baptize and preach the gospel of the Kingdom. The Great commission is under the law. It is not for the body of Christ.

1Corinthians 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

The Lord Jesus Christ sent Paul to preach the gospel of the grace of God to the Gentiles. Paul calls the gospel he preaches, my gospel . Paul's gospel has nothing to do with the gospel of the Kingdom. That is why we do not follow Christ in water baptism. Christ was baptized to fulfil the law, we are not under the law. It is a Jewish ritual under the law of Moses. We are the body of Christ and we are not under the law.

The Holy Spirit tells us to follow Paul as he followed the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven. We should not become entangled with Christ's earthly ministry, although we need to learn from it. 1Corinthians 15:1-4 is Paul's basic gospel for all mankind, and it is the only gospel by which we are saved. The Lord Jesus Christ did all that was necessary for our salvation on the cross. Our only requirement is to believe God by believing the gospel and we are saved.

To believe God is to take Him at His word by faith, Christ did it all for us. Water baptism is gone; the Holy Spirit does not use water Ephesians 4:5. We must rightly divide the Word of Truth, and here is where it comes in: Repent and be baptized for the remission of sin. This command is not a request and it is not for the body of Christ. How many is one? What can you add to one and still have one.

The answer is obviously zero! Water baptism is a Jewish ritual and it is under the law. Water baptism was meant to be carried out in the kingdom program under the law. The kingdom program failed and it was put on hold for now. I mention water baptism so many times here, because of it's great ability to divide the body of Christ. Most folks do not want to study they just want to feel good and do what the clergy says. To many times that is a big mistake. We should study to show ourselves approved unto God and do what the Bible tells us to do. But be sure It is speaking to you. Rightly Divide the Word of Truth!

(Matthew 28:19) The twelve only preached the gospel of the kingdom and it was to the Jews only and it was under the law! The twelve never went into all the world, because they did not win Israel first. Just think about it, if they had gone into all the world; they would have preached the gospel of the kingdom, then, water baptism would have been a command. They would not have preached the gospel of the grace of God that Paul preached. There would have been no need for another apostle the nation of priests would have done the whole thing.

Matthews 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Therefore the great commission belonged only to the twelve but they had to win Jerusalem first, then all Israel, afterwards they could go into all the world, they would become a nation of priests. (We know that never happen). See Acts 2:22 and 2:38. Notice that Peter did not repeat all of the Lord's command as it was written in Matthew 28:19 because, the Holy Spirit was concerned only with the nation of Israel, because they had rejected their messiah by hanging Him on a Roman cross.

Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:22 clearly shows Peter speaking only to Israel when he said, Ye men of Israel. He did not say and you Gentiles; Peter always spoke to the Jews, his only exception was, Cornelius, but Peter was very reluctant even to do that. The Scripture does not credit Peter with any other Gentiles. The twelve could not go into every nation and make disciples baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Because Israel had to be won first. Do not forget the Jews could have nothing to do with the gentiles.

It was unlawful to keep company with them, it was unlawful to go into their homes; it was unlawful to eat with them. But God changed that when He sent Peter to Cornelius a full nine years after Pentecost. With this fact in mind the twelve did not make a mad dash to go unto the other nations even after God showed Peter there was no difference. Just look what Peter told Cornelius in Acts 10:28

Acts 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

It is a good thing that God did not permit Peter to confuse Cornelius with all of the Jewish customs and the law; although Peter did water baptize them. But God stopped him right there. God had already chose another apostle for the Gentiles and that was the apostle Paul. Paul would teach the Gentiles the way of salvation which did not include the law of Moses. But, Paul would later need Peter to confirm to the council that God was taking out from among the Gentiles a people for His name.

And this people would be saved apart from the law of Moses. At the Jerusalem council Peter came to Paul's aid by explaining how God was taking out from among the Gentiles a people for His name. Although Peter baptized Cornelius clan water baptism is not necessary for the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ and seals us, until the redemption of our bodies. Our sins were washed in Christ's shed blood on the cross, therefore, we have no need for water baptism. In Acts nine with the salvation of Saul, God set forth a new dispensation, with a complete change of house rules. With this new dispensation the old one was phased out.

The new dispensation is called the dispensation of the grace of God and it is for all mankind; salvation is no longer of the Jews alone under the law. But they, like the Gentiles can only be saved in accordance with 1-Corinthians 15:1-4.God gave us a human pattern to follow, and this pattern is the apostle Paul. We are told to follow Paul as Paul followed the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ. Paul is "The Chief of Sinners, he is the Master Builder of this new church, and Paul is the Apostle for the Gentiles. When Paul says I am the chief of sinners." That is not to say that I am the worst sinner who ever lived, as some preachers love to shout.

It means Paul is the leader, he is our pattern for everlasting life. Paul is the master builder of Christ's new church; which is called the body of Christ. It was Paul who laid the foundation that we should build upon; because that foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ. The twelve apostles did not win the nation of Israel first as they were commanded to do. Their pattern was the Lord Jesus Christ but their foundation was the law of Moses. The nation of Israel would not believe. Therefore the nation was set aside in unbelief but they will be restored during the tribulation.

The twelve kingdom apostles and their message was put on hold along with the nation Israel. They did not go into all the world and make disciples, because Jerusalem had to be won first. The Lord Jesus taught His apostles according to the law of Moses only, He did not teach them the Gospel of the Grace of God, because it was still hid in the mind of God. The twelve were ignorant of the secret or the mystery gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ chose Saul to be the vessel by which He would reveal the secret or the mystery gospel to all mankind.

The mystery gospel is the preaching of the ascended Lord Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. It is the Gospel of Christ and Paul calls it my gospel. The church which is called the body of Christ, is the new creation that 2 Corinthians 5:17 speaks of.

***"Two gospels Ran Side By Side, two programs only for a short time."***

(No.1). The Gospel of the circumcision was for the Jews only, it started with Abraham, then Moses gave them the Law, after that God gave them Judges, and He gave them Prophets, finally He gave them Kings, and last of all He gave them His own Son, whom they crucified on a Roman cross. After His death burial and resurrection the nation of Israel sinned against the Holy Spirit by stoning Stephen in Acts chapter 7. Then in Acts 28:28 the Jewish program along with the nation was set aside in unbelief putting the kingdom program on hold.

After Acts 28:28 in 70 a.d. the temple was destroyed and the people were dispersed into all nations under the sun.
(No.2). The Gospel of the uncircumcision: This gospel is for all mankind with a different set of house rules and it is called the dispensation of the grace of God. Here we find the new church called the body of Christ, it's master builder was the apostle Paul; it's foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything is new! This new church was created when Christ saved Saul on the road to Damascus. Paul or rather Saul was the first member of this new church the body of Christ. This church could not possibly have begun at Pentecost with the out pouring of the Holy Spirit.

This church began outside of the nation of Israel, because it is not part of Israel's church. The Pentecostal church is strictly a Jewish church and Pentecost was a Jewish feast day for Jews only. There were no Gentiles at Pentecost. In fact men of another nation would be strictly forbidden from that feast. Keep in mind co-mingling for a Jew was forbidden! No Gentiles for at least nine years after Pentecost. Then God to send Peter to minister to Cornelius. But, remember Peter's next meeting with Gentiles when God did not send him was disastrous. At Antioch Peter caused even Barnabas whom God chose to help Paul to fall away and separate from the Gentiles.

After that we do not hear from Barnabas again. Paul's new program, ran side by side with the Jewish program from Acts nine to Acts 28:28. The nation of Israel was set aside after receiving three warnings in: Acts 13:46, and in Acts 18:6 then finally in: Acts 28:28 the Jewish program was set a side in unbelief and put on hold. They are waiting for the great tribulation, which must come first, before Christ can return and set up His millennial kingdom. The Jews have suffered much tribulation but, these trials and tribulations can not be compared with the great tribulation which must come.

Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Acts 18:6 But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

Acts 28:28 “Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.”

The Lord Jesus Christ spoke of the tribulation in Matthew Chapter 24. But now the dispensation of the Grace of God is in full force. This new dispensation has heavenly promises. But, Israel's promises are earthly. In Paul's early ministry he went first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. The Jews accused Paul of preaching a different gospel to the Jews that lived among the Gentiles. But did he? And, was that message the gospel of the Grace of God? It certainly would be after Acts 28:28. Paul's first warning to the Jews was in Acts 13:46, the next warning came in Acts 18:6 and the final warning came in Acts 28:28 when God set them aside.

We know that Paul preached the gospel of the kingdom in Damascus when he first arrived there. At that time he did not know the for the Gentiles, the Gentile message came three years later. It may seem strange or even hard to believe, but the gospel of the kingdom has always been anathema to Paul's converts. The gospel of the kingdom can only pervert the gospel of the grace of God.

The one is Law, while the other is pure Grace. Today many so called, Christians are very much like the Jews of Paul's day; they insist on preaching the gospel of the kingdom and they will come under the same curse as the Jews of Paul's day. They too pervert Paul's gospel which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Jews by faith were required to believe that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the living God. Remember what the Lord Jesus Christ told the rich young ruler if he would gain eternal life; keep the commandments. Believe it or not the gospel of the kingdom did not change in Christ's earthly ministry. In the first eight chapters of Acts there was no change.

Christ changed it from His heavenly ministry through the apostle Paul. Paul's good news for Gentiles is: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ finished work on the cross the gospel and you will be saved. This is what we must believe, that Christ died on the cross for our sins, that He was buried and that after three nights and three days He arose again from the dead. He ascended back to the Father's right hand to make intercession for us. We are His Body and we are His ambassadors, He is the Head of the body and we are the body. Our promises are heavenly, our citizenship is in heaven. At the conclusion of the Acts period the nation of Israel was set aside and put on hold then they were scattered among all nations in 70 a.d. with the destruction of the temple.

The Jews are no longer exulted to a high place nor are they under the law. The Jews are under pure grace just like we are. The kingdom gospel is on hold. No more law, no more customs the teachings of the twelve apostles that program is on hold for now. The Jews can not follow Christ's earthly ministry. They must follow Paul as he followed the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul is now the apostle for the Jews and for the Gentiles alike. The Jews must follow Paul as he followed the Lord Jesus Christ. By believing on the Lord Jesus Christ's death burial and resurrection to be saved. They must believe 1Corinthians15:1-4 for salvation and eternal life just like everyone else.

The main difference in the two gospels was: The first is law and the second is pure grace. In nature we learned that we can not mix oil and water likewise we can not mix law and grace! The gospel of the circumcision is law. The gospel of the uncircumcision is pure grace and they can not mix. If the two gospels were the same then God would not have directed Paul to explain the gospel that he preached to the eleven plus James the Lord's half brother. They would have already known what he was preaching without being told. And there would be no reason for them to tell Paul, you go to the Gentiles and we will stay with the Jews. This agreement never changed.

Paul communicated his gospel to the eleven only after Christ directed him to do so by revelation. This means they did not know what he was preaching and even after he fully explained his gospel to them, Peter said, some things were hard to be understood. How could Peter say such a thing? Peter was given the keys of the kingdom, and he was their leader if anyone could have understood it should have been Peter and the ten. But they did not understand. But Paul was not preaching the gospel of the kingdom that they could understand, he was preaching the gospel of the grace of God. Therefore his gospel was hard to be understood because it was without the law. It was hid from Peter and the ten in the mind of God in other words it was not for the twelve to preach. In Paul's letter to the Galatians he introduces the Jews new leader, James the Lord's half brother.

Peter is no longer in charge. This really should raise flags for Christians everywhere it is a positive clue for us something has drastically changed, but, then again we only see the things that we want to see. We do not want to admit that God can change the way that he deals with mankind from time to time. But He does.

Galatians  2:1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

Galatians 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

Galatians 2:6-10.

v6. But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no mans person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

v7. But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

v8. (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

v9. And when James, Peter and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

v10. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

Paul's message was hid in the mind of God before the world began. Why else would Paul need to explain his message to the eleven and why would they say it is hard to be understood? Clearly we have two different messages here. One is Law and the other is pure grace. One was for the circumcision (Law) the other for the Uncircumcision (Grace), one is Earthly (law) the other is Heavenly (Grace) ,one was Jewish (Law)the other for All mankind (pure Grace). Remember the Lord Jesus told His followers to obey the scribes and the Pharisees? That is why they were still practicing the law so long after the cross? The Lord Jesus Christ never told them to stop practicing the law. Until He told Paul you are not under the law you are under pure grace.

Matthew 23:1-4

v 1.THEN spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

v2. Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat:

v3. All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

v4. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

Also see Acts 21:20:

Paul's gospel which is the gospel of Jesus Christ and it was given to and for the uncircumcised Gentiles until Acts 28:28. But now, it is for the whole world, now there is only one gospel. The Jews can come to Christ one at a time, and they must believe in Christ's finished work on the cross. The Holy Spirit then baptizes and places them into the body of Christ, individually just like He does the Gentiles. That should tell us that Peters group never went to the Gentiles.

The Lord Jesus told the twelve, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel! But,first you must win the nation of Israel. And they were commanded to preach the gospel of the kingdom in all the world. Paul's gospel of the grace of God would not have been required. It would still be hid in the mind of God. Therefore Paul is the only apostle that could ever say:

1Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, just as I also am of Christ,
 
Paul's message is Christ's heavenly message.   Paul was saved outside of the nation of Israel and he call the gospel that he preached: my gospel, and that gospel is the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. The gospel of Jesus Christ was given directly to the apostle Paul alone. When the apostle Paul says My Gospel he is not making an egotistical statement, he is writing by inspiration to show that he is charged with the preaching of the gospel of the grace of God. By the way  2-Peter 3:15-16, proves that Paul's writings are Scripture.

2Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

2Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Romans 2:16 on the day, when according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of man through Christ Jesus.

The Holy Spirit tells us that unbelievers will be judged according to Paul's gospel, before the Great White Throne.

Romans 16:25  Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Christ Jesus, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past.

2Timothy 2:8  Remember Jesus Christ,risen from the dead, descendant of David,  according to my gospel.1Corinthians 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

Why do folks try so hard to confine God to just one gospel or message at a time, clearly, there were two messages or gospels from Acts 9 through Acts 28:28. And no matter how hard we try, we can not make these two gospels the same.Let's stop trying to explain away God's Word by giving a different meanings to Peter's statement at Pentecost Repent, and be Baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin...  that is exactly what they had to do in the dispensation of law. Below we have six sets of instructions: Matthew 10:5-7,  Matthew 28:18-20,   Mark 16:15-18,   Luke 24:45-48, John 20:21-23 and Acts 1:8. 

Read each verse and think about what it says; I pray that you can see that these instructions are quite impossible for the body of Christ today. But they will be carried out by 144,000 young Jewish missionaries in Israel's final week,... the tribulation. Truly they are not meant for the body of Christ today. These instructions are fully Jewish and they have been put on hold along with the kingdom gospel and the nation of Israel it's self.

Right now they are waiting for the tribulation, during which time the Mosaic law and the kingdom gospel will be reinstated and carried out. Instead of the twelve apostles carrying them out there will be 144,000 young Jewish missionaries twelve thousand from each tribe to carry them out.

2Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The instructions of 2-Timothy 2:15, should be the subheading for each of Paul's letters. and maybe right division would not be taken so lightly. I read some where that right division was something that dispensationalist's dreamed up. If that is so and Paul must have been the first dispensationalist, or better yet the One who inspired Paul to write was the first dispensationalist.

"Food For Thought"

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.

This means the attributes of Jesus Christ's are the same yesterday and today, and forever. It does not mean that he does everything in exactly the same way forever. We know this because He has dealt with mankind in the past differently from Adam to Paul God changed or partially changes things at least 5 times, and this proves that He does do things differently from time to time. The word "gospel" means Good News. The giving of the Law was Good News for Israel. But it was not Good News for the Gentiles they were cut off. The Gentiles were not included with Israel, they had to become a Jewish proselyte and keep the law to be saved; otherwise, they were without God in the world and they had no hope.

Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Before God chose the Apostle Paul, as the apostle of the gentiles we were without God in the world and we had no hope. Paul is not our savior, he is the means by which we learn what we must do to be saved. Believe the message that he brought to us from the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ. Believe in Christ's finished work on the cross for our salvation. Peter and the eleven did not have a ministry to the Gentiles. Their ministry was only to the nation of Israel, and the Great commission is theirs. "Our commission can be found in:

2 Corinthians 5:16-21.

v16. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more

Where Paul says, we know no man after the flesh, he is speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ's earthly ministry. We know only the ministry of the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven. We know Him as the apostle Paul knew Him.

v17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

v18. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

v19. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

v20. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

v21. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The members of the church, the body of Christ are not called sheep, and the Lord Jesus Christ is not called the King of the church. He is called the head of the body. And we are called His body and we are also called to be His ambassadors.

"Did you know that the eleven Apostles still practiced the Law in Acts 21?"

Acts 21:20. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

 "Discussion Notes"

A concerned reader once wrote, "my problem with dispensationalism is:" And I Quote: "Dispensationalist's equals pickers and choosers" end quote. Please bare with me for just one moment. Read each of the six instructions listed below, these instructions come from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself while He walked on planet earth then please tell me once more, who are the real pickers and choosers? If these instructions were for the body of Christ today in the dispensation of the grace of God, then no doubt we could perform each and everyone of them, but they are not ours. They were given to the twelve apostles. These instructions are all under the law. The apostle Paul is our pattern, we are not under the law, we are under pure grace.

(1). Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

If this verse is for you, then it tells you not to go to Gentiles. That is not a request, it is a commandment (go not, is a direct command). The Lord Jesus is telling you go not into the way of the Gentiles, He is telling you to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. You do not even go to the half breed Jews, the Samaritans. Go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

(2). Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Christ followed the law to the letter. He said, I did not come to destroy the law but to fulfil the it. Check the Scriptures! Whom, did the Lord Jesus tell the Jews to follow? He told them to follow the Law of Moses. The Lord Jesus Christ was born under the Law and He followed it to the letter. His apostles and His disciples all followed the law. (Read). Matthew 23:2-3, Christ is speaking:

Matthew  23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

Matthew  23:3  All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

The Lord Jesus never told His apostles and His disciples, you are not under the law. But, in the future the law would be removed by the outsider, the apostle of the Gentiles Paul. He was the one to whom the secret or the mystery gospel was entrusted, that new and different gospel the gospel of the grace of God, which is the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. The law, for the dispensation of grace was nailed to Christ's cross. Believe it, or not, it is your choice. Paul's gospel is different. The gospel for Israel is the kingdom gospel and the gospel of the grace of God is for the Gentiles.  We can be summed up these two gospels in two words: "LAW" and "GRACE". Truly they are not the same!

(3).Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

 Try Mark 16:18 any part of it. This commission is not for today but it will be for the 144,000 great tribulation Jewish missionaries. Thanks be to God we will not be here; the Lord did not appoint His body to wrath. The Bible is not filled with riddles, the Scripture means exactly what It says and right division is our key for understanding It. God is not the God of confusion. We can understand the word of truth only if we know Him and He knows us. Therefore we must follow His instructions by rightly dividing His word of Truth. If we do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and He does not know us then we will never understand what He has said.

(4).Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

This does not mean wait to be indwelled by the Holy Spirit, it is saying wait until you are endued or empower from on high then you can speak in tongues and perform any of the sign gifts needed for the work. These gifts are for the winning of Jerusalem first then all Israel, Samaria. {But we know this did not happen!}

(5).John 20:23. Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

The Lord Jesus Christ never gave this power to the body of Christ in the dispensation of the grace of God. Actually, the power to remit or to retain sins was given to the twelve apostles, not the church the body of Christ.

(6)Acts 1:8. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

In failing to complete the first part of this commission, to win the Jews first. The rest of the commission is null and void. Finally the nation of Israel itself was set aside in unbelief in: Acts 28:28. Acts 1:8 was left unfinished. Paul's gospel, is the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery and it is the only gospel for today. It is for both Jews and Gentiles

Acts 1:8... Give's the order in which the apostles should carry out their great commission. But, wouldn't you just know, men have twisted God's Word to suit themselves and they cause so much confusion concerning these instructions. Remember, our God is not the God of confusion, man does all of that for himself.

In Acts 28:28 the Jewish nation was set aside in unbelief. Now they are treated the same as the Gentiles; the gospel of the Kingdom is on hold. Their old dispensational program is set aside. Behold all things have become new; this is the dispensation of "Grace" according to the revelation of the mystery. Now finally we can say, there is only one gospel. And that gospel is the gospel of the grace of God that Paul preached.When you read a passage in Paul's gospel that seams different, from a like passage you read in the four gospels, check them out by asking the Lord to open the eyes of your understanding. Then apply the instructions offered by Miles Coverdale.

"Miles Coverdale" (1488 – 1568)

(Paraphrased) It will help you to understand the Scriptures, if you mark not only what is said or written, but of whom or to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances,considering what goes before and what follows after. Miles Coverdale, was the first man to translate the entire Bible into the English language. While the Bible is the inspired Word of God and is an accurate record of events and sayings of men, we must remember: All Scripture is for me. But it is not all addressed to me nor is it all written about me.

Over the years I have tried not to put to much faith in things scholars say. Because they usually explain things the same way that they were taught and many times that compounds the error. It is my belief that if you truly want to understand the Word rightly divided, God will open the eyes of your understanding, if you ask Him to. You do not need to be highly educated. Just use common since.

Peter's instructions for salvation under the law are: believe in the name of Jesus Christ that He is the Christ the son of the living God and keep the law. What did the Lord Jesus tell the rich young ruler to do for eternal life? He told him to keep the commandments if he would gain eternal life. But, Paul tells us believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and we will be saved.

Believe that He died on the cross for our sins, that He was buried, and that He arose again the third day, and He is sitting at the right hand of the Father to make intercession for us. Can you see the difference? As much as we hate to admit it, we are not required to repent and be baptized for the remission of sin but the Jews were. We have only to believe in Christ's finished work on the cross His death burial and resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

Peter's statement Repent and be Baptized for the remission of sin; clearly that is not for us. It was for the Jews. And it was necessary for their salvation at that time. They had to do both for the remission of their sin repent and be baptized. Not just repent, (admit you are wrong to God) and not just be baptized (to be sprinkled or dipped or dunked) they had to do both and they had to keep the law. The Gentiles have only one baptism, but, it is not done with water it is not done with hands. The Holy Spirit Baptizes us into the body of Christ the moment that we first believed.

Therefore there is no other form of baptism required by God. Do you see what I am trying to say? In the dispensation of the Grace of God, we are not being prepared for the priesthood. The priesthood is for the nation of Israel alone. We only have one baptism by the Holy Spirit.We are called to be Ambassadors, Ambassadors for the Lord Jesus Christ; that means we represent Christ here on earth, as in a foreign country. We are not a royal priesthood as so many would like to think. John baptized Christ and Christ healed all sorts of deceases to prepare the nation of Israel to become that royal priesthood.

Christ's baptism by John was to fulfill the law, it was not an example for the body of Christ to follow. We are not under the law and we can not follow Christ's earthly example in water baptism. We are under pure grace, we are washed in His blood not in the waters of baptism. Paul healed the sick and raised the dead for a totally different reason; it was to validate his apostleship to show that he was the Apostle of the Gentiles. If he could not do all the things the twelve could do then his position would appear to be inferior and that would cause doubt.

"ISRAEL'S SETTING ASIDE"

Acts 13:46. (The first reference:)
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Acts 18:6. (The second reference:)
And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

Acts 28:28. (The third and final reference:)
"Let it be known to you therefore, that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen."

Their third and final warning. The nation of Israel was given over in unbelief with the stoning of Steven in Acts chapter seven; when they sinned against the Holy Spirit, but final judgment was pronounced in:  Acts  28:28 which was more than twenty years later. The nation of Israel had plenty time to repent, but, they did not. They will get another chance to do Gods will during the Tribulation.

 Mark 13:13. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved
 
Mark 13:13 is for those Tribulation believers that endure to the end. It is not for the Body of Christ; but we the body of Christ will not be here. If the tribulation believers endure to the end of the tribulation they will be saved and they will go into the millennial Kingdom with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hosea 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

These two days may very well be these two thousand years that was given to the Gentiles to complete the church the body of Christ. The third day could very well be the millennial reign of Christ. This is something we may want to consider! My question is when did the two thousand years start? The answer would be extremely helpful.

I hope this page has helped you in some way, I have enjoyed the research and the verses have helped me a great deal.