There Are Multiple Gospels in the Bible - Choose Wisely

There are a lot of things in the body of Christ we have in common, in fact, Ephesians 4:4-6 speak of seven in particular! We can keep unity in the Body (that Ephesians 4:3 talks about) because of things we have in common! One thing that is mentioned in this passage concerning the Body of Christ is “one faith.” This is worthy of discussion and important if we are to identify what that “one” thing is.

First, there is only one faith that saves today. There are not multiple ways to get to heaven. Romans 3:21-22 states “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.” Notice that the righteousness of God is only “upon all” that believe. It is offered “unto all” but only received by faith in the gospel of Christ. While this may not be controversial, something you might not have seen or heard of is the fact the Bible itself testifies to multiple types of faith. While faith is always required for salvation throughout the scriptures, what God instructed man to have faith in has changed over time in accordance with His progressively revealed will. Romans 1:17 states: “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Notice that faith is always required but that there are multiple faiths.

There are in fact multiple gospels in the Bible and they coincide with good news that God has revealed at certain times in history. Today in the body of Christ, we trust in the gospel of grace/Christ (Rom 1:16, Acts 20:24) which is believing/trusting in the finished work of Christ: His death, burial, and resurrection for the complete payment of our sin and justification for eternal life (Romans 3:21-26, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). This was first revealed to Paul, the revelation of the mystery (Rom 16:25-26, Eph 3:1-10, 1 Tim 1:16), and is by grace through faith without works (Romans 4:3-5, Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 2:16, Titus 3:3-7). 

The gospel we trust today is in fact different from the gospel of the kingdom offered to Israel in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Notice in the following passages, trusting in Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection are not a part of the good news given to Israel by their Messiah (Matthew 4:23, 9:35; Mark 1:14-15, Luke 4:18). The gospel of the kingdom pertained to the coming Messiah that would deliver Israel, conquer their enemies, heal their sick, help them endure through the Great Tribulation and establish his kingdom in Zion (Isaiah 59-61). This gospel was put on hold when Christ revealed the mystery, but he will come back again to judge the nations and establish his millennial kingdom. Jesus’s own disciples didn’t understand that he had to go die and resurrect, and even Peter tried to stop it (Mark 8:31-33). 

Look at Luke 18:31-34:

“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.”

How could the 12 be preaching the same message back then, if they had already been preaching the gospel of the kingdom prior to this passage and they didn’t understand his death, burial, and resurrection that are the content of the gospel of grace (1 Cor 15:1-4)? How could they have trusted in the death and resurrection of Christ, if it hadn’t happened yet? After careful consideration of the scriptures the answer is clear: the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of grace are different. 

While faith in God and his instructions for salvation are always required throughout the Bible, God’s instructions have changed and it behooves us to recognize His progressively revealed will and the mystery of Christ revealed to the Apostle Paul for the Body. The Bible was written over thousands of years, and contains in it many differing instructions from God. Let us not impart the gospel of grace into passages in where it wasn’t revealed yet or take instructions for Israel under their covenant program and apply them to us. Context matters!