The Gospel of God:
Romans 1:1-4 and 1 Peter 4:17

Part 1

What is the Gospel of God?

Both Peter and Paul preached the Gospel of God. They each use the Gospel of God as the foundation to what they preached. What is the gospel of God?

Romans 1:1-4 KJV Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (2) (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) (3) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; (4) And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

The Gospel of God concerns Jesus Christ, who is God?s Son and who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh and is declared to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead.

Notice the three components of the Gospel of God concerning Jesus Christ:

1. Son of God
2. Physical lineage
3. Resurrection from the dead

These are things concerning Jesus Christ that was promised by the prophets of the Old Testament. It is because of the Gospel of God that enables God to accomplish his eternal purpose for the heaven and earth.

Ephesians 1:9-10 KJV Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (10) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Both Peter and Paul take the Gospel of God and use it as the foundation to what they preached particularly to a Jew or a Gentile. Peter preached the Gospel of the Kingdom (also known as the Gospel of the Circumcision) and Paul preached the Gospel of Grace (also known as the gospel of the Uncircumcision).

Both the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of Grace rest on one person - Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God, made of the seed of David according to the flesh, risen from the dead. However, these two gospels are distinct from one another. One will accomplish an earthly purpose and the other a heavenly purpose. One involves an entity called the Israel (a nation) and the other involves an entity called the Body of Christ (made up of Jew and Gentile). These two gospels are only valid because of the Gospel of God.

The validity for Peter to go out and preach the kingdom message of God?s eternal purpose of establishing his kingdom on the earth is the Gospel of God. The validity for Paul to go out and preach God?s eternal purpose for the heavens is the Gospel of God. The Gospel of God (Jesus Christ as God?s Son, made of the flesh according to the seed of David and was resurrected from the dead) is the foundation of both gospels that Peter and Paul preached. It is this information that they build upon.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 KJV (10) 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. (11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

During the Acts period there was a diminishing of Israel after their fall in Acts 7:

Romans 11:12 KJV Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

During this time (the time when Acts was being written, a period of about 30 years) while Paul was receiving the information concerning Jesus Christ according the revelation of the mystery the believing remnant of Israel was still in existence.

Romans 15:19-20 KJV Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (20) Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

At the time Paul wrote Romans, Paul recognized that the believing remnant still existed and he did not preach the gospel to them because he then would be building on another man?s foundation. That foundation would be Jesus Christ according to prophecy, that which was spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Romans 16:25-26 KJV 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, (26) But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

Paul preached Jesus Christ according the to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, and was now made manifest beginning with the Apostle Paul?s ministry and message.

Part 2

What Peter Preached

We know in Matthew 16:16 that Peter understood that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God and in the early chapters of Acts we see him preaching Christ risen from the dead.

Acts 2:22-32 KJV 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: (23) Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (24) Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (25) For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: (26) Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: (27) Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (28) Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. (29) Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. (30) Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; (31) He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. (32) This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Notice that Peter also says that Christ was raised to sit on the throne of David. Peter goes on to say that these things concerning Christ were spoken about by the mouth of the prophets since the world began.

Acts 3:12-21 KJV And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? (13) The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. (14) But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; (15) And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. (16) And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. (17) And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. (18) But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. (19) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; (20) And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: (21) Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Here we see Peter preaching in light of the gospel of God and he tells the nation of Israel that if they will repent of this national sin of crucifying their Messiah their sin will be blotted out when the time of restitution (pay back for the offence ? the 7 years of tribulation that Israel will need to go through based upon Daniel and Leviticus 26). Then will come the time of refreshing (the establishment of the kingdom). Peter gave Israel a bon-a-fide offer of the kingdom based upon the Gospel of God (Christ, the son of God, made of the flesh according to the seed of David and raised from the dead). Peter preached Christ risen from the dead to sit on David?s throne in Jerusalem, in the land and in the temple ? this was spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Part 3

What Paul Preached

Paul also preached the Gospel of God (Jesus Christ as God?s Son, made of the flesh according to the seed of David and was resurrected from the dead). Notice what he preached immediately after his conversion:

Acts 9:19-22 KJV And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. (20) And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. (21) But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? (22) But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

Now, to understand who this Christ is go back to the beginning of the chapter:

Acts 9:3-5 KJV And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: (4) And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (5) And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Saul went out after his conversion and he preached Christ, that He is the Son of God and He was raised from the dead. However, Paul does not preach that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead to sit on the throne of David. We never read about Paul telling people to repent to have their sins blotted out because there is going to be this time of restitution and times of refreshing. In other words, Paul did not preach the same message as Peter who preached about the kingdom. Paul preached about the person of Jesus Christ.

How Paul Preached Jesus Christ:

Acts 13:26-41 KJV Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. (27) For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. (28) And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. (29) And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. (30) But God raised him from the dead: (31) And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. (32) And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, (33) God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. (34) And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. (35) Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (36) For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: (37) But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. (38) Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (39) And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (40) Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; (41) Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

Paul preached that through Jesus Christ we get forgiveness of sins and that he was raised again.

Part 4

Raised Again

Romans 4:24-25 KJV But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; (25) Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Paul preached that Christ was raised again for our justification.

Ephesians 1:17-23 KJV That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (21) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Ephesians 4:9-10 KJV (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? (10) He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Colossians 1:13-18 KJV Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (15) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Paul preached Christ raised from the dead, not only was Christ raised to sit on the throne of David but He was raised again to sit at the Father?s right hand in the heavenly places far above all principalities and powers that he might fill all things, this is, all governmental positions of authority on earth and in heaven. This was not spoken of by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began; they only spoke of the God?s rule and reign on the earth. This information about the heavens was given to the Apostle Paul and it concerns Jesus Christ as head of his body, which is the church today.

2 Corinthians 5:16-17 KJV (16) 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. (17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Ephesians 2:14-15 KJV For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (15) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

1 Corinthians 12:27 KJV (27) Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

The Body of Christ is a new creature, one new man, and it started with the Apostle Paul.

1 Timothy 1:11-17 KJV According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. (12) And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; (13) Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. (14) And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (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. (16) Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (17) Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul said that he was the chief of sinners and that when he was saved Jesus Christ did something in him first, for a pattern to them which should believe. What is a pattern? It is something to be copied or imitated. It is the example in which we are to do something. It is something we are to follow.

In time past, the agency through which God was going to establish His purpose on earth was Israel and in the ages to come it will be the redeemed Israel that will fulfill God?s plan and purpose to restore His rule and reign on the earth. This was all spoken about by the prophets since the world began. This is what was going on in the early chapters of Acts. The church in early Acts consisted of the believing remnant of Israel. At that time, for any Gentile to be saved they had to go through the nation of Israel. According to prophecy, the Gentiles would be saved by the rising of Israel.

Isaiah 60:1-3 KJV Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. (2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (3) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

But today, Gentiles are saved through the fall of Israel.

Romans 11:11-13 KJV I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. (12) Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? (13) For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

Romans 11:25 KJV For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

But now, the Gentile is saved apart from Israel. You can search the Old Testament and you can find Israel being blinded and Israel falling but no where in the Old Testament will you find the Gentiles being saved while Israel is in that condition. This information was revealed to the Apostle Paul.

Ephesians 3:1-5 KJV For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, (2) If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: (3) How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, (4) Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) (5) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

In other ages this information about Christ was not made known unto the sons of men. Why not?

The battle between God and Satan is not who is the most powerful but who is the wisest. Satan is describes as being a wise creature in that no one can keep a secret from him.

Ezekiel 28:3-5 KJV Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: (4) With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures: (5) By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:

Ezekiel 28:17 KJV Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

But, God, in His wisdom, had a secret and He kept it hidden until it was revealed to the Apostle Paul. This wisdom concerned Jesus Christ and it was how He was going to win the battle with Satan and it has to do with what Christ accomplished on the cross.

1 Corinthians 1:18-21 KJV (18) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (19) For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. (20) Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (21) For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 2:6-8 KJV (6) Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: (7) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (8) Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Satan thought the cross was going to be what would give him the victory instead it was the very thing that caused his defeat.

Job 5:13 KJV He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

The most shocked creature in the universe when God revealed the mystery was Satan. Satan thought he could destroy Jesus Christ on the cross but now, he sees that God will raise up a people who will restore God?s authority in the heavens as well as on the earth through the cross work.

It has been said that Satan reached the climax of his career of deception by deceiving himself into doing the very thing that would destroy everything he was working to attain. God, at Calvary, demonstrated a wisdom that could take the wise in His own craftiness. Unfortunately, most people do not get it today: they do not understand what Paul wrote about.

Ephesians 3:3-4 KJV How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, (4) Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Only when we can come to understand Christ the same way the Apostle Paul and get other people to do so also will we be able to make known the manifold wisdom of God unto the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 3:9-11 KJV And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (10) To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, (11) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Notice again what Paul wrote to Timothy:

1 Timothy 1:11-17 KJV According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. (12) And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; (13) Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. (14) And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (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. (16) Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (17) Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

There was a gospel that was committed to Paul?s trust. Paul was the leader of the rebellion against God and yet, God counted him faithful and put him into the ministry and he is to be the pattern to them which should be saved after him. And notice verse 17: the only wise God. This gospel that was committed to Paul?s trust has to do with the wisdom of God.