The Apostles Preached the True Gospel

What evidence is there that other New Testament writers preached this same message? A great deal! Peter preached the kingdom. Notice: “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting KINGDOM of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Pet. 1:11).

So did the apostle James: “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the KINGDOM which He has promised to them that love Him?” (James 2:5).

Matthew’s account mentions the term “gospel of the kingdom” three different times. Here is another example almost identical to 4:23, already quoted: “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people” (Mt 9:35).

In most of His parables, Christ taught the basics of the kingdom of God. Matthew alone, mostly through parables, makes over fifty references to the coming kingdom of God.

Luke records that Christ commissioned His disciples to preach this same message. Notice: “Then He called His twelve disciples together...And He sent them to preach the KINGDOM OF GOD” (Lk 9:1-2). Soon after, He sent seventy others to preach, and they also carried the message of the “KINGDOM OF GOD” (Lk 10:1, 9).

John records Christ’s words before Pontius Pilate on the night He was betrayed. This is an important clue to comprehend. Christ said, “My KINGDOM is not of this world [this present society]” (Jn 18:36). We will discover the details later of exactly how God’s government will be established on earth.

Recall that Philip, a deacon, preached the kingdom to the Samaritans (Acts 8:12). Notice that he preached separately the kingdom and Christ: “But when they believed Philip…concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

Philip not only preached the gospel of the kingdom, but he also differentiated it from the teaching about Jesus Christ. Take time to read this entire account. Remember, the messenger is not the message. Christ is not the gospel. However, He does stand directly alongside it and will rule the entire earth when the kingdom is established.

So then Luke, the writer of Acts, further differentiates between preaching about the kingdom of God and preaching about Jesus Christ! While both are vitally important, they are clearly two separate subjects!

We have addressed how some claim Paul preached a “different gospel.” These are obviously unaware that it was Paul whom God used to pronounce a curse on anyone who did this (Gal. 1:8-9). We have seen that Paul preached the kingdom of God. However, you will notice two verses in Acts, which show that he did not neglect the second subject of Christ’s role in the process of salvation.

First, let’s establish that Paul preached God’s kingdom to the Gentiles. Acts 19:8 states, “And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the KINGDOM OF GOD.” There are many places in his epistles where Paul taught the kingdom to various Gentile churches. His message was always the same, continually preaching and referring to the kingdom of God.

Examine this from Acts 20:25: “I have gone preaching the KINGDOM OF GOD…repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ac 20:21). This account makes clear that Paul preached the same gospel—also alongside the role of Christ—to both Jew and Gentile. (The Ephesians were primarily Gentile converts.)

Next, notice chapter Ac 28:30-31: “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the KINGDOM OF GOD, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.” Like Philip, Paul understood that the gospel and Christ were two separate subjects.

Finally, consider one more passage where Paul made a distinction between the gospel and the Person of Christ, by briefly referencing again II Corinthians 11:4:

“For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached…or another gospel which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him” (the margin more correctly renders this last phrase “with me”). Paul urged the Corinthians to reject false teachers and to hold to what he had taught them. He plainly distinguished the teaching of a false Jesus and a false gospel as two separate errors.

Again ask yourself: If Christ is the gospel, then why did Paul (four times) and Philip speak of them as two separate matters?

Let’s consider an amazing statement by Peter found in Acts 3:19-21: “Repent you therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

Notice that Peter refers to the Coming of Christ—“the presence of the Lord” (Ac 3:19), with Ac 3:20 stating that God “shall send Jesus Christ.” Ac 3:21 describes God’s kingdom as the “restitution of all things.” Peter stated that this “restitution” (Christ establishing His kingdom) is something that “God has spoken by…ALL His Holy Prophets since the world began.”

This is a stunning statement! But is it true?

Could God have actually used every one of His prophets to announce His kingdom? Why do Bible scholars and religionists ignore this—or even reject it outright? Let’s briefly survey the Old Testament.

The Pre-Flood Preachers

Jude wrote, “Enoch [Noah’s great grandfather]…prophesied…saying, Behold, the Lord COMES with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment upon ALL” (Jude 1:14-15). This obviously refers to Christ coming to establish a government, ruling ALL nations, with the help of the saints.

In II Peter 2:5, Noah is referred to as the “eighth…preacher of righteousness.” Jude wrote that Enoch was the “seventh from Adam.” Hence, Noah, next to follow him, is referred to as the “eighth.” Beginning with Abel, and including Enoch, there were seven other men who previously held this role. These eight men’s lives spanned the entire period between Adam and the Flood and they all preached the same message.

Careful review of Jude reveals that Enoch also preached about sin and righteousness. While much could be said about this sixteen-and-a-half-century period, suffice to say, all of these men spoke the same message. Remember, Peter said, “…since the world began.”

Who else preached God’s kingdom?

Abraham, Moses, Samuel and David

Is there evidence that the gospel was preached during the period following the Flood?

In Genesis 12:3, God said to Abraham, “In you shall all families of the earth be blessed.” This verse is also referenced in Galatians 3:8, but is phrased a little differently. There it says, “…in you [Abraham] shall all nations be blessed.” This same verse states that the gospel was “preached before unto Abraham.”

This is fascinating! Not only did Abraham have the gospel preached to him (almost certainly by Melchizedek—Christ), but it was also preached in Genesis, through Moses’ writings, about Abraham! Now consider. How could all of the nations of the earth be blessed unless Christ will have established His government on earth?

While Moses was not a “preacher of righteousness” or an apostle, he was a prophet and a judge, and the first man that God raised up to lead Israel. Perhaps you have never thought of Moses as one who preached the gospel. Yet, the Bible reveals that he did, to ancient Israel, when they were in the wilderness. Like Genesis 12:3, Numbers 24:17-19 also refers to the gospel, with both recorded by Moses.

Acts 3:22 plainly states Moses foretold that God would raise up Jesus Christ as a great Prophet (Deut. 18:15) to preach to the whole world (Acts 3:23) at His Return! Most are only familiar with Moses leading Israel out of Egypt, and are completely ignorant of how God used him in this way.

Hebrews 3:9 and 4:2 also demonstrate that Moses preached the gospel to ancient Israel. “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them [ancient Israel]” (Heb 4:2). These verses, with Acts 3:1-26, show that this included the period all the way up to—and through—Samuel!

Acts 3:24 references Samuel as having preached the gospel. Notice: “Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken [meaning everyone], have likewise foretold of these days [the Coming of Christ and God’s kingdom].” These are clear and powerful statements. They cannot be glossed over. Take a moment to reflect on what you have read. This verse declares, “ALL God’s prophets…as many as have spoken…foretold of these days.”

Finally, while virtually everyone knows that David was a king, almost no one understands that he preached the kingdom of God. In Psalm 67:4, he wrote, “…for You [the Lord] shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.” This statement is a plain reference to God’s coming government.

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel

The prophet Isaiah made plain statements about God’s kingdom, about how it would appear and bring peace to all nations on earth. He also made clear that God’s kingdom involves government. Notice: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the GOVERNMENT shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His GOVERNMENT and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His KINGDOM, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever” (Isa 9:6-7).

This prophecy is so obvious that it needs no further explanation!

The prophet Jeremiah foretold, “Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will raise unto David a Righteous Branch [Christ], and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His Name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jer 23:5-6; also read Jer 23:7-8). As with Isaiah, these verses need no further explanation. Jeremiah gives a plain description of events that could only be described as the period after God’s kingdom has come to earth. So, he preached the gospel to the House of Judah.

The book of Ezekiel describes a time when God will gather His people from coming captivity. This is the period immediately after the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:21-22)—the prophesied time of calamity on the modern descendants of ancient Israel. Now notice: “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land” (Mt 36:24).

The next ten verses describe a period of rebuilding and prosperity that can only happen after Christ's Return. Take time to read them.

Daniel wrote this: “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a KINGDOM, which shall never be destroyed and the KINGDOM shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Dan 2:44).

Did this prophet preach the kingdom of God? The Bible answers yes—and we will see later that he did so in many other places!

The Apostles Preached the True Gospel

Contents

Every Old Testament Prophet Preached the Kingdom

The Pre-Flood Preachers

Abraham, Moses, Samuel and David

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel