Biblical support for "TWO Gospels" in the scriptures!

1. We are faced by two gospels in the NT. We find this spelled out in Gal 2:7-9, “But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision had been committed to me, as the gospel of the circumcision was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcision also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcision.”

2. Under these two different gospels we have some similarities. In both of them it is God’s grace that presents salvation to unbelievers. It is Christ’s death on the cross which provides salvation to all who will believe. It is our faith in Christ as our Savior which saves us.
However, there are major differences in the dispensations linked with the circumcision gospel in the way a man’s faith must be demonstrated. There are always conditions under circumcision. Salvation under the circumcision gospel was conditional in contrast to salvation under the uncircumcision gospel that was given to Paul.

3. Under the circumcision gospel they had to believe and be water baptized to be saved. “Mk 16:15-18 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” 1 Pet 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

4. In contrast, Paul wrote back to the Corinthians in 1 Co 1:17, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” Instead, the Holy did the baptism into the body of Christ and identified the believer with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection: 1 Co 12:13 “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” Baptism was part of the gospel for salvation under circumcision, but it was not required at all under the grace message under uncircumcision. In fact in his last epistles, Paul says there is only one baptism, spirit baptism: Eph 4:4,5 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism [Spiritual].”

5. Works of righteousness, yes law works, were necessary for them to be saved under the circumcision gospel. That’s what Peter preached when he went to Cornelius’s house: Acts 10:34,35 “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.’” We see that works of righteousness were required by faith under the circumcision gospel. Under Paul’s gospel, the emphasis is that no works are required to be saved: Rom 4:4,5 “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”

6. Under the circumcision gospel, whatever prayers were answered: Mat 21:22 “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Mk 11:24 “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” John 14:13 “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” John 16:23 “Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” 1 Jo 3:22 “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” 1 Jo 5:15 “And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

7. In contrast, in the dispensation of grace, God doesn’t deal with us in such a miraculous way and answer whatever we pray: 2 Co 12:8-10 “Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Instead, He promises peace. Phi 4:6,7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

8. Because the kingdom was being presented at first, and then offered after Christ died, was resurrected and ascended, there were sign gifts validating the kingdom in fulfillment of the prophecy in Isa 35. The Apostles were validated in this endeavor by signs and miracles. Their commission was linked with signs even in their epistles, with no hint that they would pass away. Many passages of Scripture show this: Mat 10:8 “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Mk 16:17,18 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Jam 5:14,15 “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” 3 John 2 “Beloved, I pray [or wish] that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”

9. At first, Paul’s ministry was validated by the same gifts, but they began fading away, and they were gone by the time he was in the Roman jail. They diminish until they are gone in his last epistles: 2 Co 12:7-10 “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me [not given by God (Jam 1:16,17), but allowed as with Job], a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 1 Ti 5:23 “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.” 2 Ti 4:20 “Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.”

10. Under circumcision they had to hang in there to be saved: Mat 6:15 “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Mat 24:13,14 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” speaking to the Eleven Apostles, Christ admonished them in John 15:6, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” Salvation was on the line if they didn’t hang in there. They had to make their election sure. They didn’t have eternal security. According to 2 Pe 1:10, they had to do things to make their election sure. “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.” They would know that they were still in the process of salvation if they kept His commandments. 1 John 2:3 “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.” But members of the body of Christ were sure of their salvation because God seals us:

11. Again, in contrast, we became dead to sin by our baptism into Christ’s death: Eph 1:4,5,11-14 “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Not only were we sealed, but this seal is so secure, it keeps us till the day that we’ll get our new bodies: Eph 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

12. One more contrast! Under the circumcision gospel and epistles, they could sin a sin unto death. If they did that, they would be lost, and worse than that, they could not be renewed unto salvation again. A number of passages show us that. The first one, they were not to even pray for such a one. 1 Jo 5:16 “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.” Hebrews 6 shows the same problem. If they believe etc., and fall away, they can’t be renewed to salvation. Heb 6:4-8, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and have fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.”

13. Finally, the most freeing thing of all is this: we are dead to all our sins, past, present and future. We died in Christ’s death. Rom 6:3,11 “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 11 Likewise you also, recognize yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Because of Romans 6:11, what should we do? I think we can make a strong case from God’s word to first concentrate on loving God. Then, get concerned and learn how to present God’s message of grace. Then, lovingly share God’s wonderful gospel of Grace. Then spend time teaching the message of grace to those who are faithful. But above all, allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with love.