The Gospel of the Grace of God

In our current dispensation (or “age”) of Grace, the Body of Christ has been steadily growing and flourishing for nearly 2,000 years. If we are aiming to rightly divide the Word of Truth, then which Gospel should apply to believers today? What is the current Gospel that saves? Does the Bible have more then one Gospel?

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

If you are new to Bible study, you might be shocked to learn that there IS actually more than one Gospel!

When is/was the Gospel of the Grace of God “Active”?

The Gospel of the Grace of God is the Gospel of Salvation, for both Jew and Gentile, during the Dispensation of Grace. This began at roughly the time of Acts 15 in the Bible, and will continue until the Body of Christ is raptured by the Lord Jesus Christ.

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 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; that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. (Ephesians 3:1-7)

One of the mysteries which was revealed to the Apostle Paul by the Lord Jesus Christ, was this mystery of the Body of Christ. In which Gentiles are made fellowheirs with Jews, and partakers in the promise of salvation from the Lord Jesus Christ.

A quick aside: When the Apostle Paul talks about “mystery”, he is not using the term as we would use it today. It’s not something that is “strange” or “to be investigated”:

“but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (1 Corinthians 2:7)

So in the Bible, a “mystery” is “hidden wisdom”.

Back to Ephesians 3, “which in other ages was not made known” - in other words, this mystery (hidden wisdom) of the Body of Christ was HIDDEN from the Scriptures of the Old Testament. It was not the case that it was there, but the Jews and the prophets somehow missed its interpretation. It was completely hidden.

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)

What Are the Content(s) of the Gospel of the Grace of God?

Preached everywhere primarily to the Gentiles, salvation under the gospel of the grace of God requires:

• Faith alone in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

Summary

• Proclaimed by: Apostle Paul
• Proclaimed to: Primarily to the Gentiles
• Requirements: Faith alone, faith + nothing
• Content of Gospel: The death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
• Gospel Begins: Began after the Lord Jesus commissioned Paul as the Apostle of the Gentiles
• Gospel Fulfilled: Ends with the completion of the Body of Christ, of both Jews and Gentiles at the Rapture