IN THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD; (2) AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE POROPHETS, BEHOLD, I SEND A MESSENGER BEFORE THY FACE, WHICH SHALL PREPARE THY WAY BEFORE THEE.

While studying about the different ways the God the Father has dealt with man over the time since Adam, I seen this verse of scripture. It came about because of seeing the difference in the way that even the gospel of Jesus Christ is seen as revealed in scripture. We hear a lot today about reading God’s word. However, simply reading God’s word will never reveal the spiritual aspects of his word he truly desires for each of his children to know and understand.

Exactly how can the gospel of Jesus Christ be defined? If we simply take this verse at face value like most people might; couldn’t we simply say that he was speaking of John, the Baptist and his message to the nation of Israel? And, to add to that, the Nation of Israel could say that our king has come and that’s the end of it.

We know that it’s more to the gospel of Jesus Christ than just what we see here in Mark and, it needs to be understood that spiritual growth might occur in the hearts of believers. I’d like for us to see this verse of scripture.

Hebrews 6:1-2.

THEREFORE LEAVING THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, LET US GO ON UNTO PERFECTION; NOT LAYING AGAIN THE FOUNDATION OF REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS, OF FAITH TOWARD GOD, (2) OF THE DOCTRINES OF BAPTISMS, AND OF LAYING ON OF HANDS, AND OF RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, AND OF ETERNAL JUDGMENT.

When we see the word (therefore) at the beginning of these verses it tells us we must go back and see what caused him to say these things. If we do so, he is making the point that they are dull of hearing. While at the time they should be teachers, they still need someone to teach them. They, like babies are in need of milk and can’t eat strong spiritual meat. They are unskilled in the word of God and his righteousness. and so on.

I personally believe that the Apostle Paul wrote the book of Hebrews to his own people, the Hebrew believers in Jesus Christ, those that were born-again. Although that can’t be proven that I know of, he was very concerned in the lack of spiritual growth in them as he seen it. We, as well have to understand that even the fact that there was an Apostle Paul tells us that time has moved forward from the days that Jesus Christ lived among them. We, like the Nation of Israel, when we lock ourselves in a time zone so to speak also lock out our ability to learn to eat strong spiritual meat. That because we refuse to acknowledge time as it moves forward and the spiritual teachings that must come because of time moving forward.

The Apostle Paul makes a point to the Corinthians about this.

1 Corinthians 15::8-9

AND LAST OF ALL HE WAS SEEN OF ME ALSO, AS OF ONE BORN OUT OF DUE TIME. (9) FOR I AM THE LEAST OF THE APOSTLES, THAT I AM NOT MEET TO BE CALLED AN APOSTLE, BECAUSE I PERSECUTED THE CHURCH OF GOD.

As we read these verses, we need to consider, is the Apostle speaking of how he sees himself or is it more about how others might see him? Now, I personally believe that the Apostle was very humble but still he knew how he was seen in the very nation that he came from and the Apostles that were supposed to be on the same team he was. So, what was the problem? It was the ability to see the gospel of Jesus Christ as it moved forward and being willing to change as that gospel moved forward.

Simply by way of spiritual teaching, let’s bring the chosen Apostle by Jesus Christ (Judas) into play. Judas was one of the twelve original Apostles. We see in the gospels where he betrayed Jesus Christ. Look at this:

John 13:26-27

JESUS ANSWERED, HE IT IS, TO WHOM I SHALL GIVE A SOP, WHEN I HAVE DIPPED IT. AND WHEN WE HAD DIPPED THE SOP, HE GAVE IT TO JUDAS ISCARIOT, THE SON OF SIMON. (27) AND AFTER THE SOP SATAN ENTERED INTO HIM. THEN SAID JESUS UNTO HIM, THAT THOU DOEST, DO QUICKLY.

Now, let’s look at another verse.

John 17:12

WHILE I WAS WITH THEM IN THE WORLD, I KEPT THEM IN THY NAME: THOSE THAT THOU GAVEST ME I HAVE KEPT, AND NONE OF THEM IS LOST, BUT THE SON OF PERDITION; THAT THE SCRIPTURE MIGHT BE FULFILLED.

As we consider (that scripture might be fulfilled), some say that it refers to (Jeremiah 32 and Zechariah 11) because of the weighing out of silver and the purchasing of land. I see how that can relate because we know that they took the money Judas returned, the thirty pieces of silver and purchased a potters’ field. (Matthew 27:7) And, as I always say, you need to allow God’s spirit to lead you to what you see as truth concerning this. However, I will give you my thoughts as it relates to the fulfillment of scripture.

If we go all the way back to the very beginning of the Nation of Israel, I believe we can see a more detailed picture of what he is saying about the fulfilling of scripture. I won’t take the time here to write the whole story that I’ll be referring to, but I will give you the key point that can be taken from the scripture. In (Genesis, chapters 37-50) we read about the twelve sons of Jacob and what ten of the brothers did the youngest son because he was beloved by his father. As you read this, you will see that Joseph being the youngest at that time told his brothers basically that they would one day bow to him. His brothers hated him because of this and sold him to the people of Egypt. They then lied to their father as if a beast had slain him.

In all of this remember, Joseph is the eleventh son of Jacob. As we watch the story unfold, God sends a famine to Israel, and they end up going to Egypt in search of food. At this time the twelfth son is now born but, Joseph doesn’t even know he has another brother.

When his brothers meet him, not nothing that It’s Joseph they reveal that there is one other bother back with the father. I believe that this picture, while showing a picture of Jesus Christ and the Nation of Israel, it also shows how that the Church comes into the picture. The Apostle Paul, being of the tribe or a descendant of Benajmin. The Apostle Paul makes this clear at least twice in his writings and we also see Luke reference it in his writings. (Philippians 3:5) (Romans 11:1) (Acts 13:21)

I also feel that I must make this point. The twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ do not represent one Apostle from every tribe of Israel although each of them will sit in his kingdom as representatives over the tribes, each Apostle having one tribe. (Matthew 19:28) However, I believe while we see a picture of Jesus Christ and the Church in the chapters we referenced, we can also see a picture of why one of the twelve original Apostles had to fall in order to bring in the Apostle to the Gentiles (the Apostle Paul).

Now, as we speak of (types) in the Old Testament, none of which might be a perfect picture; they do reveal something we need to understand in the New Testament. Many types are much closer than others. This one where we see the sons of Jacob and one of the sons being seen as dead is pretty revealing. However, when we see what actually happens in the gospels and the Apostle Paul becoming the twelfth Apostle, it’s not a perfect picture. Why? When we see the sons, there are only twelve sons, one of which becomes a type of Jesus Christ (Joseph) and Benjamin being the last son born (as the Apostle Paul) might say (born out of due time).

1 Corinthians 15:8

AND LAST OF ALL HE WAS SEEN OF ME ALSO, AS OF ONE BORN OUT OF DUE TIME.

. This could be speaking about the fact that Joseph had never even known him as a brother. With that being said, we also realize that the Nation of Israel could not see the Gentiles as ever being their brother. It became a very hard sell as the Apostle Paul began the ministry that God laid on his shoulders. He often tries to sell the fact that he is an Apostle at the beginning of the epistles he writes. We’ll reference only to one of them. This is the one that I believe is the most powerful but, you can see it in almost all of his writings.

Galatians 1:1

PAUL, AN, APOSTLE, (NOT OF MEN, NEITHER BY MAN, BUT BY JESUS CHRIST, AND GOD THE FATHER, WHO RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD;)

Here, I’d like to make this point. It cannot be but twelve Apostles because there is only twelve tribes of Israel. The Apostle Paul is the Apostle to the Church but, in the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ there are only twelve tribes, the Church to which we are calling the (thirteenth brother) so to speak is the Church which becomes the bride of Jesus Christ. Like I say, it might not be a perfect picture of what unfolds in the New Testament but it’s very revealing.

So, with all this being said, can you see how that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the Nation of Israel rejecting him, denying that he’s their king plays into the concept of Judas being the son of perdition and being replaced by the Apostle Paul the Apostle to the Church?

If you’ll study out the act that Joseph’s brothers did in giving him to Egypt, killing an animal and lying to their father, the shedding of blood can be seen as significant as it relates to the salvation of the Gentiles and what we see as the full gospel of Jesus Christ.

THE FIRST PART OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

Let’s first look at the birth of Jesus Christ and how it relates to Israel. To that nation, that day is not seen as important, it’s not even recognized. As a matter of fact, they don’t even recognize the whole New Testament. Within that fact, can you see the necessity of understanding the difference in how the gospel relate to Jesus Christ and how we see him as we read through the epistles?

If we also consider this fact given us in scripture.

Matthew 19:20

BUT MANY THAT SHALL BE FIRST SHALL BE LAST; AND THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST.

Matthew 20;16

SO THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST, AND THE FIRST LAST: FOR MANY BE CALLED BUT FEW CHOSEN.

These scriptures need to be read and studied even beyond what is said within these verses. Consider, In the minds of the ten brothers of Joseph, he was no longer one to be even considered. However, they now have one brother even younger than Joseph. (the last shall be first). Since the Apostle Paul is a member of the family of the tribe of Benjamin, can you see how that the Nation of Israe; will have to submit to the teachings, (the Gospel) of Jesus Christ as it relates to the last shall be first and the first shall be last?

As far as I know the word gospel cannot be found in the Old Testament. However, the good news of the coming of Jesus Christ and the good news of the gospel is seen very often, we just have to seek for it. For instance, just to show one.

Isaiah 52:7

HOW BEAUTIFUL UPON THE MOUNTAINS ARE THE FEET OF HIM THAT BRINGETH GOOD THINGS, THAT PUBLISHETH PEACE; THAT BRINGETH GOOD TIDINGS OF GOOD, THAT PUBLISHETH SALVATION, AND SAITH UNTO ZION, THY GOD REIGNETH!

We can see at least four different ways the gospel is revealed in the New Testament. The gospel being good news to them it is revealed to. We will look at all four.

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

Matthew 3:1-3

IN THOSE DAYS CAME JOHN THE BAPTIST, PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS OF JUDAEA, (2) AND SAYING, REPENT YE: FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND. (3) FOR THIS IS HE THAT WAS SPOKEN OF BY THE PROPHET ESAIAS, SAYING, THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.

We see here that John the Baptist and the message he preaches was call the (Kingdom of Heaven). We can see even (John the Baptist) prophesied in the Old Testament.

Isaiah 40:3

THE VOICE OF HIM THAT CRIETH IN THE WILDERNESS, PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE STRAIGHT IN THE DESERT A HIGHWAY FOR OUR GOD.

We can also see where Jesus Christ himself preaches this very same gospel.

Matthew 4:23

AND JESUS WENT ABOUT ALL GALILEE, TEACHING IN THEIR SYNAGOGUES, AND PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM, AND HEALING ALL MANNER OF SICKNESS AND ALL MANNER OF DISEASE AMONG THE PEOPLE.

This message, at this time, (the gospel) (the good news) of the kingdom of heaven is the very same message that John the Baptist came preaching. Jesus Christ being the man that John the Baptist was preaching of. Now, notice this verse.

Mark 1:14-15

NOW AFTER THAT JOHN WAS PUT IN PRISON, JESUS CAME INTO GALILEE, PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, (15) AND SAYING, THE TIME IS FULFILLED, AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND: REPENT YE, AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL.

So, here, we need to ask a question. What is the difference in (The kingdom of heaven) and (The Kingdom of God) or is there a difference? I stand on the concept that there is a very distinct difference, that the difference must be recognized to understand spiritual growth. That difference is easily seen in the gospels if we seek to find it and are willing to accept it as truth.

Now we have seen these three terms: The Gospel of Jesus Christ, The Gospel of the Kingdom of heaven and the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. We will look at some things about this before we move on.

Let’s consider the (Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven). This is the first good news of Jesus Christ. We see and basically understand his birth. He was born of a virgin as prophesied in the Old Testament. The Bible tells us often in the New Testament that he came to the Jew first. The Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven only concerns Israel. Jesus Christ was born the rightful King of Israel. As it relates to the gospel of Jesus Christ, they, the Nation of Israel was offered that good news first. Our King is here, he is born, the Messiah has come!

As we study through the gospels, we can see many miracles that Jesus Christ did as well as enable his disciples to do as well. Let’s consider something here. Will this end or, has it? The Bible says in (John 11) that Jesus Christ raised Lazarus from the dead four days after he had died. When is the last time you seen someone raised from the dead even on the same day? I asked the question, when did this end or, did it? Let’s look at a verse of scripture.

Acts 13:46

THEN PAUL AND BARNABAS WAXED BOLD, AND SAID, IT WAS NECESSARY THAT THE WORD OF GOD SHOULD FIRST BE SPOKEN TO YOU; BUT SEEING YE PUT IT FROM YOU, AND JUDGE YOURSELVES UNWORTHY OF EVERLASTING LIFE, LO, WE TRUTN TO THE GENTILES.

As we look at this verse seeing that here the Apostle Paul says he’s turning to the Gentiles; can we agree that up until this point even the Apostle Paul’s main focus has been somewhat toward the Nation of Israel as he moved toward preaching to the Gentiles?

My point is this, the book of Acts is a period of time that we can call a transition period. The world is moving from a time of law and transitioning to a time of grace. Therefore, we see some things during that period of time that will be change as time moves forward in the time of grace. Look at these verses.

Acts 20: 9

AND THERE SAT IN A WINDOW A CERTAIN YOUNG MAN NAMED EUTYCHUS, BEING FALLEN INTO A DEEP SLEEP: AND AS PAUL WAS LONG PREACHING, HE SUNK DOWN WITH SLEEP, AND FELL DOWN FROM THE THIRD LOFT, AND WAS TAKEN UP DEAD. (10) AND PAUL WENT DOWN, AND FELL ON HIM, AND EMBRACING HIM SAID, TROUBLE NOT YOURSELVES: FOR HIS LIFE IS IN HIM.

I desire to show you that even after the Apostle Paul had turned to the Gentiles that things of this nature was still used through the book of Acts. At one point in :

Acts 28:3-6

AND WHEN PAUL HAD GATHERED A BUNDLE OF STICKS, AND LAID THEM ON THE FIRE, THERE CAME A VIPER OUT OF THE HEAT, AND FASTENED ON HIS HAND. (4) AND WHEN THE BARBARIANS SAW THE VENOMOUS BEAST HANG ON HIS HAND, THEY SAID AMONG THEMSELVES, NO DOUBT THIS MAN IS A MURDERER, WHOM, THOUGH HE HATH ESCAPED THE SEA, YET VENGEANCE SUFFERETH NOT TO LIVE. (5) AND HE SHOOK THE BEAST INTO THE FIRE AND FELT NO HARM. (6) HOWBEIT THEY LOOKED WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE SWOLLEN, OR FALLEN DOWN DEAD SUDDENLY; BUT AFTER THEY HAD LOOKED A GREAT WHILE, AND SAW NO HARM COME TO HIM, THEY CHANGED THEIR MINDS, AND SAID HE WAS A GOD.

If you will continue to read through this chapter, the last chapter in Acts, you will notice that the Apostle Paul done other miracles after this happened however, once we leave this book and move into the epistle, we have no record of anything of this nature recorded in the epistles.

Now, let’s look at one other scripture.

1 Corinthians 13: 8-10

CHARITY NEVER FAILETH: BUT WHETHER THERE BE PROPHECIES, THEY SHALL FAIL: WHETHER THERE BE TONGUES, THEY SHALL CEASE; WHETHER THERE BE KNOWLEDGE, IT SHALL VANISH AWAY. (9) FOR WE KNOW IN PART, AND WE PROPHECY IN PART. (10) BUT WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT IS COME, THEN THAT WHICH IS IN PART SHALL BE DONE AWAY.

The Apostle Paul being the last Apostle chosen by our Lord Jesus Christ is the Apostle to the Gentiles. Although he is not the only author of the New Testament, he is the Apostle to which we get our Church doctrine from. His letters to the Churches is where we find Church doctrine.

I feel that here, we need to take the time to define some terms we see in (1 Corinthians 13:8). First of all, we see charity. It says that it never fails. What is charity? Charity in its simplest form can be defined as (LOVE IN ACTION). Often the word is used as a noun as in a charity like an organization that helps poor or maybe sick people. But, isn’t that putting love in action.

We see that this love act will never change. It has and, always will be exactly the same no matter who it might originate from whether it’s from Jesus Christ, an Apostle, a disciple or any person that allows love to be put in action. However, we also see that prophecies shall fail, tongues shall cease, knowledge shall vanish away. So, what does this mean?

Since the first thing mentioned is prophecy, I’d like to show you something. We see this in:

Acts 21:10-12

AND AS WE TARRIED THERE MANY DAYS, THERE CAME DOWN FROM JERUSALEM A CERTIAN PROPHET, NAMED AGABUS. (11) AND WHEN HE WAS COME UNTO US, HE TOOK PAUL’S GIRDLE, AND BOUND HIS HANDS AND FEET, AND SAID, THUS SAITH THE HOLY GHOST, SO SHALL THE JEWS AT JERUSALEM BIND THE MAN THAT OWNETH THIS GIRDLE AND SHALL DELIVER HIM INTO THE HANDS OF THE GENTILES. (12) AND WHEN WE HEARD THESE THINGS, BOTH WE, AND THEY OF THAT PLACE, BESOUGHT HIM NOT TO GO UP TO JERUSALEM. (13) THEN PAUL ANSWERED, WHAT MEAN YOU TO WEEP AND TO BREAK MY HEART? FOR I AM READY NOT TO BE BOUND ONLY, BUT ALSO TO DIE AT JERUSALEM FOR THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.

We see here in these verses that it calls Agabus a prophet. We also see that the Apostle Paul didn’t listen to him and went to Jerusalem anyway. As we study through scripture, we see what Agabus prophesied came true. I believe that it’s a couple of points to be made here. First, a transition away from the need of prophets and even a need to pay attention to what they say is occurring because of the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Second, and I believe this could be seen as the most important, God’s Spirit is now within the heart of every born-again believer and it’s not just any one man he speaks to as it was in the times past. The Old Testament is gone, and the New Testament is now here. We have a New Covenant in Christ Jesus. We must be willing to accept this new and leave the old.

I see prophecy and knowledge as two completely different things. If not, why would we see both mentioned here? A prophet is a person that God reveals a future event to, and that event will always come to pass. We see in the verse that prophecies shall fail. In other words, people will say some things that will not come to pass, we can’t depend on what they say. I’ll also say this. We see that even though the prophet Agabus was correct in what he prophesized, the Apostle Paul also knew what God was leading him to do, no matter the outcome.

I’ll put it this way. Today we don’t have prophets. If we did and God had something else to add to what we know from scripture, then it would be verses or books added behind the book of Revelation in scripture that all men could see that truth. Let’s say you have a man in your assembly that says God has revealed a prophecy to him and he is sharing it to your assembly. Well, don’t I and all the rest of the world need to hear what he tells you? How can we get that prophecy?

With that being said, let’s now look at this scripture.

Hebrews 1;1-2

GOD, WHO AT SUNDRY TIMES AND IN DIVERS MANNERS SPAKE IN TIME PAST UNTO THE FATHERS BY THE PROPHETS, (2) HATH IN THESE LAST DAYS SPOKEN UNTO US BY HIS SON, WHOM HE HATH APPOINTED HEIR OF ALL THINGS, BY WHOM ALSO HE MADE THE WORLDS;

We see in these verses how that in time past God used prophets and other ways to speak to men. He is saying here that in the last days he spoke to man by his son. Let’s just assume that in the gospels John the Baptist was a prophet or that he revealed knowledge to the people of Israel. We can look back in the book of Isaiah and see where the birth of Jesus Christ had already been prophesied. Therefore, we can simply say that he is revealing knowledge of the fact that Jesus Christ has now come.

Once Jesus Christ was baptized and the spirit descended on him do, we never see any other person in the gospels prophesying anything? Jesus Christ himself even stated that he was going away, and he would not leave us comfortless that he would send the comforter.

John 15:26-27

BUT WHEN THE COMFORTER IS COME, WHOM I WILL SEND UNTO YOU FROM THE FATHER, EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, WHICH PRECEEDETH FROM THE FATHER, HE SHALL TESTIFY OF ME; (27) AND YE ALSO SHALL BEAR WITNESS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN WITH ME FROM THE BEGINNING.

We can say that all the way through scripture, both the Old and New Testament it was God’s Spirit that spoke to man and revealed scripture whether we see it as prophecy or knowledge. However, my contention is that there is a distinct difference in prophecy and knowledge. Prophecy is a man’s ability to foretell a future event accurately, never being wrong. Knowledge is a man’s ability to explain those events in detail or teach the aspects of an event such as the Apostle Paul did as it relates to the Church.

Although the Church is a mystery in both the Old Testament and the gospels and hard to be seen, it is there and taught in both. Many pastors and Churches try to connect the teachings of the gospels, the epistles written by other Apostles to the teachings as revealed by the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul was given the mystery concerning the Church, the body of Jesus Christ. While we can relate all scripture, we must be very careful to rightly divide the word of God, keeping each thing in its proper place.

As we look into these two terms, prophecy and knowledge, can’t we say that Jesus Christ was possibly a prophet and a revealer of knowledge as well? I believe we can actually see the Church as it unfolds in the book of Genesis. With that statement being true then that makes Jesus Christ the revealer of that Church in the gospel. It’s not that any of his Apostles understood any part of it at that time but, it was none the less revealed there. For instance: I believe we can see the rapture of the Church in (Matthew 24) among other places in the gospels but it’s not clearly seen at that time. However, we can clearly see it as the Apostle Paul reveals it in his writings.

I’ll add this and we will move on. I’d like to begin this with some verses.

2 Peter 3:13-18

NEVERTHELESS WE, ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE, LOOK FOR NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, WHEREIN DWELLETH RIGHTEOUSNESS. (14) WHEREFORE, BELOVED, SEEING THAT YE LOOK FOR SUCH THINGS, BE DILIGENT THAT YE BE FOUND OF HIM IN PEACE, WITHOUT SPOT, AND BLAMELESS. (15) AND ACCOUNT THAT THE LONGSUFFERING OF OUR LORD IS SALVATION; EVEN AS OUR BELOVED BROTHER PAUL ALSO ACCORDING TO THE WISDOM GIVEN UNTO HIM HATH WRITTEN UNTO YOU; (16) AS ALSO IN ALL HIS EPISTLES, SPEAKING IN THEM OF THESE THINGS; IN WHICH ARE SOME THINGS HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD, WHICH THEY THAT ARE UNLEARNED AND UNSTABLE WREST, AS THEY DO ALSO THE OTHER SCRIPTURES, UNTO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION. (17) YE THEREFORE, BELOVED, SEEING YE KNOW THESE THINGS BEFORE, BEWARE LEST YE ALSO, BEING LED AWAY WITH THE ERROR OF THE WICKED, FALL FROM YOUR OWN STEDFASTNESS. (18) BUT GROW IN GRACE, AND IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. TO HIM BE GLORY BOTH NOW AND FOR EVER. AMEN.

We see in these verses that the Apostle Peter had come to the understanding that the Apostle Paul was someone that they all needed to be listening to and to study after. I don’t believe that even he was a person that accepted Paul in his early ministry but grew to understand that what he was teaching was inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. I don’t know for a fact that any other of the apostles ever came to that spiritual understanding.

If you remember Jesus told them in (John 15:26-27) (AND YE SHALL ALSO BEAR WITNESS, BECAUSE YE HAVE BEEN WITH ME FROM THE BEGINNING). Although Jesus Christ had made that statement to them, it would still take the Spirit of God and their willingness to accept that truth to stand and proclaim what was being taught. That, from both the Apostle Peter and Paul.

The Apostle Peter said this, (WHICH THEY WHICH ARE UNLEARNED AND UNSTABLE WREST). Do you see what I’m saying? Once true knowledge is revealed, it still must be received and shared by those that gain that knowledge. If any person, apostle, preacher, pastor or just a church member make a choice to remain unlearned and unstable that is not any reflection on the person that seeks to reveal knowledge given by God’s Spirit. It is however a fact that many refuse to see truth as it is revealed.

As we move forward from prophecy and knowledge that we see in (1 Corinthians 13:8-10) you’ll see what I mean. Looking at (verse 8) let’s notice something. We only see three things, prophecy, tongues and knowledge in that order. Wonder why a word like tongues would be placed with prophecy and knowledge? To put it another way, we are seeing here that prophecy would fail, knowledge would vanish away, and tongues would cease, all this when that which is perfect is come according to (verse 10).

So, what is that which is perfect? It is nothing less than the complete word of God (the Bible)! Common sense will tell us that when (1 Corinthians) was written, (2 Corinthians) hadn’t been written yet.

Let’s ask a question here and, make a point. When did the Old Testament end? We say or even see that the last book in the Old Testament is Malachi. However, both Jesus Christ and John the Baptist lived in the Old Testament. All four gospels, in a sense can be placed in the Old Testament. However, it’s very important that they be seen as part of the New Testament because of the revelation of Jesus Christ and the (gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven).

Therefore, with all this being pointed out, when we see John, the Baptist saying repent to the Jews, what is he saying? We can go back to our original verse and below to see this. (Mark 1:1-6). John baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. It says they all went out, confessing their sins and were baptized.

When he uses the word (all) to whom is he speaking? We know that all Israel didn’t go, don’t we? He was speaking of all those that realized that they had begun living in sin, not looking for the Messiah but, now were willing to come back to looking for him, ready to follow his leadership and, they were all of Israel.

When these people were baptized, the religious men of Israel and many others in Israel knew that they were ready to denounce who Israel called king and to readily embrace the one that was soon coming. Since we see the phrase (remission of sins), it also implies that God the Father also seen this change in those people. John the Baptist didn’t have to power to remit sin, neither did the fact they were baptized. Actually, from the very physical standpoint, this, the kingdom of heaven has very little to do with the spiritual standpoint of these people as to how we might see it today.

We can simply see this all through the gospel and especially in a verse or verses we see in John. However, let’s go back to the Old Testament to begin with. If you read through the Book of Exodus, you will see where Moses led the people of Israel across the Red Sea on dry land. However, not long after they were all safe, no longer in slavery to Egypt, we see that they began once again to complain, not being satisfied. They even said to Moses that they were better off in Egypt. You see, being set free from an enemy can never make you spiritual unless you choose to become that way with thankfulness. If we take this a step farther, can’t we say that Moses was already free even though he was in Egypt?

Although we have said a lot of things and some of which we will revisit; we have looked into the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. It actually began with the birth of Jesus Christ; John the Baptist gave Israel the (knowledge) that he was the Messiah. We see that in all four gospels, and it continues to be preached in the Book of Acts as the transition into the (Age of Grace) is complete.

Next, we will look at the concept of (My Gospel). That is a term that the Apostle Paul referred to as the gospel he preached.

MY GOSPEL

As far as I know, we only see this phrase three times in scripture. I’ll show you and write the verses that we see the phrase.

Romans 2:16

IN THE DAY WHEN GOD SHALL JUDGE THE SECRETS OF MEN BY JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MY GOSPEL.

Romans 16:25

NOW TO HIM THAT IS OF POWER TO ESTABLISH 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,

2 Timothy 2:8

REMEMBER THAT JESUS CHRIST OF THE SEED OF DAVID WAS RAISED FROM ACCORDING TO MY GOSPEL:

As I’ve tried to relay to you, the Book of Acts is a transition period from, shall we say the Gospel of the Kingdom into the what the Apostle is calling (My Gospel). At some point as we continue, I’d like to return to the Book of Acts and point out some things that might be beneficial in the study of God’s word.

However, let’s see if we can find out what the Apostle Paul means when he uses the term (My Gospel).