How Many Gospels?

"Strong objection is offered by Covenant theologians to a distinction between the gospel of the kingdom as preached by John the Baptist, Christ, and the other disciples and the gospel of the grace of God. One of them states that to make such a distinction is “unfortunate” and “dangerous.” He with others contends that the kingdom gospel is identical with the gospel of divine grace. Here nevertheless will arise an absurdity which does not deter this type of theologian, namely, that men could preach the grace gospel based as it is on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ when they did not believe Christ would die or be raised again (cf. Luke 18:31-34)." ~Lewis Sperry Chafer, founder and first president of Dallas Theological Seminary 

People who object to the belief that there “WERE” two gospels, whether they are called “Covenant Theologians” or anything else, do not understand what God was doing in calling out Abram, and creating the nation of Hebrews (Jews-Israel), or in sending the Messiah, until He, God said, I am done with Israel! I will now go to the Gentiles (primarily) with a new Covenant and administration (dispensation) wherein I, God, have done ALL that needs to be done except for the individual faith of the believer. All this misunderstanding stems from the fact that we don’t fully understand Christ.

Oh, the controversy!
“One Gospel, two Gospels, three Gospels, four… tell me no lies, but tell me more!”

So here is the crux of the matter. Firstly, it has ALWAYS  been of Grace! It is unfortunate that the words we use, whether gospel, or Christ/Messiah, or glory, etc., do not convey the weight, and depth, and height of God’s message, which we so broadly categorize. What does gospel mean… “good news?” That is such a weak definition. You want good news? Gen. 3… the fall of man. We all know the story. Adam and Eve sinned, and they realized their “nakedness” (loss of righteousness). So, God said, “Don’t be afraid Adam. Good News… I will make coverings (atonement) for you.”



Please do not consider me to be facetious; I merely paraphrase. It was and is God’s Grace from beginning to end, but He administers in different ways at different times. If one does not see that or accept it, then we will NEVER come to the unity of the faith, Eph. 4:13, which divisions have shipwrecked Christianity.

Next, define G O S P E L by scripture verse or verses, without saying “good news.” I’ll tell you my definition apart from scripture… It is the GRACE of God in CHRIST to forgive man and redeem and restore all of creation; again… IN CHRIST… and Christ is from everlasting, not when Jesus was born! The scripture I would use is 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Moreover, brethren, I declare to you THE Gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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

That is the Gospel Paul preached to Gentiles (primarily) because that’s where Jesus sent him, as God sent Moses to the Hebrews to call them out of Egypt, and that's what Jesus revealed to Him, besides other "mysteries" not revealed before. Acts 9:15 says, He (Paul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. Paul, in fact went to Jews first (Acts 9:20) but he eventually “turned his back” on the Jews, Acts 18:6, just as God did, demonstrated by destroying the Temple at Jerusalem and scattering the Jews out into every nation, as God had prophesied and did more than once, Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:64; Jeremiah 18:17.

God dealt with the Jews in a different way when they rebelled and disobeyed… in judgment and wrath! But then He was GRACIOUS  when they repented, and He restored them. That was Peter’s and the disciple’s message after Pentecost… Repent and be baptize EVERY ONE OF YOU in the name of Jesus the Christ and you will receive the promise, Acts 2:38-39. The promise was the Kingdom of Heaven with Jesus as King on Earth. But Stephen’s message just before he was martyred was Israel’s last chance. God turned His back on the Jews and went to the Gentiles by Paul to call out not an earthly kingdom, but a Heavenly Body. Study it out prayerfully… you’ll see it.