Is the Gospel Simple or Difficult?
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The Gospel of the Kingdom vs. The Gospel of Salvation Part 2


In part 1 of The Gospel of the Kingdom vs. The Gospel of Salvation I discussed in more detail what the gospel of the Kingdom entails. Here, I am going to back track and discuss the differences between the two, and in fact I already discussed this a bit on the page The Gospel of the Kingdom - Part 2. I will repeat some of that page:

The gospel of the kingdom is different than the gospel of salvation:  

Eph 1: NKJV  
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,  


The Gospel of Salvation has already been preached to every nation.  

Acts 2: NKJV
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven... 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" 14 But Peter... raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.


Here in Acts 2, there were Jews in Jerusalem from EVERY NATION. Yes that's right, every nation.  

Toss out your history lessons. Mankind was traveling the globe at this time period, at least to those places that had nations. And so, a representative of every nation heard the gospel preached by Peter starting in verse 14. Many of the nations are even listed in verses 9-11. These Jews more than likely went back to their nations to speak about this news. You can't believe it? Want more scriptures? Ok...  

Rom 10: NKJV
13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?  
15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:  
  "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,  
        Who bring glad tidings of good things!"  
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  
18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:  
        "Their sound has gone out to all the earth,  
       And their words to the ends of the world."


Here's another verse on the subject:  

Rom 1:8  
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.  


So the Gospel of Salvation was preached in every nation by the time the book of Romans was written. This was done by the disciples and/or the Jews who heard it in Jerusalem.  

Many ministries and churches are taking this verse...  

Math 24:14: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

...and are preaching the Gospel of Salvation, thinking they are fulfilling that verse. Very few preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. To be in the Kingdom requires more than basic salvation. If you haven't read part 1 of the Gospel of the Kingdom:  

 Click here

The Gospel of Salvation has been preached in every nation perhaps multiple times through out history. But The Gospel of the Kingdom is finally being preached now. I believe Paul and others attempted to do so, but were unsuccessful in reaching the whole world. It is my vision and desire to be a part of the proclamation of this Gospel.  

 Click here to read my Tenets of Faith and my vision

I am not alone. There are others.

I have discovered (as of Oct 21, 04), that there is archeological evidence that indeed the Jews/Israelites/Hebrews were in North America before the founding of the United States. This evidence is in the form of a large rock with Hebrew writing listing the 10 Commandments. This is NOT Moses' list he put in the Ark, but simply a monument testifying to the fact the Jews indeed have proclaimed the gospel to every nation generations ago. Here are some links to this astounding archeological find: 

http://economics.sbs.ohio-state.edu/jhm/arch/loslunas.html

http://www.science-frontiers.com/sf043/sf043p02.htm

http://web.archive.org/web/20080511202308/http://our.homewithgod.com/bibletruths/LosLunas.html


There is other evidence of the Hebrews in early America as well:

http://www.econ.ohio-state.edu/jhm/arch/decalog.html

By the way, it is my belief that many early nations or kingdoms were indeed traveling to the Americas, not just the Jews. There is evidence that the Romans were here and others. Here is some evidence:

http://www.davidpratt.info/americas1.htm

http://phoenicia.org/carthanewworld.html

http://paranormal.about.com/od/ancientanomalies/a/History-Mystery-Ancients-In-America.htm

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So you see there is more than one gospel. Gospel means "good news". And Jesus gave us more than one piece of good news. And that is not to diminish the Gospel of Salvation, but to praise Him for more!

Eph 1: NKJV  
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

Math 24:14: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.


Paul even stated he had his own gospel:

Rom 16:25 ¶ Now to him that is of power to stablish 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

I'm going to quote another website, since they did a great job explaining this:

http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/mevangel/mysgos.htm

"According to my gospel"—The expression "my gospel" is found in only two other places in the Bible: 1) Romans 2:16—"In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel"; 2) 2 Timothy 2:8—"Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel." When Paul spoke of "my gospel" he was not necessarily referring to "mystery truth" as this last passage indicates. That the Messiah would be of the seed of David and that He would be raised from the dead were truths that were revealed in the Old Testament and were not mysteries...

Paul’s good news included mystery truth: "that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel" (Eph. 6:19). In light of this, there are two ultradispensational errors that must be avoided: 1) Paul was the only person who received the revelation of the mystery. This error is corrected by Ephesians 3:5 which teaches that mystery truth was revealed to God’s holy apostles and prophets. No doubt Paul was the chief revelator of mystery truth but it was not given to him exclusively. He was not the only steward of the mysteries of God (1 Cor. 4:1-2). 2) Mystery truth was not made known until Paul revealed it. The mysteries of God are revealed in all the fulness of their preciousness in Paul’s epistles, but Paul was not the first to reveal these secrets.


So as you can see the Gospel of the Kingdom is different than the Gospel of Salvation. This page is not about the details of the Kingdom Gospel, but to show they are different and to discuss whether the Gospel is simple or not.

They should not be mixed when discussing simplicity or complexity because they are different. The Gospel of Salvation is simple:

1 Cor 1:17 ¶ For Christ sent me ... to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.


2 Cor 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

But the Gospel of the Kingdom is a mystery as shared above about that which Paul said.

Everything is by faith. And we please God by faith, and faith is in the unseen and unknowable. Nothing is certain:

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 Heb 11:1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.


The elders or ministers spoken in verse 2, must use faith to minister the word, because as Paul said:

1 Cor 13:12: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Paul also said he knew only one thing for certain:

1 Cor 2: LITV
2 For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ, and Him having been crucified.


Thus it is by faith ministers minister, and thus they are held responsible for what they do, which is needed because they are mysteries and the people can get lost in doctrines:

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;


And so that's why he said in Eph 4 that the church needs ministers. As well as here:

1 Co 4:1 ¶ Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

And because ministers are the stewards of the mysteries of God, they receive a greater judgment:

James 3:
1: My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

1 Cor 3:5 ¶ Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
 11 ¶ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
 16 ¶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.


This doesn't mean people can't study themselves. They can, but as scripture shows God sent ministers to help the church, but Luke also said for the people to search the scriptures themselves:

Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

One thing ministers can do is break down hard teachings into bite size pieces similar to what Jesus and the disciples did when feeding the multitude (the 5000).

Math 15:36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
 37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.


 Joh 21:15 ¶ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.


The Gospel of the Kingdom is called mysteries in the scriptures. They are not easily understood. I will finish with more from  The Gospel of the Kingdom - Part 2:

Scripture points toward the fact that this gospel will be preached in the last days.

1 Pet 1: MKJV
5 by the power of God, having been kept through faith to a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time;
9 obtaining the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10  About which salvation the prophets sought out and searched out, prophesying concerning the grace for you;
22 Purifying your souls in the obedience of the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brothers, love one another fervently out of a pure heart,


Dan 12: MKJV
4 But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.


Look at this quote:  

About the time of the End, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their attention to the prophecies, and insist upon their literal interpretation in the midst of much clamor and opposition.
-Sir Isaac Newton  


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Hopefully I have shown clear evidence that the Gosepl of Salvation and the Gospel of Kingdom are different as well as that the Gospel of Salvation is simple but the Gospel of the Kingdom is more complex.

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Links of Interest:

The Gospel of the Kingdom vs. The Gospel of Salvation

The Gospel of the Kingdom - Part 2

Ministry Types - Ascension Gifts vs Descension Gifts

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