Shabbat shalom, everyone.
The “gospel of the kingdom” or the “good news about the Kingdom” is FAR different than what we call the “gospel” today. It is what the Jews knew from all the teaching they had about the coming Messiah who would reign over Israel in the future.
Here’s what we know from Scripture:
Mark 1:14-18
14 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.
16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
KJV
So, the gospel of the Kingdom was KNOWN ALREADY to the Jews of the Galiyl (Galilee). Yeshua` actually told them to turn around 180 degrees and believe that good news! He didn’t have to explain what it was; THEY ALREADY KNEW! He just said to BELIEVE it! Notice, too, that this was done even BEFORE He called Simon Peter and Andrew, and LONG BEFORE His “death, burial, and resurrection!"
Quite simply, the “gospel of the Kingdom” is found in Isaiah 52:7:
Isaiah 52:7
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation (RESCUE); that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
KJV
THAT is what is the "good news about the Kingdom!"
It was quoted by Paul in his epistle to the Romans:
Romans 10:14-15
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 (herald)?
15 And how shall they preach (herald), except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
KJV
And, this is consistent with the passage that Paul quoted in Romans 10:13:
Romans 10:13
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
KJV
Joel 2:25-3:2
25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
3:1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
KJV
Thus, I would suggest that Paul’s “gospel” was not different than Yeshua`s “gospel” but that NEITHER ONE is about “justification by God!” Instead, they are about the RESCUE (“salvation”) for the children of Israel that will come with the return of Yeshua` to this earth! To share with others about the New Birth, it is better to talk of the “justification by God” found in 2 Corinthians 5, for instance:
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ (who Himself has traded places with us through Yeshua` the Messiah), and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation (exchanging places);
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself (Himself trading places with the world), not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (the message about trading places).
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead (on the Messiah’s behalf), be ye reconciled to God (YOU trade places with God).
21 For he (God the Father) hath made him (Yeshua`) to be sin for us, who (Yeshua`) knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God (the Father) in him (Yeshua`).
KJV
THAT’S the trade! Yeshua` became our sin, and we became God’s righteousness in Yeshua`! It wasn’t a fair trade, but it was a just one.
God’s justification of an individual can also be found in Yeshua`s parable:
Luke 18:9-14
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man (the publican) went down to his house justified rather than the other (the Pharisee): for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
KJV
And, it can also be found in Isaiah 53:
Isaiah 53:1-12
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him (Yeshua`); he (the LORD or God the Father) hath put him (Yeshua`) to grief: when thou shalt make his soul (Yeshua`s life) an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He (the LORD or God the Father) shall see of the travail of his (Yeshua`s) soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant (Yeshua`) justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he (Yeshua`) hath poured out his (Yeshua`s) soul unto death: and he (Yeshua`) was numbered with the transgressors; and he (Yeshua`) bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
KJV
This is why I say that “salvation” is the WRONG WORD for the “justification by God!” “Salvation,” especially in prophecy, refers to the RESCUE OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL in the face of an attempted genocide by their enemies! And, that rescue will occur when Yeshua` returns to take vengeance on His enemies!
I might also point out that the validation and verification by God was always associated with the “good news about the Kingdom:"
Matthew 4:23-25
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom (heralding the good news about the Kingdom), and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
KJV
Matthew 9:35
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
KJV
In fact, God’s validation and verification of His Son’s message through the miracles that He performed through Him are ALWAYS associated with the message, the good news about the Kingdom to come!
And, this means two things:
First, that the good news has barely started to be proclaimed throughout the world!
Second, that the reason why we don’t have the power of the Ruach haQodesh Elohim (the Holy Spirit of God) in our churches is because we’re not proclaiming the right message, yet!
So, when we read Yeshua`s discourse on the Mount of Olives in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, the words:
Matthew 24:14
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.
KJV
we’ve hardly BEGUN to perform this prophecy!
Furthermore, we have been FAILING to follow the Great Commission:
Mark 16:15-20
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel (herald the good news) to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached (heralded) everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
KJV
WHAT "good news?” That Yeshua` shall return and bring God’s Kingdom with Him! Sure, it includes the fact that the Messiah, once killed - murdered - as the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, was resurrected, but the primary intent of the gospel of the Kingdom is to announce that God, through His Messiah, His Anointed to be King, shall be reigning! And, this is ALL because we confused the concept of “salvation” with “justification by God!”
Oh, and Paul’s “gospel” was not different than Yeshua`s. He just made an ADDENDUM to that gospel to INCLUDE the death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah. 1 Cor. 15:1-4 is NOT the definition of “gospel!"
P.S. - And, just one more thought: We won’t NEED to demonstrate, to crave, or to force ourselves to see the signs or gifts of the Ruach haQodesh in our lives; God HIMSELF will work them as an indicator to others that the message we begin to speak will actually be what HE has wanted us to say all along!
The “gospel of the kingdom” or the “good news about the Kingdom” is FAR different than what we call the “gospel” today. It is what the Jews knew from all the teaching they had about the coming Messiah who would reign over Israel in the future.
Here’s what we know from Scripture:
Mark 1:14-18
14 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.
16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
KJV
So, the gospel of the Kingdom was KNOWN ALREADY to the Jews of the Galiyl (Galilee). Yeshua` actually told them to turn around 180 degrees and believe that good news! He didn’t have to explain what it was; THEY ALREADY KNEW! He just said to BELIEVE it! Notice, too, that this was done even BEFORE He called Simon Peter and Andrew, and LONG BEFORE His “death, burial, and resurrection!"
Quite simply, the “gospel of the Kingdom” is found in Isaiah 52:7:
Isaiah 52:7
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation (RESCUE); that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
KJV
THAT is what is the "good news about the Kingdom!"
It was quoted by Paul in his epistle to the Romans:
Romans 10:14-15
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 (herald)?
15 And how shall they preach (herald), except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
KJV
And, this is consistent with the passage that Paul quoted in Romans 10:13:
Romans 10:13
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
KJV
Joel 2:25-3:2
25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
3:1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
KJV
Thus, I would suggest that Paul’s “gospel” was not different than Yeshua`s “gospel” but that NEITHER ONE is about “justification by God!” Instead, they are about the RESCUE (“salvation”) for the children of Israel that will come with the return of Yeshua` to this earth! To share with others about the New Birth, it is better to talk of the “justification by God” found in 2 Corinthians 5, for instance:
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ (who Himself has traded places with us through Yeshua` the Messiah), and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation (exchanging places);
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself (Himself trading places with the world), not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (the message about trading places).
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead (on the Messiah’s behalf), be ye reconciled to God (YOU trade places with God).
21 For he (God the Father) hath made him (Yeshua`) to be sin for us, who (Yeshua`) knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God (the Father) in him (Yeshua`).
KJV
THAT’S the trade! Yeshua` became our sin, and we became God’s righteousness in Yeshua`! It wasn’t a fair trade, but it was a just one.
God’s justification of an individual can also be found in Yeshua`s parable:
Luke 18:9-14
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man (the publican) went down to his house justified rather than the other (the Pharisee): for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
KJV
And, it can also be found in Isaiah 53:
Isaiah 53:1-12
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him (Yeshua`); he (the LORD or God the Father) hath put him (Yeshua`) to grief: when thou shalt make his soul (Yeshua`s life) an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He (the LORD or God the Father) shall see of the travail of his (Yeshua`s) soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant (Yeshua`) justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he (Yeshua`) hath poured out his (Yeshua`s) soul unto death: and he (Yeshua`) was numbered with the transgressors; and he (Yeshua`) bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
KJV
This is why I say that “salvation” is the WRONG WORD for the “justification by God!” “Salvation,” especially in prophecy, refers to the RESCUE OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL in the face of an attempted genocide by their enemies! And, that rescue will occur when Yeshua` returns to take vengeance on His enemies!
I might also point out that the validation and verification by God was always associated with the “good news about the Kingdom:"
Matthew 4:23-25
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom (heralding the good news about the Kingdom), and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
KJV
Matthew 9:35
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
KJV
In fact, God’s validation and verification of His Son’s message through the miracles that He performed through Him are ALWAYS associated with the message, the good news about the Kingdom to come!
And, this means two things:
First, that the good news has barely started to be proclaimed throughout the world!
Second, that the reason why we don’t have the power of the Ruach haQodesh Elohim (the Holy Spirit of God) in our churches is because we’re not proclaiming the right message, yet!
So, when we read Yeshua`s discourse on the Mount of Olives in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, the words:
Matthew 24:14
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.
KJV
we’ve hardly BEGUN to perform this prophecy!
Furthermore, we have been FAILING to follow the Great Commission:
Mark 16:15-20
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel (herald the good news) to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached (heralded) everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
KJV
WHAT "good news?” That Yeshua` shall return and bring God’s Kingdom with Him! Sure, it includes the fact that the Messiah, once killed - murdered - as the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, was resurrected, but the primary intent of the gospel of the Kingdom is to announce that God, through His Messiah, His Anointed to be King, shall be reigning! And, this is ALL because we confused the concept of “salvation” with “justification by God!”
Oh, and Paul’s “gospel” was not different than Yeshua`s. He just made an ADDENDUM to that gospel to INCLUDE the death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah. 1 Cor. 15:1-4 is NOT the definition of “gospel!"
P.S. - And, just one more thought: We won’t NEED to demonstrate, to crave, or to force ourselves to see the signs or gifts of the Ruach haQodesh in our lives; God HIMSELF will work them as an indicator to others that the message we begin to speak will actually be what HE has wanted us to say all along!
