Bible Doctrine
The Kingdom Of Heaven And The Kingdom Of God Compared, Contrasted And Rightly Divided
The gospel of the kingdom as preached by Jesus Christ and the Apostles and the gospel of the grace of God as revealed by Jesus Christ to the Apostle Paul are not the same. In fact, they’re not even close to being identical.
The gospel of the grace of God’s free gift of salvation by redemption in Christ death, burial, and resurrection to save sinners from Hell. It is the FINISHED blood atonement that imputes GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS to sinners.
The gospel of the kingdom as preached by Jesus Christ and the Apostles and the gospel of the grace of God as revealed by Jesus Christ to the Apostle Paul are not the same. In fact, they’re not even close to being identical. They are two completely different gospels preached to two completely different groups of people with two completely different messages.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 KJV
The scripture is very plain and direct concerning this. This foundational doctrinal truth is not difficult to comprehend or understand, you’ve simply have to believe the Bible. If you are a new born babe in Christ and this is your first time hearing this, you’d do well to follow the example of the Bereans:
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 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.” Acts 17:10-11 (KJV)
People who reject this doctrinal truth of the differences between the two gospels do so because they are either too lazy to run the references or heretical blasphemers. Most of the ones that I have dealt with personally have been lazy. They would rather submit themselves to their emotions combined with how they were raised to believe what their religion teaches before they submit themselves to simply believing God’s words.
“Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.” Proverbs 13:13 (KJV)
Now let’s go into detail breaking down both gospels beginning with the gospel of the kingdom:
“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.” Matthew 4:23 (KJV)
In order to gain full clarity on the gospel of the kingdom, you must first heed God’s promises to the Jewish Nation of Israel in the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic Covenant.
ABRAHAMIC COVENANT:
The promise of LITERAL land – (Genesis 12:1). God called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees to a land that He promised to give him. This promise is once again reiterated in Genesis 13:14–18. The land aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant is expanded in Deuteronomy 30:1–10, which is also the Palestinian Covenant. What is especially critical to note is that the land grant God promised to Abraham and to his seed was also promised to be an EVERLASTING COVENANT:
“And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:7-8 (KJV)
The promise of kingly descendants – (Genesis 12:2). God promised Abraham that He would make a great nation out of him. Abraham, who was old and childless (Genesis 12:4), was promised many descendants. This promise is amplified in Genesis 17:6 where God promised that nations and kings would descend from Abraham. This promise (which is expanded in the Davidic Covenant of 2 Samuel 7:12–16) would eventuate in the Davidic throne with Messiah’s kingdom rule over the Jewish Nation of Israel.
MOSAIC COVENANT:
In Deuteronomy 28, God gives Moses along with the Jewish Nation of Israel the commandments, statues, and judgements for staying alive, wealthy, safe, and healthy in the land. God also gives them the horror of what will happen when they disobey God’s commandments, statues, and judgements in the land. BUT what is critical and often overlooked in the Mosaic Covenant is what God introduces to the Jewish Nation of Israel through Moses in Exodus chapter 4:
“And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first SIGN, that they will believe the voice of the latter SIGN. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two SIGNS, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.” Exodus 4:1-9 (KJV)
LITERAL, VISIBLE, EARTHLY, SIGNS TO UNBELIEVING JEWS TO LEAD THEM TO THE PROMISE LAND AND OR REVELATION FROM GOD:
1 Corinthians 1:22 KJV For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
From Exodus chapter 4 through the rest of the entire Bible, God gives the Jewish nation of Israel LITERAL, PHYSICAL, EARTHLY, SIGNS, to lead or guide them to their promised LITERAL, PHYSICAL, EARTHLY, LAND, to fulfil the prophecy of the LITERAL, PHYSICAL, PROMISED, JEWISH MESSIAH, reigning from a LITERAL, PHYSICAL, EARTHLY THRONE, in LITERAL, PHYSICAL, EARTHLY JERUSALEM from where He will establish his LITERAL, PHYSICAL, EARTHLY KINGDOM.
Are you beginning to understand now why the gospel of the kingdom is titled the gospel of THE KINGDOM??
DAVIDIC COVENANT:
“And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee. And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar? Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.” 2 Samuel 7:1-17 (KJV)
God promised David that the promised Jewish Messiah would come through his seed and that his throne would be established forever. This is why Christ is often referred to as the son of David.
The Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic, Jewish Covenants God established with his people encapsulate the gospel of the kingdom:
“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:5-8 (KJV)
When Jesus preaches the gospel of the kingdom during his earthly ministry, he is the son of David (Davidic Covenant) of the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Abrahamic Covenant) with the literal, physical, earthly Jewish signs that accompany his Messiahship (Mosaic Covenant).
NOTICE: So far, no where in the gospel of the kingdom is belief in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for sinners mentioned or preached. NOWHERE in the gospel of the kingdom is the mystery of Jew and gentile in one body mentioned or preached. NOWHERE in the gospel of the kingdom is ‘walk by faith, not by sight’ mentioned or preached. NOWHERE in the gospel of the kingdom is salvation by grace through faith mentioned or preached. The gospel of the kingdom is a Jewish gospel preached to Jews that accompany literal signs, miracles, and wonders to lead the Jewish nation of Israel to the promise land or to give give revelation from God to the JEWS.
GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD:
“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 (KJV)
The gospel of the grace of God was revealed to the Apostle Paul neither from men or Old Testament prophets. The gospel of the grace of God was revealed to the Apostle Paul by revelation from the ascended Lord Jesus Christ:
“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:11-12 (KJV)
What exactly is the gospel of the grace of God? Does it have to do with Christians spreading a Jewish earthly kingdom? No. Does the gospel of the grace of God have anything to do with Christians doing signs, miracles, and wonders for unbelieving Jews to lead them to the promise land? No. Does the gospel of the grace of God have to do with Christians walking by SIGHT and not by FAITH? NO. Does the gospel of the grace of God have anything to do with Christians keeping God’s commandments, statues, and judgments to receive eternal life? No. Does the gospel of the grace of God have anything to do with water baptismal regeneration? No. Well then what exactly is the gospel of the grace of God that the Apostle Paul preached?
“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 (KJV)
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV)
“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” Romans 4:4-8 (KJV)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” Romans 5:14-15 (KJV).
The gospel of the grace of God’s free gift of salvation by redemption in Christ death, burial, and resurrection to save sinners from Hell. It is the FINISHED blood atonement that imputes GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS to sinners.
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:24-26 (KJV)
BEFORE the Apostle Paul straightened out Peter’s doctrine in Acts 15, the Apostle Peter NEVER preached that Christ died for ANYBODY. From Acts chapter 1-14 the only thing that Peter preaches to the Jews is water-based baptismal repentance for KILLING THEIR MESSIAH:
“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:” Acts 2:22-23 (KJV)
“And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.” Acts 3:12-13 (KJV)
“But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.” Acts 3:14-15 (KJV)
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.” Acts 4:8-10 (KJV)
“And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.” Acts 5:27-30 (KJV)
OTHER FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BOTH GOSPELS:
Audience:
gospel of kingdom – Jews (Matt 10:5 KJV)
gospel of grace – Jew and gentile (Rom 1:16 KJV)
Water baptismal requirement:
gospel of kingdom – MANDATORY (Mark 16:16 KJV)
gospel of grace – NOT mandatory/required (1 Cor 1:17 KJV)
Walk with the Lord:
gospel of kingdom – by sight (Exodus 4 KJV)
gospel of grace -by faith (2 Cor 5:7 KJV)
Warfare:
gospel of kingdom – Physical/Carnal (Matt 11:12 KJV)
gospel of grace – Spiritual/ non-carnal (2 Cor 10:4 KJV)
Promise for being obedient:
gospel of kingdom – LITERAL, PHYSICAL, EARTHLY BLESSINGS (Deu 28 KJV)
gospel of grace – Persecution/ thorn in flesh (2 Tim 3:12 KJV)
Righteousness:
gospel of kingdom – Individual righteousness (Eze 18 KJV)
gospel of grace – God’s righteousness (Rom 10:3-4 KJV)
Assurance of salvation:
gospel of kingdom – None (Ezk 18 KJV)
gospel of grace – Eternally secure in Christ (Eph 2:8-9 KJV)
Association:
gospel of kingdom – Jewish Nation of Israel ( Acts 2:36 KJV)
gospel of grace – members in a body (body of Christ) (1 Cor 12:27 KJV)
Next immediate future prophecy:
gospel of kingdom – The time of Jacob’s Trouble (Jer 30:7 /Matt 24 KJV)
gospel of grace – Pre-catching away of the body of Christ (aka pre-trib rapture) (1 Cor 15:51/ 1 Thess:4 16 KJV)
Covenant(s):
gospel of kingdom – fulfilment of covenant made with Abraham, Iaasc, Jacob, Moses, and David (see above)
gospel of grace – fulfillment of covenant the Father made with Jesus Christ (John 1:12 KJV)
Final Judgement:
gospel of kingdom – The Great White Throne (Rev 20:11 KJV)
gospel of grace – The Judgement Seat of Christ (works only) (1 Cor 3/ Rom 14:10 KJV)
