Eph. 2:8-10: 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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Isaiah 52:7: 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 …

For those with a sweet tooth it’s a must to have “icing on the cake”. In the Bible this “icing” is the wonderful good news that, since it was proclaimed by the Apostle Paul, salvation by grace is now entirely a work of God and that we are his new creation (Eph. 2:8-9)

It proclaims that through his grace we are completely saved both now and for the ages to come. Even the faith needed to believe this wonderful good news is supplied, not by us, but by the Lord as part of the package. Yet, strangely, this “icing” on the “cake” of salvation is often overlooked. Recently a Christian friend told me: “There’s only one gospel in the Bible, that of 1 Cor. 15:1-4, 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”. And certainly that’s foundational truth for any believer.

However, it’s not the only gospel found in scripture. Rather there are several gospels, some to Israel and others to Gentiles, of which 1 Cor. 15:1-4 and Eph. 2:8-9 are but two. Astute believers know that 1 Cor. 15:1-4, “how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” as proclaimed by Paul is a huge advance on the “repent (of murdering the Son of God) and be baptised” message of Peter in Acts 2:38. It is also strikingly different to the “repent and believe the kingdom of heaven is at hand” gospel preached by Jesus and his disciples.

Fact is God has been in the “good news” business right from the start. That’s why He made Adam and Eve coats of skin to cover their nakedness back in Genesis 3. It’s why He then led Abel to sacrifice a lamb because “without shedding of blood there is no remission (of sin)” (Heb. 9:22). Later God’s promises to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob comprised the good news that He would make of them a great nation to be a blessing to all the people of the world.

But because these “gospels” were believed by only a few and rejected by most God brought in the “gospel” of Moses’ Law, which was likewise disobeyed. Nevertheless it remains true that if a person could keep the law he would be saved. Of course, only one man ever did - Jesus. His coming to Israel as her Messiah was the best good news that nation ever received but again it was largely rejected. The kingdom He brought with Him was forfeited and He Himself was crucified.

But the Lord is full of mercy and for 40 years after his ascension Israelites were given the opportunity to repent and be forgiven (Acts 2:38). Yet even this “good news” was forcibly rejected by both the nation at large and its leaders. So God turned (through the Apostle Paul) to the Gentiles with a message that now both Jew and Gentiles could be forgiven and saved by grace by being “graffed” into the olive tree that was rootstock of Israel’s salvation.

But even this “gospel” was deemed of little import by most men. So God upped the ante on the offer of salvation yet once again. Israel as God’s chosen nation was pronounced deaf and blind and set aside in Acts 28:28 and the proclamation of salvation sent to the Gentiles. No longer would converts be required to “repent and be baptised”, abstain from blood and certain foods (Acts 15: 29), no longer would their hope be being resurrected into the Lord’s kingdom on earth. Rather they now received the “upward call” (Phil. 3:14) to be found in Christ in heaven.

Sadly, though commanded by God to be made known unto all nations (Romans 16:25), this further “gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24) also fell largely on deaf ears, even among those who “named the name of Christ”. Thus in 2 Tim. 2:15 Paul writes to Timothy:

This thou knowest that all they that be In Asia (where earlier he had planted many churches) be turned from me”.

But God was not done yet. To still save some He brought in the gospel of the “mystery”, a long hid secret He now revealed to and through the Apostle Paul. And in this gospel (Eph. 3:1-6) God reveals that believers He quickens (makes alive to Himself) are not only forgiven and made holy but already “seated in heavenly places in Christ”. In this gospel not only are believers who hold to its truth fully saved now but are also told they were “chosen in Him before the foundation (overthrow) of the world”

 What’s more this gospel can never be replaced, superseded or done away with. It will hold true for all ages to come because Eph. 2:7 states “that in the ages to come He will show us the exceeding riches of grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus”.

But, you ask? Is this the “everlasting gospel” of Revelation 14:6? No, because as Rev. 14:6 makes clear that “everlasting gospel” is to be “preached unto them that dwell upon the earth and to every kindred and tongue and people”. In sharp contrast the mystery gospel described in Ephesians chapter three sets forth God’s “eternal purpose” to call into heaven a redeemed people who will “make known unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places the manifold wisdom of God” (Eph. 3:10).

Anyway, surely it’s time to put aside the untrue claim “there is only one gospel” and believe the truth that  the Bible contains several gospels, each one holding forth yet more of the inexhaustible “grace and truth” that the Apostle John saw in Jesus in John 1:14.

Thus the mystery gospel now made known is indeed the icing on the cake and those hungering for more of God will eat it.

John Dudley Aldworth

To talk to John please email him at the address below.

Email: john.aldworth@hotmail.com

Website: https://www.dayofchristmnistries.com/rss/all.xml