Was Paul’s Gospel a Mystery?

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Paul’s Gospel WAS unknown until revealed to him. Use this tract to help others know this important fact. Comes in a pack of 10.

MESSAGE:

Was Paul’s Gospel A Mystery?

By Pastor Gerald Graham

The keys to the Dispensation of Grace were committed to the Apostle Paul. This Dispensation of Grace was called the “Mystery” because this program was not recorded nor revealed in the Scriptures until given to Paul.

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the Dispensation of the Grace of God which is given me to you ward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the Mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the Mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the Mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God” (Eph. 3:1-10).

 “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of God; even the Mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:25-27).

 “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, Who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. 2:11-19).

The Apostle Paul received information to administer the truths of the hope, calling, and destiny of this Church by revelation from the “risen” Lord Jesus Christ.

“It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such a one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) how that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such a one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me”  (2 Cor. 12:1-8).

 “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee” (Acts 26:16-17).

 The preaching of the truths concerning the hope, destiny and calling of this church was called “good news” or the “gospel.” However, this gospel or good news was only for believers; it was not the gospel of their salvation. The word “gospel” which means “good news” has two distinct meanings and the context determines which of the two meanings is meant: (1) Gospel of Salvation (Eph. 1:13) and (2) Gospel of Program, i.e. the hope, destiny and calling of the Church (Gal. 3:14).

The question is, was Paul’s Gospel of Salvation a “mystery,” i.e., never before revealed or recorded in the Scriptures? It is recorded in the Book of Galatians that a group of legalists had visited the “Galatians Church and troubled them by advocating the keeping of the Law and being circumcised, Paul calls this “another gospel.” Paul denounces these Judaizers and pronounces a curse on any who would preach another gospel than his.

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:6-10).

 Paul tells the Galatians that his gospel came by revelation from the risen 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” (Gal. 1:11-12).

The question is, was that the Gospel of Salvation by which they were saved, or was it the “good news” concerning their hope and destiny in the Body of Christ? Our question is answered when we compare this Scripture with 1Corinthians 15:1‑4.

 “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 Cor. 15:1-4).

We see here that this is the “Gospel” of Salvation, but it is according to the Scriptures and not by special revelation or mystery! This would have to be according to the Old Testament Scriptures, because at the time of Paul’s writing of the Epistle to the Corinthians there were no New Testament Scriptures written and circulated among the churches.

 Since Paul’s Gospel of Salvation is according to the Old Testament (Isaiah 53), it was not by mystery. That it is Old Testament Scriptures meant here is borne out in such Scriptures as:

“Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: and Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ” (Acts 17:1-3).

 “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which He had promised afore by his prophets in the holy Scriptures,) concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh” (Rom. 1:1-3).

By comparing the two Scriptures, in Galatians 1:11 and 1 Corinthians 15:1‑4, it shows us that they were not the same and that it is obvious that Paul’s Gospel of Salvation was according to Prophecy and not Mystery! The mention of “two gospels” in Galatians 2:7‑9 is not an issue over two different Gospels of Salvation, but two different apostleships, those of the circumcision and those of the uncircumcision respectively.

“But contrariwise, when they saw that the Gospel of the Uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the Gospel of the Circumcision was unto Peter; (For He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision” (Gal. 2:7-9).

 After the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ there was only one gospel of salvation and that was the prophesied death, burial and resurrection of Christ. There was one exception, and that was the immediate Pentecostal preaching to the very generation and people responsible for rejecting their Messiah and crucifying Him.

“For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:34-38).

In answer to our original question: The Apostle Paul’s Gospel of Salvation was not a mystery, but the “good news” gospel concerning the Church. Let’s be Bereans and search the Scriptures to see whether these things be so and not rely on preconceived ideas. The “gospel of salvation” is the good news that a Hell-bound sinner such as you and I can be forgiven when we repent and confess that we are sinners and can not save ourselves; but simply trust in the complete work of Christ on the Cross on our behalf; i.e., the death, burial and resurrection. Then we can be assured that all our sins are forgiven and we are made a child of God and that we have eternal salvation.