The Gospel of Grace and the Gospel of the Kingdom are two separate messages, not the same gospel under different names.
According to Les Feldick, the Gospel of the Kingdom was proclaimed during Christ's earthly ministry and by the Twelve to the nation of Israel, while the Gospel of Grace was revealed through the Apostle Paul. These two good-news messages differ as much as night and day, with the Gospel of Grace centered on Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and the Gospel of the Kingdom centered on Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, and the King.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 — Paul defines the Gospel of Grace as the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, which Les contrasts with the Kingdom message.
The Bible presents the Gospel of the Kingdom as the message Jesus and the Twelve proclaimed: that the King was in their midst and ready to fulfill Old Testament promises to Israel. In early Acts, Philip preached that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, without a stated message of salvation through Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Paul's Gospel, in contrast, is defined as Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again according to the Scriptures. Scripture records Philip's preaching as the continuing Gospel of the Kingdom, not the Gospel of Grace, because the core of Paul's Gospel is absent from the record.
Les Feldick teaches that the Gospel proclaimed during Christ's earthly ministry and by the Twelve was the Gospel of the Kingdom. It was good news for Israel that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah-King, ready to fulfill all the Old Testament promises. The Gospel of Grace, which came from the Apostle Paul, is a different message revealed through the mysteries, and it is primarily to the Gentiles, with no law or legalism. Les emphasizes that when Philip preached in Samaria in Acts 8, he was continuing the Gospel of the Kingdom, not proclaiming the Gospel of Grace. The distinction is found in what the speakers actually said: Philip preached Christ as the Messiah but did not preach Christ crucified, buried, and risen, which is the core of the gospel that Paul preached. Les also notes that the term "Gospel of the Kingdom" fades away in Paul's letters, replaced by the Gospel of Grace.
The Gospel of the Kingdom was the good news that Christ was the King in Israel's midst, ready to fulfill all the Old Testament promises concerning Israel and His Messiahship. It was for Jew only, with nothing in it for the Gentile. Jesus and the Twelve proclaimed this message, and its emphasis was that the One whom the people had crucified was truly the Christ, the Son of the living God.
The Gospel of Grace came from the Apostle Paul, revealed through the mysteries. It is the message that Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again from the dead. Paul's Gospel means that nothing of law or legalism can be associated with it, and it is primarily, but not exclusively, to the Gentiles.
In Acts 8, Philip goes to Samaria and preaches Christ, but not Christ crucified. He does not mention His death, burial, and resurrection, which is the core of our Gospel. Instead, Philip's message was that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God. This is the same message as the Gospel of the Kingdom, which had been going to Israel through Jesus and the Twelve.
The term 'Gospel of the Kingdom' is never found in Paul's letters. Once Israel rejected the Gospel of the Kingdom and the King, God turned to the Apostle Paul, who began to proclaim the Gospel of Grace. The Gospel of the Kingdom faded off the scene and the Gospel of Grace took its place.
In the future Tribulation, the 144,000 young Jews will go around the globe with the Gospel of the Kingdom. The age of grace will have ended, the church will be gone, and they will tell the world that the King is coming. This was the message in Christ's earthly ministry, referred to more than once as the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Setting for Acts 8 Context
The teaching on Acts 8 begins with a review and context of where they left off, setting the stage for the discussion of Philip's preaching.
Two Gospels as Different as Night and Day
Les teaches that the Gospel of Grace revealed to Paul is as different from the Gospel of the Kingdom as night and day.
The Kingdom Gospel and Then the Grace Gospel
The Gospel of the Kingdom was good news for Israel that the King was in their midst, and after Israel rejected it, Paul proclaimed the Gospel of Grace.
Philip Preached Christ, Not the Core of Grace
In Acts 8, Philip did not mention Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, showing he was still preaching the Kingdom message that Jesus is the Messiah.
Peter's Confession Was Not the Grace Gospel
Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ was the Gospel of the Kingdom, not the Gospel of Grace.
Philip Preached Christ, Not Christ Crucified
Philip preached Christ but not Christ crucified, highlighting the difference from Paul's gospel.
The Kingdom Gospel Faded, Grace Took Its Place
The Gospel of the Kingdom disappeared by Paul's letters and the Gospel of Grace replaced it.
The Kingdom Gospel Returns in Tribulation
During the Tribulation, the 144,000 will again proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom, showing the distinctness of the two gospels.
1 Corinthians 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:
Paul defines the gospel he preached, which Les identifies as the Gospel of Grace.
Acts 8:5: Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
This records Philip's preaching in Samaria, which Les distinguishes from the Gospel of Grace.
Acts 8:12: But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
This shows Philip preached the kingdom of God, supporting its identification with the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Acts 8:35: Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, but the transcript notes he did not preach Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
According to Les Feldick, they are not the same. The Gospel of the Kingdom was the message of Jesus as the Messiah and King for Israel, while the Gospel of Grace is the message of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection revealed through Paul.
Les Feldick says Philip preached Christ as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, but he did not mention His death, burial, and resurrection, which is the core of the Gospel of Grace. Instead, Philip was continuing the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Les Feldick teaches that the Gospel of Grace came from the Apostle Paul after Israel rejected the Gospel of the Kingdom and the King. It was revealed through the mysteries and is primarily to the Gentiles.
Les Feldick says the 144,000 young Jews will go around the globe with the Gospel of the Kingdom, telling the world that the King is coming.
Watch the Teaching: What Did the Ethiopian Eunuch Actually Believe? Acts 8