The gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of the grace of God are not the same — the first proclaimed Israel's King and coming kingdom, while the second proclaims Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Jesus went through the cities and villages of Israel preaching 'the gospel of the kingdom' in their synagogues, healing every sickness and disease. That message told Israel that the King was in their midst and ready to fulfill the Old Testament promises. After Israel rejected and crucified the King, God turned to the apostle Paul, who revealed the gospel of the grace of God: 'Christ died for our sins... he was buried, and... he rose again the third day' (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Matthew 4:23 — The Bible specifically names Jesus' message as 'the gospel of the kingdom' while He taught in Jewish synagogues.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 — Paul defines the gospel of grace as the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ — the message he calls 'my gospel.'
The Bible records that Jesus began preaching, 'Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand' (Matthew 4:17) — the same message John the Baptist had begun. Matthew 4:23 says: '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 9:35 repeats the description: '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.' A different gospel message is defined in 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.'
Les Feldick stresses that these are two distinct 'good news' messages — as different as night and day (Clip 1). During Christ's earthly ministry, the gospel of the kingdom announced to Israel that her King was present and ready to set up the kingdom promised in the Old Testament covenants (Clips 0, 2). It was a message for Jews only, and it did not include the finished work of the cross, the death, burial, and resurrection — those are not mentioned for salvation in that message (Clips 2, 5). After Israel rejected the King and the kingdom and crucified Jesus, God turned to Saul of Tarsus and revealed through him the gospel of the grace of God (Clips 1, 2). Paul's gospel, the gospel of grace, is the message that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (Clips 1, 6). It is the same God, but He changed His message under the revelation of the mysteries (Clip 1). The grace gospel primarily goes to the Gentiles and calls out the Body of Christ, a term Jesus and the Twelve never used (Clips 2, 4). Les also notes that the same words can appear in both messages, but under totally different circumstances — one under the kingdom economy, the other under grace (Clip 7). Even in the future tribulation, after the age of grace ends, 144,000 Jewish witnesses will again proclaim the gospel of the kingdom, telling the world that the King is coming (Clip 3).
Jesus picked up the same message John the Baptist began: 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand' (Matthew 4:17). He went about all the cities and villages of Israel, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, healing every sickness and every disease (Matthew 9:35). Les explains that this was good news that Christ was in Israel's midst as the King, 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. The gospel of the kingdom did not present Christ's death, burial, and resurrection as the basis of salvation — that was not yet revealed.
Paul calls it 'my gospel,' the gospel of grace, the gospel of God, the gospel of Christ — all titles for the three-pronged fact that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (Clip 6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Les says God revealed this message through the apostle Paul after Israel rejected the King and the kingdom. It is a message of grace with nothing of law or legalism associated with it, and it is primarily, not exclusively, to the Gentiles. Through it God is calling out the Body of Christ, not a covenant people such as Israel.
Les says there is a vast difference between the two, and when a person understands it, the Bible loses a lot of confusion. The age of grace is not the same as the kingdom economy. Even after Pentecost, before the grace message was revealed, Philip continued preaching the kingdom gospel with no mention of salvation by the finished work of the cross. Paul Van Gorder's point, which Les highlights, is that the gospel proclaimed during Christ's earthly ministry and by the Twelve was the gospel of the kingdom, and the gospel of grace came from the apostle Paul.
Jesus Preached the Gospel of the Kingdom
Les shows that Jesus went through the cities and villages of Israel teaching in synagogues and preaching 'the gospel of the kingdom,' paired with healing every sickness and disease.
Paul's Gospel Defined
Les contrasts the kingdom gospel with the gospel of grace revealed through Paul: Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again — as different as night and day.
The Kingdom Message and the Turn to Grace
Les explains that the kingdom gospel announced Christ as King for Israel only, and after Israel rejected Him, God turned to Paul to proclaim the gospel of grace primarily to Gentiles.
Kingdom Gospel in the Tribulation
Les shows that the 144,000 will again proclaim the gospel of the kingdom — that the King is coming — confirming it is a distinct message from the grace message.
Body of Christ Not Revealed in Kingdom Message
Les notes that the Body of Christ, revealed through the grace gospel, was never mentioned by Jesus or the Twelve.
Kingdom Gospel Continued Before Grace Was Revealed
Les points out that Philip preached the kingdom gospel with no mention of the cross or resurrection for salvation, because the gospel of grace had not yet been revealed.
1 Corinthians 15: Death, Burial, Resurrection
Les identifies Paul's gospel as the gospel of grace, centered on Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day — the only plan of salvation.
Same Words, Different Circumstances
Les cautions that the same wording can appear under two totally different economies — the kingdom economy and the age of grace.
Matthew 4:17: From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
This was the message with which Jesus began His earthly ministry, the same message John the Baptist preached.
Matthew 4:23: 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 explicitly names Jesus' message as 'the gospel of the kingdom' while He taught in Jewish synagogues.
Matthew 9:35: 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.
Again Matthew calls it 'the gospel of the kingdom' and pairs it with healing every sickness and every disease.
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 as Christ's death, burial, and resurrection — the gospel of grace.
The gospel of the kingdom announced to Israel that Jesus was the promised King who was ready to set up the kingdom. The gospel of grace, revealed through Paul, proclaims that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. Les says these are two distinct good news messages, as different as night and day.
Jesus preached it throughout the cities and villages of Israel, teaching in the synagogues. It was also preached by the Twelve, and Les notes that Philip continued it even after Pentecost because the grace message had not yet been revealed. In the future tribulation, the 144,000 Jewish witnesses will preach it again.
No. Les points out that there is no mention of salvation by the finished work of the cross, and no mention of His death, burial, and resurrection for salvation in the gospel of the kingdom. It emphasized that the One they had crucified was indeed the Christ.
It came from the apostle Paul. After Israel rejected and crucified the King, God turned to Saul of Tarsus and revealed the gospel of grace through him. Paul calls it 'my gospel' and defines it in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
Watch the Teaching: Gospel of the Kingdom vs. Grace: What Most People Miss