The Foundation of the Gospels

There is plenty of division among us when it comes to dealing with the gospels. Some people teach there is only one gospel, some teach there are more than one.

Brethren that rightly divide the word of truth, realize that Peter and Paul taught different things. But yet a lot of the things they taught were very much in common, thus this is where the division comes in.

People that believe that Peter and Paul taught the same thing take the things that Peter and Paul said that were in common and put emphasis on these things.

People that believe that Peter and Paul taught completely different things take the things that Peter and Paul said that were different and put emphasis on these things.

But the truth of the matter is that Peter and Paul taught many things that were common and many things that were different, so this study is just about that, discussing the things they had in common and the things that they differed on and rightly dividing between it all.

After I sent out the article, ”Being a Berean”, I received many comments on several things. One of these was about who received the understanding of Christ dying for sins first, was it the apostles or was it Paul.

I received comments both ways, some said they believe it was Paul and some believe it was the apostles. So in teaching on the gospels, let’s cover this subject first. But before we do that, let’s make a short list of the things that Peter and Paul’s gospels had in common and a list of things they differed on.

Things in Common between the Gospels

1. Christ died for sins, was buried and rose again.
2. All believers are in Christ.
3. All believers are in the house of God.
4. All in Christ will be gathered together at the dispensation of the fullness of times.
5. Charity

Things that Differ between the Gospels

1. Timing of permanent forgiveness of sins.
2. Timing of when grace is received.
3. Timing of the resurrection.
4. Eternal security/Enduring unto the end
5. Works/No Works
6. Salvation of the ungodly.

These lists are by no means complete, but it should be enough to make a good comparison.

So let’s start with the things that the gospels had in common beginning with who was the first to receive that Christ had died for sins. Both Peter and the apostles taught it as well as the apostle Paul.

Things in Common between the Gospels

1. Christ died for sins.

First of all, in my early years, I was taught that Paul received it first and that the apostles got it later. I am quite familiar with this teaching having taught it myself for about 25 years, so let’s cover the basics of this teaching. For most of you, you already know the drill, and this will be kind of redundant, but please bear with me, others may not know the teaching.

The teaching that Paul got it first:

Before the cross, we know for a fact that Peter and the apostles did not know that Christ was going to die, much less die and pay for sins. In Matthew 16 it says,

“21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

Question: Did Peter believe that Jesus was going to die?

NO WAY! Much less die and pay for sins.

In Luke 9 it says,

“1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.”

Question: Were the apostles preaching a gospel? Yes.

What gospel were they preaching? The gospel of the kingdom. Did it have anything to do with Christ dying for sins? NO. In Luke 18 it says,

“31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.”

Question: Did the apostles know that Christ was going to die? No. But were they preaching a gospel? Yes. What was this gospel? The gospel of the kingdom.

So preaching the gospel of the kingdom had nothing to do with Christ dying for sins. Not yet anyway.

Now after the cross as we get into the book of Acts you will never find where Peter taught that Christ died and paid for sins, but rather that he was the son of God, that he died, was buried and that he rose again from the dead on the third day, but not once that he died for sins.

After Paul gets saved he writes the first letter to the Corinthians and says in chapter 2,

“6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

Paul tells us that Christ dying for sins was a mystery. If Satan and his angels would have known that Christ was going to die for sins they would not have killed him.

In chapter 15 he says,

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

So here we see that Paul is telling us what the gospel is, which is that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. This was a mystery.

In Galatians 2, Paul records the meeting with Peter and the other apostles that they had in Acts 15. This is where Paul taught them his gospel. In Galatians 2 it says,

“1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

9 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.”

So here is where Peter and the apostles learned that Christ died and paid for sins. After this, Peter and the apostles knew this and taught this in their epistles.

So this is the quick, basic and to the point version of Paul receiving that Christ died for sins first. It seems to be a very solid teaching, if it wasn’t very solid I would not have taught it for 25 years.

It all seems very solid and good – if you don’t ask any questions. But what we are going to do is ask questions, be Bereans and test this teaching to see if it is true or not. In my early years I did not test this teaching to see if it was true or not, but after finally testing it, I came to a different conclusion.

The teaching of the apostles getting it first:

As mentioned before, if you don’t ask any questions with the teaching that Paul received it first, the teaching seems pretty solid. But when you start asking questions, it seems to throw a rock in the gears.

Many people teach that Christ dying and paying for sins IS the gospel of the grace of God. Some people even teach that Peter and the apostles never taught that Christ died for sins. So let’s test this real quick, in 1st Peter 2 it says,

“21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

“24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

And in chapter 3 Peter said,

“18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

Question: Did Peter teach that Christ died for sins? That’s a big YES.

In 1st John 1 it says,

“7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

In chapter 2 John said,

“2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

In chapter 3 John said,

“5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

“16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

In chapter 4 John said,

“10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

In Revelation 1 John says,

“6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”

Question: Did John teach that Christ died and paid for sins? Yes.

So the teaching of the apostles not knowing or preaching that Christ died and paid for sins is not true. They did teach that Christ died and paid for sins.

Question: Since the apostles were teaching that Christ died and paid for sins were they teaching the gospel of the grace of God as the apostle Paul was?

Answer: NO. The apostles did not teach the same as the apostle Paul. They did not teach the gospel of the grace of God as Paul did. They taught the gospel of the circumcision which is quite different.

So the facts are clear, the apostles did teach that Christ died for sins. The question is: When did they learn this? Did they get it from Paul? Did they get it from Christ Jesus himself?

Now here is another question that throws a rock in the gears. If it takes knowing that Christ died for sins to get into the body of Christ, when the apostles learned that Christ died for sins and started teaching it, did it put them into the body of Christ?

This is really where we start to have division among believers. Our Acts 2 brethren teach that the new covenant church is the body of Christ, which is the one new man. And that Peter taught Christ died for sins from the very beginning.

Likewise our Acts 13 brethren teach that Paul did not know that Christ died for sins until Acts 13 so the body of Christ did not start until there.

Division, division and more division. This causes confusion and division in the body of Christ.

Now here is a fact that nobody ever mentions. Sure, there is no record of Peter teaching in the book of Acts that Christ died for sins, but the amazing thing is there is no record of Paul teaching in the book of Acts that Christ died for sins either.

Luke does not record anywhere in the book of Acts that Peter nor Paul preached that Christ died and paid for sins. It’s just not there. The Acts of the Apostles is an overview of what the apostles did and said. It is not the details of what they preached. If you want to know the details of what they preached you have to go into Peter’s epistles and Paul’s epistles.

The closest that Paul gets to teaching that Christ died for sins is in Acts 13 which says,

37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

This is about as close as it gets. The same goes for Peter, the closest he gets to teaching that Christ died for sins in the book of Acts is when he spake to Cornelius. In Acts 10 it says,

39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

So saying that in the book of Acts Peter never preached that Christ died for sins doesn’t really mean much because in the book of Acts Paul doesn’t preach it either. So you can’t go by the book of Acts and declare the details of what Peter or Paul preached. You have to go into their epistles to get this information, and from their epistles we see that they both preached that Christ died for sins.

But what happens here is that some people ASSUME that Paul had it and the apostles did not. You cannot get this information from the book of Acts, because it is simply not there.

Now as we read Paul’s first epistles you will not find in Galatians or in 1st or 2nd Thessalonians that Christ died and paid for sins. You will find passages such as “Who died for us…” but it doesn’t say anything about the payment for sins.

But when we get to first Corinthians 15, (which Paul wrote in about the Acts 19 timeframe), it is very clear that Paul is teaching that Christ died for sins.

It doesn’t mention in the book of Acts that Paul preached that Christ died for sins, nor does it mention it in Galatians or 1st or 2nd Thessalonians. It is not until Acts 19 that he writes 1st Corinthians does Paul mention plainly that Christ died for sins.

Question: So when did Paul start preaching that Christ died for sins?

In Galatians 1 it says,

“13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

24 And they glorified God in me.”

There are several things I would like to get from these passages. First of all in verse 23,

23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

Paul said he preached the faith which one he destroyed. In Acts 9 it says
,
“19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”

Now there is clearly no indication here that Paul was preaching that Christ had died and paid for sins, but rather that he was teaching the same thing as the apostles. This is where our Acts 13 brethren kick in, teaching that Paul did not have the gospel of the grace of God yet but was teaching the same thing as the apostles.

There is surely no indication that he taught anything different at this time.

Now the second thing I wanted to catch in Galatians 1 is this:

“17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.”

Now we know in Galatians 2 Paul records that he preached his gospel unto the apostles at the meeting in Jerusalem, which took place in Acts 15. But 14 years earlier he stayed with Peter for half a month.

Question: Why didn’t Paul tell Peter his gospel when he stayed with him for half a month 14 years earlier?

One simple answer. He did not have the gospel of the grace of God yet. Surely he would have told Peter when he stayed with him about Christ dying and paying for sins. Chalk up another one for our Acts 13 brethren.

But this causes another problem. If you have to believe that Christ died and paid for sins in order to be in the body of Christ, then Paul was not in the body of Christ when he got saved and neither was he leading people into the body of Christ right after he got saved.

BUT WHAT IF PETER AND PAUL WERE ALREADY PREACHING THAT CHRIST DIED AND PAID FOR SINS?

If they were, when Paul stayed with Peter for 15 days this would have been common knowledge between them.

Some people teach that Peter did not know that Christ died for sins until Paul told him in Acts 15. This is about 20 years after the cross.

Can you imagine that Peter did not have a clue that Christ died and paid for sins until 20 years after the cross? Can you imagine that Peter did not teach the blood of Christ until 20 years after the cross? The new covenant is based upon the blood of Christ.

But what if Peter already knew that Christ had died and paid for sins? This would also show that right after Paul’s conversion that he was preaching that Christ had died and paid for sins also.

After Jesus rose from the dead he met with the apostles, and in Luke 24 it says,

“44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:”

Now we already covered scripture that the apostles did not know that Christ was going to die, but this was before the cross. Now here we are after the cross, the payment for sins has been accomplished and there is no longer a need to keep it a secret anymore about Christ dying for sins.

Jesus sat the apostles down and explained to them why he had to suffer and be raised again the third day. He took them through the scriptures and opened up their eyes to the scriptures that they might understand. He opened up their understanding to the scriptures in Moses’ writings, the prophets and in the psalms of why he had to suffer and be raised again.

Peter records in his epistles why Christ had to suffer, in 1st Peter 2 it says,

“21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

“24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

And in chapter 3 Peter said,

“18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

Why did Peter say that Christ had to suffer? To die and pay for our sins.

Question: Where did Peter get this information? Did he get it from Christ after he rose from the dead or did he get it from Paul about 20 years after the cross?

In John 20 it says,

“8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.”

When Peter and John went to the sepulcher did they know the scripture that he must rise again from the dead? No.

In Acts 2 it says,

“25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”

Here in Acts 2, Peter quotes scripture from the Psalms about Christ being raised from the dead.

Question: Where did Peter get this information? He got it from Jesus Christ just like it says in Luke 24. He did not get this from the apostle Paul.

Question: Where did Peter get the information about why Christ had to suffer? He got it from Jesus Christ just like it says in Luke 24. He did not get this from the apostle Paul.

In Acts 8, Philip goes up to the Ethiopian eunuch. Starting in verse 26 it says,

“26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

Philip and the eunuch are reading out of Isaiah 53. Philip knows who the suffering servant is. Let’s do like Philip and start at the same scriptures and read about the suffering servant.

Isaiah 53

“7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

From verse 7 to verse 12 it is talking about the same person.

In verse 8 it says,

…for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

In verse 10 it says,

… when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,

In verse 11 it says,

…: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

In verse 12 it says,

…because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

Philip knew exactly who the suffering servant is. It was the Lord Jesus Christ.

If Philip knew who verse 7 and part of verse 8 was talking about, do you believe he knew who the rest was talking about? Sure he did. God did not change servants between the verses.

These are the main verses in the holy scriptures that tell us about Christ dying and paying for sins and Philip knew that they were referring to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Where did Philip get this information? Did he get it from the apostle Paul? Not hardly. He got it from the apostles, which in turn got it from the Lord Jesus Christ after he rose from the dead. Luke 24 tells us exactly when the apostles learned why Christ had to suffer and be raised again from the dead and he gave them scripture out of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms and he opened up their eyes to it.

In Acts 13 the apostle Paul quotes the same exact scripture that Peter does about Christ rising from the dead. In Acts 13 it says,

“35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”

Peter in Acts 2 and Paul in Acts 13 use the exact same scripture to show that Christ rose from the dead. Peter got his info directly from the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul got his info directly from the Lord Jesus Christ.

In 1st Corinthians 15 Paul says,

“1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I ALSO received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The apostle Paul said, “…that which I ALSO received”. So if Paul also received it, who else got it?
The apostles got it from the Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 24.

But some people say, “Christ dying for sins was a mystery. All the mysteries were given unto the apostle Paul.”

Are you sure about that?

In Matthew 13 Jesus told the apostles,

“11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

Not only was Christ dying for sins a mystery to the body of Christ, but it was also a mystery of the kingdom of heaven. It is also the basis for the new covenant that Peter and the apostles were teaching. Christ just could not reveal this until it was accomplished.

Once again,

“44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:”

So where did Christ show Peter where to get this information about why Christ had to suffer?

… which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Now let’s go to Acts. In chapter 26 Paul said,

“22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.”

Where did Paul get this information about why Christ had to suffer?

… saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead,

Both Peter and Paul got their information about why Christ had to suffer from Moses and the prophets and why he rose from the dead from the Psalms.

Christ showed Peter in Luke 24 and he showed Paul right after his conversion. Paul said that Christ dying for sins was the first thing he received,

"3 For I delivered unto you FIRST of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures"

Christ dying for sins was one of the very first things that Paul received from the Lord Jesus Christ.

So when Paul stayed with Peter for 15 days, Paul did not have anything new to tell Peter. They were both already teaching that Christ died for sins. They both already had this information.

But as Paul received further revelation he added to his teaching the gospel of the Grace of God, which includes Christ dying for sins, just as Peter’s gospel of the circumcision includes Christ dying and paying for sin.

Peter preached Jesus Christ according to the prophecies of the kingdom.

Paul preached Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery.

These are not the same, but they do have the same foundation which is that Christ died and paid for sins, which was taught by Peter and Paul and this fact is included in Peter’s gospel and also included in Paul’s gospel. This fact is common between the two gospels. This why many of our brethren say that Peter and Paul preached the same gospel.

Let’s look at this chart.

This chart show the common denominator between the two gospels, which is the same foundation – Christ died for sins. But there are many differences between the two gospels.

As mentioned earlier, many people believe that Christ dying for sins IS the gospel of the grace of God.

Question: Did Peter teach that Christ died for sins. Yes
.
Question: Did Peter teach the gospel of the grace of God. NO.

Question: After the rapture, will it be taught that Christ died for sins? Yes.

Question: After the rapture, will the gospel of the grace of God be in effect? NO.

So Christ dying for sins is not the gospel of the grace of God, but the gospel of the grace of God contains Christ dying and paying for sins.

The gospel of the circumcision also contains Christ dying for sins and this will be taught throughout the tribulation period. The new covenant has to do with Christ dying and paying for sins.

In fact, that Christ died and paid for sins will be taught forevermore. There will be no end to this teaching, even when the dispensation of grace is over. So Christ dying and paying for sins not only pertains to the gospel of the grace of God (the gospel of the uncircumcision), but also it pertains to the gospel of the circumcision.

Here is another interesting fact that throws a rock in the gears for a lot of dispensational teaching. In 1st Corinthians 12 it says,

“27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

Paul told the Corinthians that they were in the body of Christ. In 1st Corinthians 15 Paul says,

“1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

11 THEREFORE WHETHER IT WERE I OR THEY, SO WE PREACH, AND SO YE BELIEVED.”

Paul told the Corinthians that they were in the body of Christ and Paul also acknowledges here that Peter and the apostles knew and taught the gospel that Christ died for sins and he told the Corinthians that it did not matter whether it was himself or the apostles that preached it to them as long as they believed.

These scriptures are highly contrary to many grace teachers’ teachings. It is a very popular teaching that if Peter led you to the Lord you go into the new covenant church and if Paul led you to the Lord you go into the body of Christ. I even taught it myself for a couple of years.

Paul said it didn’t matter.

11 THEREFORE WHETHER IT WERE I OR THEY, SO WE PREACH, AND SO YE BELIEVED.”

Get over it and believe the scriptures. These scriptures rip that teaching apart. You have to either believe the teaching or believe what Paul said in these scriptures. You can’t do both for they are contrary to one another.

In 1st Timothy 2 it says,

“7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.”

If you are going to teach that the apostle Paul is the apostle, a preacher and a teacher of the Gentiles, I highly recommend that you believe what he says.

I know that Peter did not teach the gospel of the grace of God, but Peter preached that Christ died for sins, was buried and rose again just as Paul said he did. Paul said in Romans 10,

“9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Paul told the Philippian jailor,

“31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

Salvation comes from, through and by the Lord Jesus Christ. The person that leads you to him has nothing to do with it. Salvation does not come from the gospels. The gospels testify of the Lord Jesus Christ. The gospels are the tools God uses to lead you to Christ.

Salvation comes from Jesus. Period. He puts you where he has made a place for you, in this case, for the uncircumcised Gentiles it is the one new man (the body of Christ) just as Paul said. Who leads you to Christ is insignificant.

11 THEREFORE WHETHER IT WERE I OR THEY, SO WE PREACH, AND SO YE BELIEVED.”

You do not need to know the difference between Peter and Paul’s gospels in order to get saved, but you do have to have a Saviour. When I trusted Christ as my Saviour I did not know beans about the bible, but I did know that Christ died for my sins and I called upon him and asked him to save me, and that is all it took.

Everything else in the bible is for my edification, not my salvation. In Isaiah 53 it says,

“11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”

It is not by our knowledge that we are justified, we are justified by the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s what he knows that justifies us, not what we know.

Our salvation is not based upon what we know, it is based upon who we trust. In 2nd Corinthians 11 it says,

“3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Getting saved is simple, let’s keep it that way. You do not need to know everything about the gospel of the grace of God in order to be saved. I didn’t. But you do need to know who to trust for your salvation.


2. All believers are “in Christ”

Both Peter’s gospel and Paul’s gospel teach that the believers of the Lord Jesus Christ are “in Christ”. In Romans 16, Paul says,

“7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.”

So even before Paul and the One New Man, the Jews that believed on the Lord Jesus Christ that were in the new covenant church were also, “In Christ”.


3. All believers are in the House of God

In 1st Timothy 3, Paul told Timothy,

“15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Timothy was in the house of God. This would also put the apostle Paul in the house of God. Please notice that Paul says that the house of God is also the church of the living God, so the house of God is the church.

Paul also said in Ephesians 2,

“19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”

So the apostle Paul acknowledges that the uncircumcised Gentiles are no more strangers but are also partakers of the household of God, which is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, therefore also acknowledging that the apostles and prophets were also in the house of God.

These prophets were the prophets that were alive at this time, not the prophets of time past for the apostle Paul said in chapter 3,

“1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 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;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”

So the mystery was made known unto the holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, therefore showing us that these were prophets that were alive at the time.

In Hebrews 3 it says,

“6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”

The author of Hebrews told the Jews that they were the house of God if they held fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

In Hebrews 10 it says,

“21 And having an high priest over the house of God;”

So once again the author of Hebrews tells these Jews that they were in the house of God.

In 1st Peter 4 it says,

“17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

So Peter acknowledges that he and the Jews that he is talking to are also in the house of God.

So both the new covenant church with Peter and the one new man with Paul are both in the house of God, which is the church of the living God as declared by the apostle Paul.

4. All in Christ will be gathered together at the dispensation of the fullness of times.

Many people teach that the new covenant church and the one new man will stay separated for all eternity. This is not so, for the Lord will gather all things in Christ at the dispensation of the fullness of times. In Ephesians 1 it says,

“10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:”

Paul clearly tells us here that all things in Christ will be gathered together in one. The things in Christ in heaven, (the one new man after the rapture) and the things in Christ that be on earth, (the new covenant church).

They will not stay separated for all eternity but rather will be gathered together in one. In 2nd Peter chapter 3 Peter said,

“15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;”

Peter called Paul his beloved brother. Can you imagine Peter and Paul being separated for all eternity?

5. Charity

Both Peter and Paul taught to have charity among your brethren. This is common among both gospels.

The apostle Paul taught more about love and charity than anyone else in the whole bible. Sadly, in today’s grace movement I have seen preachers get caught up in knowledge, thinking that knowledge is the way to edify people, but the apostle Paul says something quite different. In 1st Corinthians 8 it says,

“1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.”

2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.”

How do you edify brethren? Does knowledge edify or does charity edify? All knowledge does is puffs us up, and when we get puffed up, we have strife and division among ourselves, and when we are like this, it means we are carnal. In 1st Corinthians 3 it says,

“3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

As long as we have envying and strife and divisions among ourselves we are still carnal.

Carnal.

That is what Paul said. I don’t care how much scripture you know, how long you have been preaching, how many people are in your congregation or how old you are or how long you have been saved, if you have envy, strife and division you are still carnal.

This is why working out our division problems is so important. Having division is carnal. But the problem here is that preachers blame each other for the division problems.

One preacher says, “ He just won’t see things my way, so he is causing the division, not me.” And the other preacher says the exact same thing.

If they are not willing to discuss the division problem and work it out they are both causing the division, and they are both carnal, just as Paul said.

Not discussing our division problems keeps the division going. Can’t you see this? These issues have to be discussed in order to get the division problem resolved. Leaving them alone is not going to fix them.

This is where charity comes in. There are preachers out there that treat their brethren like reprobates and outcasts and call them enemies for the simple reason they just disagree on scripture. This is total nonsense and these preachers will face this at the judgment seat of Christ.

God takes vengeance on you for defrauding your brethren. It doesn’t matter who you are. In 1st Thessalonians 4 it says,

“6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.”

God can cause you to become ill, let you have an accident, take a loved one away from you or even take your own life if you defraud your brethren. You name it and God can do it to take vengeance. That is something that I do not want to get involved in.

God will get his vengeance. Be very careful how you treat your brethren.

Even if a brother is walking disorderly you should never treat him as an enemy much less call him an enemy to his face. In 2nd Thessalonians 3 it says,

“6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

So even if a brother is walking disorderly you should not treat him as an enemy but rather admonish him as a brother.

Just because a brother disagrees with you over scripture gives you no right to treat him badly. God will take vengeance on you. Remember that.

But charity works exactly opposite of this. Charity is very patient and longsuffering. In 1st Corinthians 13 it says,

“4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

This is what charity does.

In 2nd Timothy 2 it says,

“22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

Not only are we to be patient unto our brethren but also unto all men. But this is not the case that I have seen with all brethren. There are grace teachers out there that will not give you the time of day if you do not agree with them. Sad.

Over the years I have tried many times to talk to many different grace preachers about the word of God, but when you show them scripture that goes against what they teach then they do not want to have anything to do with you. Amazing. God tells us to be patient with all men and they refuse to do so.

Even if you ask them to go over the scriptures with you they refuse, and they are preachers! What kind of a preacher has someone ask them to go over the scriptures with them and they refuse to do so? What are they in the ministry for? What are their goals? What are their objectives? Why do they refuse to go over scripture with someone when that someone does the job of a Berean and test their teachings and they try to share with them the flaws they found in the teaching and they refuse to go over the scriptures and cover the flaws with them? What are these preachers trying to accomplish?

This is not charity. This is being puffed up just like Paul said,

Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.”

Jesus also gave this instruction to the church, In John 15 it says,

“12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.”

I have heard a grace preacher teach from the pulpit, “I don’t need to love you, I just need to preach the gospel.”

My jaw dropped to the ground when I heard him say this. Sadly to say, he will face this at the judgment seat of Christ. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will tell him that he did need to love his brethren.

In 1st John 3 it says,

“16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

Question: If a brother is not willing to go over scriptures with you, do you think he is willing to die for you? I seriously doubt it.

In chapter 4 he said,

“11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

Charity is patient and longsuffering. Paul, Peter and the apostles both taught us to have charity among all men, especially our brethren. In 1st Peter chapter 4 it says,

“8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

Peter gave a lot of instructions to the church, but he says, “And above all things…” In other words, this was the top instruction that he gave unto the brethren, “…have fervent charity among yourselves…”

As Peter, Paul instructed the same exact thing in his gospel. In Colossians 3 it says,

“12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”

Paul said, “And above all these things put on charity…”

This was the Lord’s instruction to the one new man as well as the new covenant church. This was part of the gospel of the uncircumcision as well as the gospel of the circumcision.

Being puffed up is nothing but pride. The Lord hates pride. It is number one on his hate list. In Proverbs 6 it says,

“16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,”

The Lord hates pride but he loves charity.

Get rid of the pride and let charity run your life. When you stand before the judgment seat of Christ, you will be glad you did, instead of hanging on to your pride.

So this is a few of the things that Peter and Paul’s gospels had in common. This is why many people teach that Peter and Paul taught the same thing. They avoid all the scripture that shows that they also taught different things.

But on the other hand, I have seen people that teach that Peter and Paul taught separate things and avoid all the scriptures that show the things they taught in common.

This is where our division comes in.

What we need to do is take all the things they taught that were in common but also take the things they taught that differed and rightly divide it all. If we do this, we will come to a conclusion that is closer to the truth rather than taking one side or the other and avoiding scriptures to do so.

If you intentionally avoid scriptures when you teach because it does not match your teaching, you will never come to a full understanding of the holy scriptures. Why? Because you are avoiding many of them. You will never come to an understanding of these scriptures if you continue to avoid them.

Things that Differ between the Gospels

1. Timing of permanent forgiveness of sins.

Peter and the apostles preached the remission of sins. Remission is temporary. Peter taught that they would received the full blotting out of their sins when the Lord comes back which is the new covenant. In Jeremiah 31 it says,

“31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Now the main thing about this new covenant is that the Lord will forgive their iniquity and remember their sins no more. This is the new covenant and the permanent forgiveness of Israel’s sin which takes place at the second coming of Christ.

In Luke 21 it says,

“27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

The Lord Jesus told Israel that they would get their redemption when he returns.

In Acts 3 it says,

“19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”

So here in Acts Peter is teaching the same thing that their sins would be blotted out when the Lord comes back.

In Hebrews 9 it says,

“28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

So the author of Hebrews also tells us that they would receive their salvation when the Lord comes back.

In 1st Peter 1 it says,

“3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Once again Peter teaches that they would receive their salvation in the last time.

Paul also backs this teaching up in Romans 11, which says,

“26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”

So even the apostle Paul confirms this teaching that Israel will have their sins taken away (permanent forgiveness) when the Lord comes back. This is their new covenant promised to them and prophesied by Jeremiah.

But in the one new man, (the body of Christ), The apostle Paul teaches that we have redemption of our souls now. We have forgiveness of our sins now. In Ephesians 1 he says,

“7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

In Colossians 1 he says,

“14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

In chapter 2 he says,

“13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”

So the apostle Paul teaches that we already have redemption of our souls and permanent forgiveness of our sins already. This is not the same as Peter taught.


2. Timing of when grace is received.

Peter taught that they would receive their grace when the Lord comes back. In 1st Peter 1 it says,

“13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

This goes along with Israel’s new covenant that they will receive at the second coming of Christ.

But Paul taught that we have our grace now. In Romans 6 it says,

“14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

The grace of God is bestowed upon the one new man right now. This is how God can give us permanent forgiveness of sins right now and seal us unto the day of redemption.


3. Timing of the resurrection.

Jesus told the church that they would not be resurrected until the last day. In John 6 it says,

“39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

In chapter 11 it says,

“25 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

So this was common knowledge of the Jews that they would be resurrected at the last day, which is the second coming of Christ. This resurrection was prophesied by Ezekiel, Daniel and others.

But Paul taught a resurrection that was a mystery. In 1st Corinthians 15 it says,

“51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Paul taught of a resurrection where our bodies would be changed so they could enter into heaven. He calls this the redemption of our bodies, which he calls the adoption. In Romans 8 he says,

“23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

To most Christians the adoption is commonly known as “the Rapture”. In fact, if you mentioned the word “adoption” to most Christians they will have no idea what you are talking about, but if you say, “rapture” they know what you are talking about.

Also notice in verse 23 that we have the firstfruits of the spirit. Back in 1st Corinthians 15 it says,

“20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.”

Paul gives us an indication here of two different resurrections:

Christ the firstfruits.
Afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Many people teach that “Christ the firstfruits” was the actual resurrection of the Lord himself and we (the one new man) will be resurrected at the second coming of Christ.

The adoption of the one new man takes place at the end of the dispensation of grace. This is when Daniel’s 70th week will resume which is commonly known as the tribulation period. The new covenant church will be resurrected after the 70th week is over just as the Lord said in John chapter 6.

This is not a full teaching on the resurrections but rather just a few scriptures to show a difference between what Paul taught and what Peter taught just to show they were not the same.


4. Eternal security/Enduring unto the end

The Lord told the church that they would have to endure unto the end in order to be saved. In Matthew 24 it says,

“13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Peter and the apostles also taught that you had to endure unto the end or you would not be saved.
In Hebrews 3 it says,

“6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”

In Hebrews 6 it says,

“4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

And for those of you that believe Paul wrote the book of Hebrews, let’s check out chapter 10,

“26 For if WE sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he WAS sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

Please notice that the author of Hebrews includes himself in these passages of scripture when he uses the word “WE”. The author of Hebrews could lose his salvation, but the apostle Paul was sealed unto the day of redemption.

God left the book of Hebrews without an author and that is the way we should leave it. Telling people that Paul wrote Hebrews causes confusion in the body of Christ. You don’t want to do this, leave it as God left it or you will face it at the judgment seat of Christ.In 2nd Corinthians 5 it says,

“10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

This includes the things we teach. The correct title of the book of Hebrews is, “To The Hebrews”. It is not, “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews” as some bibles have it.

Teaching that Paul could lose his salvation is very contrary to the teachings of the apostle Paul. Be careful of what you say.

Let’s continue:

In 2nd Peter chapter 2 it says,

“20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

In 1st John 2 it says,

“24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.”

In Revelation, John writes to the Jewish churches and says,

Chapter 2

“11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”

Chapter 3

“5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

So Peter and the apostles taught, as they were told by the Lord Jesus Christ, that they had to endure unto the end to be saved.

But for the one new man the apostle Paul taught something quite different. In Ephesians 1 it says,

“13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

In chapter 4 Paul said,

“30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

Paul teaches that we are sealed unto the day of redemption, which is the redemption of our bodies, the adoption, the rapture.

In 2nd Timothy 2 he says,

“11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”

In Romans 8 Paul says,

“35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Paul teaches that we are sealed unto the day of redemption. There is absolutely, positively, nothing that will separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So Peter’s gospel teaches that you have to endure unto the end to be saved and Paul’s gospel teaches that you are sealed unto the day of redemption.


5. Works/No Works

Peter’s gospel teaches that works are involved for salvation. In James 2 it says,

“14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

But the apostle Paul taught differently, that your works were not involved in your salvation. In Ephesians 2 it says,

“8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

In Titus 3 he says,

“4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

So Peter and the apostles were teaching differently than the apostle Paul.


6. Salvation of the ungodly.

Peter taught that God was not saving the ungodly. In first Peter 4 he said,

“18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

Peter taught this because he also taught that their works were involved and they had to endure unto the end, so the ungodly did not qualify.

But Paul said in Romans 5,

“6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

And in chapter 4 he says,

“5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

In this verse Paul tells us that God is justifying the ungodly and that their works are not involved.

So once again, Peter and Paul taught different things.

There are many more things that we could compare between Peter’s gospel and Paul’s gospel, but the point I wanted to get across is that their gospels were not completely the same but they were not completely different either.

This is why some people teach that they taught exactly the same thing while others teach that they taught completely different things. Neither is true. They had things in common and things that were different.

Peter and Paul’s gospels have many things in common but yet they have many things that are different, and you have to take this into consideration when you are rightly dividing the word of truth.

If we continue to avoid scriptures to make our teachings stick, then we (teachers in the body of Christ), will never come to any type of agreement. When we take all these things into consideration then there might be a possibility that maybe one day we might come to eventually speak the same thing and be of the same mind and same judgment as the Lord beseeches us to do in 1st Corinthians 1:10 which says,

“10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”