The Gospel of Grace
An error that is often made when referring to the grace of God in the New Testament, is that this is somehow different than the main theme of Jesus’ preaching about the Kingdom of God (KOG). Some have even speculated that perhaps Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God, while the apostle Paul preached about the grace of God…indicating two separate gospels. However, a closer examination of how Paul uses the word grace in his writings will clear up this misconception.
It’s foundationally important to realize that the English word “grace” has been translated in the New Testament from the Greek word “charis”. When referring to God it carries the meaning of “kindness” or “favor”. The same is true in Hebrew of the Old Testament. The word “khane” conveys the same meaning of favor, and acceptance. Thus we speak of the grace of God as His kindness, favor, and even acceptance.
As recorded in Mark, chapter 1, Jesus came preaching the gospel of God, which he called the Kingdom of God, calling upon men to repent and believe in it (vs. 14-15). Later, when preaching in Capernaum, he said “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose (Luke 4:43).” Yes, Jesus was crucified for our sins and raised from the dead after three days in the grave, but his primary purpose in life was to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom of God. We will see in a moment how Jesus revealed to Paul the link between the crucifixion and this KOG message.
The words of Jesus in Mathew 19: 23-25, and 28-29 are instructive for us because they link together some important ideas which are later used by Paul in his expression of God’s grace. “And Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, ‘Then who can be saved?”…And Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the son of man will sit on his glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel…and will inherit eternal life.’” (NASB)
Notice several things in these verses. First, the phrases, “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” are interchangeable. There is no difference in the meaning. Second, the KOG is connected to being “saved” (often referred to as “salvation”), which is also the same as “inheriting eternal life”. And finally, this salvation and eternal life is inherited when Jesus returns at the end of this current age. Also in Matthew 25:31-34 Jesus pointedly refers to this as the time “when the son of man comes in his glory” and at that time dispenses the Kingdom inheritance to those who have followed him.
Now, enter the apostle Paul. Paul preached constantly about the Kingdom of God (see Acts 14:22, 19:8, 20:25, 28:23, 31). This is not surprising at all since he received the gospel revelation from Jesus directly (Gal. 1:11-12). It is of pivotal importance in our understanding of Paul’s use of the word “grace” in his gospel message, to take note of what he said in Acts 20:24-25 and 32 (NASB): “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face…and now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” It is impossible not to recognize that the gospel of the Kingdom of God and the gospel of the grace of God are referring to the same message, linked to our future inheritance. Now, the all-important question to answer: why was Paul able to use the term the “gospel of the grace of God” when referring to the gospel of the Kingdom? What understanding did he possess which motivated him to refer to the KOG this way? We refer to two statements from Paul which will sum up his thinking on this. I will quote them together so that we get the full impact of this revelation.
“For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise, but God in His grace gave (charizomai) it to Abraham through a promise (Gal. 3:18, NIV)…for the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise nullified; for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation. For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” (Rom. 4:13-16, NASB).
The Kingdom of God is the inheritance…the salvation that comes to all by the grace of God which we have through Christ. The KOG Gospel is exactly the same as the gospel of the grace of God. The gospel of the grace of God is not a different gospel, nor in any way disconnected from the KOG gospel. Rather, it is a clarification of how the KOG salvation comes to us. Through Paul’s teaching which was given to him by Jesus directly, we now see that the coming Kingdom inheritance is given to us by the grace, i.e., kindness and favor of God, as it was to Abraham (he as well as us, stand in this grace by faith, Rom. 5:2). Both the Jews and Gentiles will receive the KOG inheritance/salvation through Christ. That is also how Paul sees the meaning of the crucifixion.
Please take note of Ephesians 2:4-17, and Colossians 2:11-17 in this regard. At the cross Jesus nailed to the cross that which stood between us and God, and between Jews and Gentiles; that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that now the gospel of peace (same as KOG gospel, see Isa. 52:7-10) would apply to us all. By grace the Gentiles are now partakers of the covenants of promise made previously to Israel through their father, Abraham. And in fact, this is also the way the believing Jews now receive the inheritance/salvation as well (see Acts 15, esp. 9-11).
Paul summed it up quite well in Titus 2:11-14: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God, and savior Christ Jesus, who gave himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good deeds” (NASB).
That’s the big picture for Paul. The gospel of the grace of God is simply yet profoundly, a revealed and heightened understanding of how the Kingdom of God is received as the inheritance of those who believe and obey Jesus. There are not two gospels, there is only one…the one that Jesus was sent to proclaim…the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, and how we inherit it.
