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Paul’s Gospel

The Gospel of Grace

Paul’s epistles contain the complete revelation of the mystery for this present time. However, they cannot merely be read as an academic exercise like you would read any other book. The entirety of the hidden wisdom of God in a mystery cannot be understood by the natural man or natural mind.

(1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The natural man lacks the Spirit of God to provide understanding or spiritual discernment. So before proceeding further into the revelation of the mystery, let’s examine what part of the mystery you will be able to understand and believe. It is the gospel of Christ, the gospel of the grace revealed to the Apostle Paul.

(Romans 1:16 KJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;

The gospel of Christ revealed to Paul “is the power of God unto salvation.” It was given so the natural man can believe or have faith in it and be saved. It is the gospel of salvation. Our belief or faith needs to be “in the power of God,” not in the wisdom of men. The gospel reveals God’s power to save.

(1 Corinthians 2:4-5 KJV) 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Paul preached the cross as a central part of his gospel because to those that are saved, it is the power of God. The message of the cross and the work of Christ is about God’s power to save.

(1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

If you have not been saved by the power of God through the gospel that was revealed to Paul, you are still what Paul refers to as the natural man. What you need before proceeding in studying the complete revelation of the mystery is to receive the spirit which is of God.

(1 Corinthians 2:12 KJV) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

It is by the hearing of faith that a person receives the Spirit through salvation (Gal 3:2). Paul is very clear on how a person is saved, how a person receives salvation.

(Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV) 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.

First thing to understand is “for by grace are ye saved.” Grace is the unmerited favor of God, but it is more than that. It is unmerited favor that came at a price paid by Jesus Christ. In other words, it is something that he did for you.

Being saved is also “through faith.” Faith is believing and trusting what the word of God says. To believe what the word of God says, you must first hear it.

(Romans 10:17 KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

This is why the preaching of the gospel includes the cross of Christ. You need to know what Christ did for you. It is not optional. It is important. That is the word of God that brings forth faith in God’s power to save.

Earlier we spoke of receiving salvation. This is also important to understand. Salvation is something you receive from God. Paul said, “it is the gift of God.” Gifts are received, they are not earned or it’s not a gift. God gives salvation to you.

You don’t earn it, that would be works. It’s not based upon performance, that would be works. It’s not from religious rituals like water baptism, confessions, or repenting of sins; these are also works. Paul states plainly, “not of works, lest any man should boast.” God gives it as a free gift of salvation so no man can boast. It is received so there is no room for boasting.

(Romans 3:27 KJV) Where is boasting then? It is excluded…

The reason it is by grace through faith is because the natural man does not have the ability to change his condition. The natural man lacks the strength to change his standing before God. He cannot make himself righteous by what he does, not even by trying to obey God’s law.

(Romans 5:6 KJV) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Christ died for us because we were without strength and ungodly sinners. We were “yet sinners.” God is not waiting for us to attempt to clean ourselves up through self-improvement. We can’t improve to get saved. Self-improvement would be works. Religion offers systems, traditions, and steps for self-improvement, but none of those can change the sinner’s condition. It is like putting lipstick on a pig. No matter how nicely you dress it up, it is still a pig.

Salvation is not about self-improvement. It is about trusting in the power of God for salvation. Before we get saved, our standing before God is as sinners.

(Romans 5:8 KJV) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The message of the gospel says we are all sinners. This is at the core of the work of Christ on the cross, as Christ “died for our sins” is a central truth of Paul’s gospel.

(Romans 3:23 KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

As sinners, we could not save ourselves; we were without the strength to do so. The sinner comes up short. The scripture concluded all humanity under sin, so that the promise of eternal life might be given to them that believe.

(Romans 6:23 KJV) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The promise was of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

(Titus 1:2 KJV) In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

The only way for God to offer the gift of eternal life to all men was for the scripture to conclude that they are all guilty of sin and in need of a Savior.

(Galatians 3:22 KJV) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

“The promise by faith of Jesus Christ” is important. It is not by faith in Jesus Christ but the faith of Jesus Christ. If it were just faith in Jesus Christ, then he didn’t need to die as long as you believe in him. The faith of Jesus Christ was his faith to complete the sacrifice for sins by shedding his blood on the cross. Without the finished work of Christ, salvation cannot be offered even to those that believe in God.

What Paul preached about Jesus Christ in his gospel according to the revelation of the mystery had not been preached before. It had been kept secret.

(Romans 16:25 KJV) Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Paul was not the first to preach Jesus Christ but he was the first to preach him according to the revelation of the mystery. The revelation of the mystery include the faith of Christ that accomplished his work on the cross. Before Paul they weren’t preaching Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, but as the prophecied Messiah that would establish his kingdom on earth through Israel.

(Galatians 2:16 KJV) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Believing in Jesus under Paul’s gospel is not just believing that he is. It is believing what he did on the cross for us.

Remember the gospel of grace, or the gospel of Christ, is about what Christ did for us, not about what we do or promise to do. It’s not of works. It has to be received as a free gift.

Paul reveals that the law of God was not a means of salvation but so “that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” (Rom 3:19).

(Galatians 3:21 KJV) … for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Obeying God’s law cannot save anyone. A law couldn’t give life. It doesn’t have the power to do so. All it can do is prove guilt and provide condemnation. This is why self-improvement by trying to obey commandments cannot fix the problem.

This is why the message of the gospel of grace is that God does the saving and the sinner receives salvation as a gift. We don’t work for it. We can’t earn it. We can’t keep the law to merit it.

(Titus 2:11 KJV) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Let’s look at what Christ did for us because that is what the preaching of the cross is all about. It is also why to those that trust in their own works the message of the cross is an offence (Gal 5:11). It means your attempts at being good are not acceptable. The gospel leaves no room for self-improvement. What is the gospel that Paul preached that saves?

(1 Corinthians 15:1-2KJV) 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, …

The gospel of the grace of God or the gospel of Christ is the message of salvation provided for by the offering of Christ on the cross for our sins.

(1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV) 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:

It is a message not only that he died but how he died. He died as “an offering and sacrifice unto God” for us.

(Ephesians 5:2 KJV) And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

How he died for our sins is important. It is not enough to believe that Jesus died. People dying is common to man. Why is Christ’s death important? Why is it distinct from any other man’s dying? Because it was an offering and sacrifice to God for our sins. He died for our sins. His blood was shed for us. As an offering and sacrifice it had to be acceptable. It could not be the blood of a sinner. It had to be the blood of someone who had no sin of his own.

(2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

It is through the blood of his cross that God gives peace to those that believe the gospel.

(Colossians 1:20 KJV) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; …

The blood of his cross is the payment for sin; the price of redemption was the offering of the blood of Christ. The blood of Christ is about God forgiving the sins of the believer for all their sins.

(Ephesians 1:7 KJV) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

God’s forgiveness is not based upon our performance or confession. It is according to the riches of his grace. It is not something the believer has to keep asking God for; it is complete. Christ’s blood was fully sufficient. Nothing else can be or needs to be added. According to Paul, God has forgiven the believer of all trespasses or sins.

(Colossians 2:13 KJV) …having forgiven you all trespasses;

If the believer has to do something in addition to the finished work of Christ, then the work of Christ was not sufficient. It is not of works lest any man should boast.

The blood of his cross was necessary for a righteous and holy God to declare sinners, the unjust, as just. To make the unrighteousness righteous. To make the ungodly godly. The believer is justified by his blood.

(Romans 5:8-9 KJV) 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

The believer has no reason to fear that they will ever face the wrath of God, not because of their performance, but because of what Christ has done. They are now justified. This is God’s grace, what he has done for them.

(Romans 3:24 KJV) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Paul declares the justification provided by his blood is by grace and not by the deeds of the law. It is by faith because you are trusting what he did.

(Romans 3:28 KJV) …a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

The righteousness of Christ is the basis by which God can be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.

(Romans 3:25-26 KJV) 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Believing the gospel is trusting in what Christ did, not in your own self-effort. For those that believe, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. Those that believe are no longer trying to establish their own righteousness (Rom 10:3).

(Romans 10:4 KJV) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

The gospel Paul preached was not just about how Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, it was also about how “that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

(1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV) 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 bodily resurrection of Christ was a necessity. It is important. It proves “the exceeding greatness of God’s power” to us who believe.

(Ephesians 1:19-20 KJV) 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,

Without the bodily resurrection of Christ, the sinner would still be in their sins, and there would be no hope that when they die, they would be raised from the dead.

(1 Corinthians 15:17 KJV) And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

His resurrection is the proof God can justify those who believe on him.

(Romans 4:25 KJV) Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

His resurrection is the proof of the believers’ eternal life and resurrection from the grave.

(1 Corinthians 6:14 KJV) And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

The bodily resurrection is proof that the offering and sacrifice of Christ’s blood for our sins was accepted as the full payment for sins apart from any effort by the sinner. It is accepting that the finished work of Christ for the believer is peace with God, forgiveness of all sins, redemption through his blood, and the sinner being declared just.

When a person believes the gospel of grace, they believe that God “hath made us accepted in the beloved.” This is for the “praise of the glory of his grace.” God does not accept self-effort; it would mean that Christ’s sacrifice was not sufficient and would deny God of the glory that he deserves.

(Ephesians 1:6 KJV) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The bodily resurrection of Christ was not without witnesses and was substantiated by “many infallible proofs.”

(Acts 1:3 KJV) To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

Paul himself was the last person to see Christ alive after the crucifixion, but much later than his twelve Jewish apostles.

(1 Corinthians 15:5-8 KJV) 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.

The bodily resurrection of Christ is also important because it is God’s assurance to man that he will judge the world in righteousness by the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Acts 17:31 KJV) Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Why does Paul mention this assurance that God will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ? That goes back to the preceding verse and what is now being commanded.

(Acts 17:30 KJV) And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Paul preached repentance to all men everywhere because that is what God commanded. However, Paul never preached “repentance of sins” as part of the gospel. Here we have to draw a distinction between “repentance” as Paul uses it in terms of the gospel and the religious concept of “repentance of sins.”

You may have undoubtedly heard someone erroneously say that to be saved a person has to repent of all their sins. This however is an error. The natural man doesn’t even know what all his sins are. The gospel does not include an entire list of sins that would require repentance. This is a tradition of man and not the truth of the gospel.

The word “repent” or “repentance” in scripture simply means a change of mind. In scripture even God repented (Gen 6:6; Ex 32:14; 1Sam 15:35; 2Sam 24:16; 1Chr 21:25; Ps 106:45; Amos 7:3, 6; Jonah 3:10). Actually God repented more than any other person mentioned in scripture. God did not sin so repentance is not repenting of all your sins.

There are examples in scripture where people repented of specific sins and yes they changed their mind about a specific sin they were doing. However, this is not the context of God “now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” in Acts 17. The context is their ignorance of who the true God was. That context is specific from an unbelief in the true God, to belief in the true God.

Repentance as Paul uses it regarding the gospel is the change of mind from trusting in anything else and trusting in God’s acceptance of Christ’s payment for sins. “Repentance from sins” would be a work and salvation is not of works. Repentance as commanded by God now is a change of mind from unbelief, to believing in the true God and faith in Christ through the gospel.

Paul teaches that repentance changes the direction of belief. So in the context of the gospel, repentance takes place when you believe and trust in what God’s word says Christ has done for you.

(Acts 20:20-21 KJV) 20 … have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Repentance is the acknowledgement of the truth. It is believing who the true God is and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ and what he accomplished on the cross. A person has to believe the truth of the gospel to be saved.

(2 Timothy 2:25 KJV) …repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Salvation takes place through the sanctification of the Spirit and the belief in the truth.

(2 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV) …salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

This is how repentance is tied to belief in the truth. It is a change of mind from believing what was not true and believing what has now been revealed to be true. So repentance in this context is not a separate step from belief; it is the belief itself.

Paul’s message of salvation through the gospel is clear and definitive to those that have not yet been saved.

(Acts 16:31 KJV) Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, …

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” in the context of the gospel is putting your faith in what the gospel says he did for us. It is trusting in him. This is the gospel of your salvation.

(Ephesians 1:13 KJV) 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,

They trusted in Christ when they believed the gospel. Paul also describes what God does upon that belief. He sealed them with that holy Spirit of promise. Their salvation was “through sanctification of the Spirit.”

The Apostle Paul himself is given as a pattern to them, which should hereafter, after Paul, believe on him to life everlasting. Paul was the first.

(1 Timothy 1:16 KJV) Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Paul is a perfect display of the grace of God as shown through the Lord’s mercy. Saul, who was also named Paul, was a zealously religious man. A keeper of the law.

(Galatians 1:13-14 KJV) 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.

If anyone was an example of being someone who didn’t deserve mercy, it was Paul. Paul, in his own testimony before he was saved by God’s mercy, was that he was a “blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious” (1Tim 1:13). He persecuted not only men but also women (Acts 22:4). On the road to Damascus, when he met the resurrected Christ, Paul went from unbelief in Christ to belief in the resurrected Savior. He acknowledged the truth.

Paul serves as a pattern of God’s mercy, available in the gospel. He was the worst of the worst. He was religious, but his religion was his attempt to prove his own righteousness. Some people think that they are too bad to be able to be saved. Paul is proof of the falsehood of that thought and of the power of God unto salvation.

If salvation was by self-improvement, religious sincerity, or effort, by keeping the law, then thinking that you are too bad would be correct. However, salvation is the gift of God for those whom Christ died while they were still ungodly sinners.

(Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV) 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, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

If you believe this gospel that Paul preached, then there is nothing left for you to do. Because upon that belief, God gave you the gift of salvation. He gave you eternal life through Christ. That is what your faith and trust are in. That God does what he promised. This is where you need to stand.

(1 Corinthians 15:1 KJV) Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

Now you can proceed to learn all about the complete revelation of the mystery. Not to be saved, but because you are saved. Now you are ready to learn about all the things God has done for you and about your new identity in Christ, a part of his body. Let the learning begin.

Let me close this section with a few words from a friend of mine, Bro. Michael Hammond, because I can’t think of any better way to say it:

Religion says do. Grace says it is already done.

Salvation is received the moment a person believes.

It is not received by commitment, performance, or promises of change. It is received by faith alone in what Christ has already accomplished. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). The moment a person believes the gospel, everything changes immediately.

Sins are forgiven. Righteousness is imputed. Peace with God is established. That person is placed into the Body of Christ and given a new identity and a heavenly citizenship.

This is not a process that unfolds over time. It is a completed reality that rests entirely on the grace of God and the finished work of Christ. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing needs to be maintained to keep it. As Scripture says, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" Romans 3:28). The work is finished because Christ finished it.