Does Peter and Paul Have Two Gospels – Does this Justify Faith Only?

Introduction:

I have been in a discussion with a woman believing that there were two Gospels (Peter’s and Paul’s). She holds that these two Gospels present two separate laws after the death of Christ. The fact that only Paul had the mystery revealed unto him. Peter’s Gospel is to the Jews and is based on works. Paul’s is to the Gentiles and is based on faith alone. We are going to study the faith that after Calvary there was and still is only one Gospel – Justification that Paul and Peter did not present two different messages – We are not saved by faith alone – Paul was not the only to have all things revealed.

I.  One Gospel post Calvary

     
    The Gospel of Christ (singular) to all people

    KJV Romans 1:16

    For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

    One Faith – How do we acquire faith – Romans 10:17 – Therefore two Gospels meant two faiths!

    KJV Ephesians 4:4-6

    4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

    5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

    6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
     

II.  Peter and Paul preached to the same people; the same Gospel

Peter Fulfilled the Command to preach and baptize (Mark 16:15-16 & Matthew 28:19) –stating that the call was to Jews and Gentiles

Acts 2:37-39

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39.For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Where were the Gentiles mentioned in verse 39? Those that were afar off!

KJV Ephesians 2:11-20

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. {Afar off – whom, the Ephesians – Gentiles} - 

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: {Abolished – done away on the cross – nailed to the cross Colossians 2:15}

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; {The saint make-up the Church (1 Corinthians 1:2)

"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:" Those at Jerusalem were added to the Church (Acts 2:47) –still two Gospels??
20.  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; Of the Apostle(S) not just Paul –
 

Paul said that if anyone preached any other Gospel they would be accursed

KJV Galatians 1:8-9

8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
{Notice the WE (Paul being an Apostle Galatians 1:1), plural meaning Apostles}

Peter Preached to the Gentiles and said that God was not a respecter of persons

Also in Acts 15 he preached to the Gentiles

KJV Acts 10:34-48

34. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35. But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

36. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

37. That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

38. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

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.

44. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47. Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48. And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Paul Preached to Jews

KJV Acts 14:1-9

1. And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

2. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

3. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

4. But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

5. And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

6. They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

7. And there they preached the gospel.

8. And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
9.  The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

A text that is used to justify faith only, and the key to TRYING to claim to separate doctrines

KJV Ephesians 2:8-9

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.
 

(No where does this passage teach faith alone. We all agree that salvation is a gift we do not earn, but inherit do to obedience Matthew 7:21-23). Works nor faith alone will save you – to claim that Paul meant no works are necessary is to make Paul a liar as he penned these words: " Galatians 5:6 "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love."
 

III.  We are not Saved by Faith Alone

     
    The devils believed – Faith without works is dead

    KJV James 2:19-26

    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.

    Children of God by faith in Christ – being baptized into Christ

    KJV Galatians 3:26-27

    26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

    27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

    Can we say that Grace will save us and continue in sin – God Forbid – The body of sin is dead in the watery grave of baptism

    KJV Romans 6:1-6

    1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

    2. God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

    3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

    4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

    5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

    6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
     

IV.  Paul was not the only one to have the mystery revealed

Verses used to show he was – note –the mystery was revealed to him – but he never mentions the word ONLY

KJV Ephesians 3:2-7

. 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:

7. Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

By the very existence of the Church the wisdom of God is shown – the Jews were in the Church (Acts 2:14-47)

KJV Ephesians 3:10-11

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

11.  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Paul stated what he was teaching –was this not what Peter taught in Acts 2?

KJV Acts 26:22-23

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.

Peter Preached Christ dead, buried and raised

KJV Acts 2:22-25

22. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

24. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 

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:
Peter declares that ALL THINGS had been revealed

KJV 2 Peter 1:3

3. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
What part of ALL Things did Peter not have? Do you want the blessings taught in the ONE Gospel? The Hope of eternal life can be yours.

Conclusion:
Believers of this doctrine declare that Paul told the Ephesians the mystery.  They teach that the mystery included faith alone salvation.  Why then were the Ephesians baptized (Acts 19:1-5)?  The same reason baptism is taught today into Christ his Church.  The Church is the only place for salvation (Ephesians 5:23).  The only way into the Church is the water (I Corinthians 12:12-13).  Only way to enter into the water is to have completed God's plan of salvation - 
Romans 10:14-17, Luke 13:3, Matthew 10:32-33 -----Then baptism!
 
 
 

Copyright 2000 by Brian Yeager may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others. www.christianlibrary.org


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