Paul’s “My Gospel”

By Tammy Lacock

This week, Warren Litzman digs deeper into what the Apostle Paul means by “my gospel” in Romans 2:16, 16:25, and 2 Timothy 2:8.

Paul’s “my gospel” is meant to contrast his unique revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-16) from the other gospel centered in Christ, the Kingdom gospel, which was preached by Peter and the other apostles.

The Kingdom gospel, preached to only the Jews, centered on Christ’s Messiahship by his death and resurrection and an assurance of the kingdom to come. Peter and the apostles also commingled Judaic law within the kingdom gospel.

In contrast, Paul’s gospel of grace has no history of law. Whether Jew or Gentile, by simply believing in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, we are saved, born-again new creations by the very life of Christ now living in us. This is the Body of Christ Paul talks about … a brand-new race of people.

In fact, Paul’s gospel of grace, although new to him and to the world, goes back to the beginning, before history was made. Paul calls his gospel a “mystery” many times because it was in God’s mind before the foundation of the world, yet now revealed to him (Ephesians 1:4; Romans 16:25). Christ entrusted only Paul to deliver this gospel of completion to both Jews and Gentiles alike.

“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.” (Colossians 1:25-26 KJV)

It was extremely difficult for Jews to accept Paul’s gospel of grace because of their history and background in law. Gentiles, however, had no godly history, nothing to hold onto, so they were eager to accept and embrace Paul’s gospel of grace.

Churches are still preaching a commingled gospel of law and grace. Paul tells us several times throughout his epistles, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1; 4:16; and Philippians 3:17). Similarly, he tells us many times that his gospel is from “me to you” (Ephesians 3:2; Colossians 1:26).

The gospel for today is Paul’s gospel of grace only. Simply put, we are saved by nothing we do or don’t do. By just believing, we are saved by Christ’s work — His death, burial, and resurrection. By Him, we are freed from the bondage of sin, death, and law. By Him, we are born again, making us brand-new creations, now bona fide sons and daughters of God. Our sin-natures have been uprooted, and God’s very seed, Christ, has been planted within us.

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27 KJV)