The " First " Gospel message
What did the " first" Gospel message consist of? I put "first" in quotations because some teach "first " to be Acts 2 even though the Bible speaks of the Gospel being preached to Abraham ( Ga.3:8 ) and that Jesus Himself preached the Gospel ( Mk.1:1 ). We know the reason why some choose Acts 2 as the beginning of the Gospel; It fits their theological bias of baptismal remission. Certain people claim that Peter preached the first Gospel sermon here and that it included " be baptized for the remission of sins". Let's take a close look at this Gospel sermon of Peter's, the " first " Gospel message AFTER JESUS RESURRECTION, not the first one ever to be preached. First of all, let's establish the Scriptural content of this message. It extended from Verses 14 to 36, the word "therefore " signaling Peter's concluding statement. "Now when they heard this" ( verse 37 ) is another indicator that these people understood the sermon as it was intended and that the message was indeed sufficient for the task at hand; Salvation of the soul. To say and teach otherwise and to add verse 38 to Peter's Gospel message is to violate the intent of this context of Scripture, not to mention to err grammatically, ignoring the change that the words " therefore " and " now " clearly bring to the train of thought. If we apply this logical principle of study alone we will find that " be baptized for the remission of sins " is not in Peter's message to start with. In other words; It is not part of the Gospel, the preached Word that has the power to bring salvation to the one who believes, not to the one who is baptized ( Ro. 1:16 ). The first post-resurrection Gospel message is in total agreement with Ro.1:16 on this matter. When we study Peter's Gospel sermon, we will find that the Gospel that Peter preached here is NO DIFFERENT than the Gospel before or after this message. It included the same elements that the Gospel has ALWAYS contained; The death ( v's 23,36 ), the burial (v's 26,31 ), and the resurrection ( v's 24,31,32 ) of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:41 states that they, the 3000, RECEIVED his word. What word? The word that they had heard (v's 14-37 ). The fact of the matter is that the 3000 had heard the Gospel, believed the Gospel, and were baptized AFTER they were added ( not started ) to the Church. When we study the Word, rightly divided, we will find that the Gospel message is the same as it has always been throughout the ages. It did not " start " or " change " after Pentecost. The Scriptures ,here and throughout, define the Gospel in It's proper terms. It is man that always adds to the Gospel. Believe the right Gospel and get saved the right way; By Grace through faith!
What did the " first" Gospel message consist of? I put "first" in quotations because some teach "first " to be Acts 2 even though the Bible speaks of the Gospel being preached to Abraham ( Ga.3:8 ) and that Jesus Himself preached the Gospel ( Mk.1:1 ). We know the reason why some choose Acts 2 as the beginning of the Gospel; It fits their theological bias of baptismal remission. Certain people claim that Peter preached the first Gospel sermon here and that it included " be baptized for the remission of sins". Let's take a close look at this Gospel sermon of Peter's, the " first " Gospel message AFTER JESUS RESURRECTION, not the first one ever to be preached. First of all, let's establish the Scriptural content of this message. It extended from Verses 14 to 36, the word "therefore " signaling Peter's concluding statement. "Now when they heard this" ( verse 37 ) is another indicator that these people understood the sermon as it was intended and that the message was indeed sufficient for the task at hand; Salvation of the soul. To say and teach otherwise and to add verse 38 to Peter's Gospel message is to violate the intent of this context of Scripture, not to mention to err grammatically, ignoring the change that the words " therefore " and " now " clearly bring to the train of thought. If we apply this logical principle of study alone we will find that " be baptized for the remission of sins " is not in Peter's message to start with. In other words; It is not part of the Gospel, the preached Word that has the power to bring salvation to the one who believes, not to the one who is baptized ( Ro. 1:16 ). The first post-resurrection Gospel message is in total agreement with Ro.1:16 on this matter. When we study Peter's Gospel sermon, we will find that the Gospel that Peter preached here is NO DIFFERENT than the Gospel before or after this message. It included the same elements that the Gospel has ALWAYS contained; The death ( v's 23,36 ), the burial (v's 26,31 ), and the resurrection ( v's 24,31,32 ) of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:41 states that they, the 3000, RECEIVED his word. What word? The word that they had heard (v's 14-37 ). The fact of the matter is that the 3000 had heard the Gospel, believed the Gospel, and were baptized AFTER they were added ( not started ) to the Church. When we study the Word, rightly divided, we will find that the Gospel message is the same as it has always been throughout the ages. It did not " start " or " change " after Pentecost. The Scriptures ,here and throughout, define the Gospel in It's proper terms. It is man that always adds to the Gospel. Believe the right Gospel and get saved the right way; By Grace through faith!
