The Gospel in Detail

The things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, set out as a Bible-based statement of first principles. The summary below follows the full study point by point; the complete scripture proofs are set out in our free booklets.

Part One — Things concerning the Kingdom of God

(I) The gospel Jesus preached concerned the Kingdom of God

When upon the earth, Jesus came “preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14–15; Matthew 4:17, 23; Luke 8:1).

(II) The apostles preached the same Kingdom

After his ascension they continued “preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12; 19:8; 28:30–31).

(III) What is the Kingdom of God?

It is a real divine government to be set up on the earth, on the ruins of all existing governments, to bring the world into subjection to God (Daniel 2:44; 7:13–14, 27; Revelation 11:15). Luke 17:21 reads “among you,” not a feeling within the heart.

(IV) Founded on God’s dealings with Israel

The ancient kingdom of Israel under David and Solomon was “the kingdom of the LORD” (1 Chronicles 28:5; 2 Chronicles 13:8). It was divinely overturned for iniquity (Ezekiel 21:25–27) and is to be re-established (Amos 9:11; Acts 15:16).

(V) The Kingdom will be the kingdom of Israel restored

(Obadiah 17, 21; Micah 4:6–8).

(VI) The Jews will be gathered and become its subjects

Israel will be regathered from their dispersion (Isaiah 11:12; Jeremiah 31:10; Ezekiel 37:21–22; Romans 11:25–26).

(VII) Jerusalem will be the city of the great King

It becomes the throne of the LORD and the metropolis of the Kingdom (Jeremiah 3:17; Isaiah 2:2–4; Zechariah 14:16).

(VIII) The supreme ruler will be Jesus of Nazareth

God covenanted with David a son under whom his kingdom would be established for ever (2 Samuel 7:12–14; Psalm 132:11).

(IX) The son promised to David is Jesus Christ

He will sit on David’s throne when it is restored (Luke 1:30–33; Acts 2:29–30; Isaiah 9:6–7).

(X) The saints will inherit the Kingdom

The faithful will reign with Christ as kings and priests (Revelation 5:10; 2 Timothy 2:12; Daniel 7:18, 27).

(XI) The covenant made with Abraham

It guarantees the blessing of all nations and the everlasting possession of the land of promise (Genesis 12:1–3; 13:14–17; 15:18; 17:8; Galatians 3:8).

(XII) The promises were renewed to Isaac and Jacob

(Genesis 26:3–4; 28:13–14).

(XIII) They were not fulfilled in the patriarchs’ lifetimes

Abraham received no inheritance, “not so much as to set his foot on” (Acts 7:5; Hebrews 11:8–13).

(XIV) They will be fulfilled in the Kingdom of David under Christ

In the blessing of all nations and the inheritance of the land (Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Micah 7:20).

(XV) Jesus Christ will return from heaven

He will visibly appear and take up residence on the earth a second time; this is the believer’s true hope (Acts 1:9–11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 9:28).

(XVI) The Kingdom is the inheritance to which the gospel calls us

Not a reward in “kingdoms beyond the skies” (1 Thessalonians 2:12; James 2:5; Matthew 25:34).

(XVII) The Kingdom will last a thousand years

Christ and the saints will rule the mortal nations; at its close, after a final revolt is subdued, death is abolished and God becomes all in all (Revelation 20:1–9; 1 Corinthians 15:24–28).

Part Two — Things concerning the name of Jesus Christ

(XVIII) There is but one God, the Father

(1 Timothy 2:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; John 17:3). The trinity is not taught in scripture; the one text that affirms it, 1 John 5:7, is spurious and omitted in the Revised Version.

(XIX) The Spirit is not a separate person

It is the radiant, invisible power of the Father, filling all space (Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30) — the Father in focus, the Spirit His power in diffusion.

(XIX-A) The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God in official manifestation

Gathered under the divine will to bestow gifts and accomplish God’s results (Luke 1:35; Acts 10:38). No baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place today; the written Word is now the Spirit’s instrument.

(XX) Jesus is the manifestation of the one eternal Creator

Not a pre-existent “second person.” The man Jesus dates from his birth; the Deity dwelling in him was the Father (Luke 1:35; 1 Timothy 3:16; John 14:28).

(XXI) Jesus was of our nature

A second Adam, made of our flesh and tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin (Romans 8:3; Hebrews 2:14; 4:15).

(XXII) The object of his death

Not to appease an angry God, but to express the Father’s love in a necessary sacrifice for sin, condemning sin in the flesh (John 1:29; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:26).

(XXII-A) God raised Jesus and exalted him

To a glorified, immortal existence, where he now acts as priestly mediator between the Father and those who come to God by him (Acts 2:24; Romans 6:9; Hebrews 4:14–15).

(XXIII) The devil — who is he?

Not a personal supernatural being, but the scriptural personification of sin in the flesh. “Diabolos” means false accuser; “satan” means adversary (Hebrews 2:14; Romans 8:3; James 1:14–15). Christ was manifested to destroy it (1 John 3:8).

(XXIIIA) Demons and so-called evil spirits

These were the fanciful creation of the pagan mind. The Bible does not use such words to teach disease-causing spirit beings.

(XXIV) Human nature

(A) Man is a creature of dust; (B) man is mortal; (C) in death he is simply a body deprived of life; (D) “soul” means the living creature; (E) “spirit,” applied to man, is the breath or life-energy (Genesis 2:7; 3:19; Psalm 146:3–4; Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10; 12:7).

(XXV) The immortality of the soul is a pagan idea

It originated in heathen philosophy, not the Bible. Immortality is bestowed only on the righteous, by a change of body, and enjoyed on the earth (1 Corinthians 15:50–54; Romans 2:7; Psalm 37:29).

(XXVII) The earth is the inheritance of the righteous

(Psalm 37:11, 29; Matthew 5:5; Proverbs 11:31).

(XXVIII) Hell

The word renders the Hebrew sheol and Greek hades — the grave, the state of death — not a place of conscious eternal torment.

(XXVIIIA) Gehenna

Used figuratively for the destruction (the second death) appointed to the rejected, not for unending torment.

(XXIX) The destiny of the wicked

Death and destruction, not eternal life in suffering (Romans 6:23; Psalm 37:20; Malachi 4:1–3).

(XXX) The irresponsible

Those who never knew God’s revealed will are not raised to judgment, but remain in death.

(XXXI) The judgment seat of Christ

At his return the responsible dead are raised and, with the responsible living, are judged; the approved receive immortality, the rejected are condemned (2 Corinthians 5:10; Daniel 12:2; 2 Timothy 4:1).

(XXXII) Baptism

Immersion in water is an act of obedience required of all who believe the gospel, for union with Christ and the forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12; Romans 6:3–5; Galatians 3:27–29).

(XXXIII) How can so many be wrong?

The scriptures plainly foretold a great falling away from the original apostolic faith (Acts 20:29–30; 2 Thessalonians 2:3–12).

(XXXIV) Popular error and divine truth in contrast

On the nature of God, the devil, the soul, hell, heaven, and the hope, popular teaching and Bible teaching stand in sharp opposition.

(XXXV) Departure from the truth foretold

(2 Timothy 4:3–4; 2 Peter 2:1–2).

(XXXVI) Coming deliverance

Those who believe and obey the gospel now may share in the deliverance Christ will bring to the earth at his appearing.