As Biblical Unitarians, or non-Trinitarians, we rightly place great importance on the truth that God is one divine nonhuman Person, that is the Father who Jesus calls the only one Who is true God (John 17:3).
This is central to our Christian living, worship, prayer, and teachings.
But sometimes this truth is presented as though it were the Gospel itself—the one defining mark of Christianity and the whole of our Great Commission work.
The Bible never calls the fact that God is one the Gospel.
The Gospel, according to Jesus and the apostles, is about the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus the Messiah, the appointed King of that coming Kingdom.
Thayer’s Lexicon defines the Gospel as:
“The glad tidings of the kingdom of God soon to be set up, and subsequently also of Jesus, the Messiah, the founder of this kingdom” Mark 1:15
That is why this is called the “good news.” And “news” is information being announced—something significant, urgent, and previously unknown hence “the breaking news.”
That is exactly why Jesus says he was sent.
In Luke 4:43 he declared:
“I must preach the gospel about the KOG to other towns also, because I was commissioned for this purpose.”
That was Jesus’ Purpose Driven Life the same after his Resurrection.
Matthew 4:17 says:
“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’”
Luke 8:1 adds that Jesus travelled through the cities and villages, “preaching and evangelizing the Kingdom of God,” and the twelve were with him.
Acts 1:3 says Jesus “showed himself to be alive, after he suffered, by many convincing proofs. Over a period of forty days he was seen by them, and he spoke to them about the Kingdom of God.”
Anyhony’s footnote adds:
“The Kingdom of God is the core of his teaching and the label given to his saving Gospel. His whole purpose, as ours today also must be, was to announce the Gospel of the Kingdom. The Gospel begins with the preaching of John the Baptist, who introduced Jesus (Lk. 16:16; Jn. 1:17). Heb. 2:3 shows how the New Covenant had its beginning with the teaching of Jesus.”
The first words that kickstart the ministry of Jesus (Mark 1:14-15) is for everyone who has ears to hear to repent and believe this Gospel now.
Jesus says that God’s Kingdom is at hand, near not here.
And defines the Gospel most clearly through the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8.
Its importance is made plain when Jesus asks in Mark 4:13:
“Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables?”
In that parable, “the seed” is identified as:
- “the word” (Luke 8:12);
- “the word of God” (Luke 8:11);
- “the word of the Kingdom” (Matt. 13:19).
These are not different messages. They are different descriptions of the one saving Gospel: the message about the coming Kingdom of God.
This is important because Christians speak of “the word of God” as if it means “the Bible.”
So that it’s true NT meaning is missed—the message, the word preached by Jesus and the apostles concerning God’s Kingdom.
It is no surprise, then, that the Kingdom remains the hallmark of apostolic preaching throughout the book of Acts.
What Anthony calls the 8 KOG texts:
- Acts 1:3;
- Acts 1:6;
- Acts 8:12;
- Acts 14:22
- Acts 19:8;
- Acts 20:24-25;
- Acts 28:23;
- Acts 28:30-31. Paul’s ministry ends with the same Gospel Jesus began preaching back in Mark 1:14-15.
If Paul had preached a different Gospel from Jesus, he would have placed himself under his own curse (Gal. 1:8).
Instead, Paul preached the same Gospel: the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus the Messiah.
Jesus commanded the church to make disciples of all nations, teaching them “to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19–20).
This Great Commission continues “to the end of the age.”
That connects directly with Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:14:
“This Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
So the Gospel to be preached until Messiah returns is not merely “God is one,” nor “Jesus died for your sins,” though both truths are of course biblical truths.
The Gospel is the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, centered in the teachings of Jesus, his apostles and the cross.
Note also that Jesus preached this Gospel of the Kingdom for most of his ministry before he began explaining plainly that he must suffer, be killed, and be raised from the dead (Matt. 16:21).
That means the Gospel cannot be reduced to the cross alone.
The cross is essential, but it is part of the larger Kingdom Gospel Jesus proclaimed.
What Is the Kingdom?
Like the Old Testament prophets before him, Jesus presented the Kingdom primarily as a future event: the time when God will fulfill His promise to David and restore the Kingdom under Messiah.
In 2 Samuel 7:12–13, God promises David:
“I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
This Kingdom hope is rooted in OT visions from prophets—like Daniel 2; 7, Isaiah 2; 11; 19, Zechariah 14, etc.
These visions describe a future time when Messiah rules survivors from the nations, including a remnant from Israel, and brings worldwide peace.
This was the same hope held by the apostles when Jesus promised them, in Matt 19:28 “when the world is reborn and the Son of Man will sit on his throne of glory you too will sit on 12 thrones governing the 12 tribes of Israel.”
That is why they asked Jesus after his resurrection:
“Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the Kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6
Jesus did not rebuke the content of their hope. He corrected only their concern about timing.
Born Again by the Kingdom Gospel
Jesus and the apostles also explain that being “born again,” or “born from above,” happens through receiving the word of truth—the Gospel.
Paul says:
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy spirit.” Ephesians 1:13
Peter says believers are born again through the living and enduring word of God, which he identifies as the Gospel preached to them (1 Pet. 1:23–25).
James likewise says:
“He brought us forth by the word of truth.” James 1:18
This fits perfectly with Jesus’ Parable of the Sower.
The seed is the word about the Kingdom.
That seed must be received, understood, and held fast in a good and honest heart.
Luke 8:15 says:
“The seeds in the good soil are those who, hearing the word (the gospel), hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”
In biblical language, the “heart” is not merely the emotions. It includes the mind, your understanding.
That is why Jesus goes on to say in Luke 8:18 “so take care how you listen.”
So yes—always bring your brain to church.
Once the seed of the Kingdom Gospel is received, believers are called to bear fruit in righteousness (John 15:8; Phil. 1:11).
This obedience begins with repentance and water baptism.
As Peter commands in Acts 2:38:
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the holy spirit.”
Baptism is not an optional religious symbol.
It is part of the obedience of faith, marking one’s entry into the body of Messiah (his church) and the new life of discipleship.
And again the Gospel most certainly includes what Jesus did for us—his suffering, death and his resurrection. But the gospel must never be reduced to that alone.
Simply because Jesus himself never did!
God commands us to listen to His Son:
“This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35
Therefore, the Gospel includes Jesus’ own preaching, commandments, Kingdom message, and call to obedience.
Things That Matter
There is a troubling tendency to treat many things Jesus commanded as optional.
But to preach Jesus while neglecting what Jesus preached is not faithful Christianity.
Some divide sound doctrine into “big issues” and “little issues,” as though the truth about God, His Son, the Gospel, and obedience can be treated lightly.
But Scripture does not give us permission to dismiss anything Jesus taught.
Jesus commands his disciples to teach the nations “to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:20).
So we must ask: What doctrine would Jesus say does not matter?
If God is one and not three (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29; John 17:3; 1 Cor. 8:6), does that change how we worship, pray, and speak about God?
Of course it does.
If being born again is connected to receiving and understanding the seed—the message about God’s Kingdom (Matt. 13:19; Mark 4:13; Luke 8:11–15)—can we claim to have God’s spirit while neglecting that message?
If the church embraces a “Kingdom now” theology, are we in danger of claiming the Kingdom before the King returns to establish it?
And to insist the Kingdom is already present, should they not at least practice the ethics of that Kingdom—especially enemy-love and nonviolence—as Jesus commanded?
“Do not resist an evil person… love your enemies.” Matthew 5:39, 44
The apostles teach the same:
“Do not repay evil for evil.” Romans 12:17; 1 Peter 3:9
That is at the heart of the gospel of Jesus.
If the human Son of God literally preexisted his own genesis (origin) in Mary’s womb (Matt. 1:18–20; Luke 1:30–35), then how is he truly our human brother, the last Adam, and the man who died for your sins?
Hebrews says Jesus had to be made like his brothers in every respect so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest (Heb. 2:17; 4:15).
If he was actually a divine being who merely became human, what kind of example is he for the rest of humanity?
If life begins in the womb (Ps. 139:13–16; Jer. 1:5; Luke 1:44), can Christians dismiss the destruction of unborn babies as merely “political” and therefore something not to be discussed?
And if we do not know our enemy, are we not vulnerable to his deceptions?
The denial of Satan, named the Devil, and his angels, called demons, as separate personal beings undermines the ministry of Jesus.
It implies either that Jesus was tempting himself to do evil, or that he accommodated false beliefs without correction.
The fact that Scripture sometimes groups fallen human nature, the flesh, and the Devil together does not mean they are one and the same—any more than the fact that demons can cause illness means demons are merely illnesses.
This particular truth matters “so that you’re not deceived by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.” 2Cor 2:11
Warnings Against Neglecting Truth
Scripture repeatedly warns us to hold fast to the faith and not drift away.
Hosea 4:6 says: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
John 17:3 says that life in the age to come is knowing “the only true God” and Jesus Messiah whom He sent.
To redefine God and His Messiah is not a harmless mistake.
Paul tells Timothy:
“Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching… for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” 1 Timothy 4:16
He also warns that a time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine but will turn aside to myths (2 Tim. 4:3–4).
Hebrews 2:1 warns: “We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away.”
Neglect, not only outright denial, can lead to ruin.
Revelation 2:4–5 warns that a church may retain its name and appearance while losing its first love.
Without repentance, the Lord removes the lampstand.
And Jesus gives one of the strongest warnings of all:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
He then says that many will appeal to their preaching, casting out demons, and miracles, yet hear the terrifying words:
“I never recognized you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.” Matthew 7:23
A great responsibility rests on those who say they have ears to hear and eyes to see.
This is not theology for theology’s sake. This is our lifelong calling: to hold fast to the creed of Jesus (Mark 12:29), the Gospel of Jesus (Mark 1:14–15), and the mission of Jesus (Luke 4:43).
Is This a Salvation Issue?
Whenever we teach on these things, the question often arises:
“Is this a salvation issue?”
But Scripture consistently ties salvation to the obedience of faith—believing what God says and doing them (Rom. 1:5; 16:26).
The better question would be:
Does this teaching affect the obedience of faith—the obedience that flows from what I believe?
The New Testament never separates believing from obeying.
Instead, it often contrasts faith with disobedience.
Jesus says:
“The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; the one who disobeys the Son will not see life.” John 3:36
Peter says believers are chosen “for obedience to Jesus Messiah” (1 Pet. 1:2).
Paul describes conversion as becoming: “obedient from the heart to that form of teaching” Romans 6:17
John gives a simple test:
“By this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.” 1 John 2:3
And Hebrews 5:9 says of Jesus:
“He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.”
Anthony’s footnote on Hebrews 5:9 summarizes it well:
“Obedience to Jesus is the condition of salvation. Faith without obedience is false faith and cannot save.”
Test All Things
Finally, Scripture commands us to test all claims to be from God, beginning with those in our own churches.
In Deuteronomy 13, Israel is warned that even a prophet who performs signs and wonders must be rejected if he leads people after other gods.
In Matthew 7 Jesus gives the same warning:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:15–16
And 1 John 4:1:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
So do not let anyone—especially other Christians—bully you or accuse you of “quenching the spirit” or “putting God in a box” simply because you are trying to walk in the obedience of faith.
Once the biblical meaning of that phrase is understood, many debates about “faith vs. works” or “salvation issues” are clarified.
Jesus does not command us to obey only the doctrines we personally consider important.
He says:
“Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:20
Everything Jesus commanded matters.
Simply because the truth matters.
Ephesians 4:11 he who gave some to be Apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastor-teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of the Messiah, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown person, to the height of the Messiah’s full stature.
14 So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and swayed by every wind of teaching, by the trickery of people with their sleight of hand and deceitful scheming.
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in all things into him
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