Summary:
The Gospel of the Kingdom was preached while Israel was still under the Law — so circumcision continued.
The Gospel of Grace came after the cross — when Jesus fulfilled the Law, making circumcision no longer required.
Grace and Peace
Summary:
- The Gospel of the Kingdom was proclaimed while Israel was still under the Law. During that period, circumcision and other covenant signs were still observed.
- After the cross and resurrection, Jesus fulfilled the Law completely (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:24–25).
- From that point forward, the Gospel of Grace extended to both Jew and Gentile alike — with no distinction in how anyone is saved. Salvation is now by grace through faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8–9), apart from the works of the Law or rituals like circumcision.
In short:
Yes — after the crucifixion, the
Gospel of Grace envelops both Jew and Gentile into one body, the Church.
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles.” — 1 Corinthians 12:13
the message of faith and repentance was the same, but the
covenantal setting was different.
Before the cross, Israel was
still under the Law (Galatians 4:4–5). The Gospel of the Kingdom called them to faith in their Messiah, but they were still bound to the Mosaic system — circumcision, temple worship, and sacrifices — until the
ultimate sacrifice was offered:
“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” — Hebrews 10:4
“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” — Hebrews 10:12
When Jesus died and rose again, the Law was
fulfilled and completed in Him (Matthew 5:17; Romans 10:4). That’s when the Gospel of Grace was fully revealed — salvation by faith in Christ apart from the works of the Law, now offered
equally to Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14–16; Galatians 3:28).
In short:

The message of salvation has always been by faith in God’s promise.

But before the cross, that faith was expressed under the Law.

After the cross, that faith rests in the finished work of Christ — the once-for-all sacrifice that set us free from the Law’s demands.
It’s one gospel revealed in two phases of God’s redemptive plan — not two different messages of salvation.
it’s not two gospels.
Before the cross, the
same message of faith pointed
forward to what Christ would accomplish. After the cross, that same message points
back to what He already accomplished.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith…” — Ephesians 2:8
“For what the law could not do… God sending his own Son… condemned sin in the flesh.” — Romans 8:3
Under the Law, believers trusted God’s promise of redemption — though the sacrifice hadn’t yet been made. Once Jesus became the
Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29), that promise was
fulfilled, and the Law’s purpose was completed (Galatians 3:24–25).
So yes — the people before the cross were still under the Law, but the
saving message was always centered on
faith in God’s provision, now fully revealed through Christ.
Grace and Peace