Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. (1Cor. 15:1-11)
In this passage, Paul reminds the Corinthian believers of his preached gospel. This isn’t just any message; it’s the core truth of Christianity. It’s the message they received, the message they stand on, and the message that saves them—if they hold on to it. Paul’s point about "holding fast" shows the importance of sticking to the true gospel and not getting pulled away by false teachings or cultural trends. This is especially important today because fewer people are reading and understanding the Bible, and the gospel is facing severe challenges both inside the church and from outside influences.
The Core of the Gospel
Paul then explains the critical parts of the gospel, the truths he received and shared faithfully. These are unchangeable truths:
The Scriptures say Christ died for our sins. This highlights the importance of Christ’s death, a sacrifice to fulfill God’s plan for our redemption.
He was buried: This shows that Christ really died and was placed in a grave.
He rose again on the third day, as the Scriptures said: The resurrection is the most important part of the Christian faith, proving that Christ defeated sin and death.
Psalm 16:10: "For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption."
Isaiah 53:10-11: "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities."
Hosea 6:2: "After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight."
(This verse is often seen as a prophecy that Christians believe points to Jesus rising from the dead on the third day. However, the words "after two days" and "on the third day" can be confusing compared to the New Testament, which talks about three days.
In Hebrew culture, phrases like "after two days" and "on the third day" are often used as poetic expressions, not exact timelines. They both refer to the same period, showing that God acts quickly without needing to count every hour. The third day is the day after the two days, so it still fits with the idea of Jesus rising on the third day.
Hosea’s poetic language focuses more on the certainty of God’s promise to save and restore than on the exact number of days. The third day in the Bible often symbolizes something being completed or fulfilled, which is why it's important in the story of Jesus rising from the dead.
The New Testament repeatedly says that Jesus rose "on the third day" (like in 1 Corinthians 15:4 and Luke 24:46). This fits the Jewish understanding that even part of a day counts as a full day. So, Jesus being in the tomb part of Friday, all of Saturday, and rising on Sunday still means He rose on the third day.
The difference between Hosea's "after two days" and the New Testament's "on the third day" is more about language and cultural expression than a contradiction. Both show the same truth: God will act quickly and powerfully to bring life and salvation.)
Many people saw Him alive: Paul lists the people who witnessed the risen Christ—Cephas (Peter), the twelve apostles, over five hundred believers, James, and finally, Paul himself. This large number of witnesses strongly supports the truth of the resurrection.
This summary is crucial because it reminds us that the gospel Paul preached wasn’t something he made up. It was revealed to him by Christ and confirmed by the Scriptures. The same gospel has been passed down through generations, facing many challenges and distortions but remaining unchanged at its core.
Paul’s Apostleship and Humility
Paul reflects on his role as an apostle with great humility. He admits that he is the least of the apostles and feels unworthy to be called one because he used to persecute the church. But he knows that it’s only by God’s grace that he is who he is. This humility is a good example for everyone who shares the gospel today. Paul worked harder than others, but he insists that it wasn’t just his effort—it was God’s grace working with him.
This grace-filled work is a call to all believers. Today, the church has the same gospel that Paul preached. It’s not ours to change or soften; it’s ours to share faithfully, no matter what pressures we face or how appealing other messages might seem.
The Gospel Under Attack
Today, with fewer people reading and understanding the Bible, especially in countries like the United States, Canada, and Europe, the gospel is facing new threats. This lack of biblical knowledge has made many Christians vulnerable to false teachings, like the prosperity doctrine and new age ideas, which twist the true message of Christ. The prosperity doctrine, for example, shifts the focus from the cross to material wealth and personal success, which undermines the gospel’s message of self-sacrifice and eternal hope in Christ.
These distortions are very different from the gospel Paul preached. This highlights how important it is for believers to return to the Scriptures. Understanding the gospel as the apostles taught it is essential for keeping our faith true. The gospel Paul preached has survived many challenges throughout history—from its difficult beginnings to battles with Gnosticism and against the power-hungry actions of some religious institutions. It’s a gospel that has shown its strength and power to change lives, not by promising wealth or success, but through the truth of Christ’s death and resurrection.
The Call to Faithfulness
Paul finishes by saying that it doesn’t matter who preached the gospel—whether it was him or another apostle—what matters is that the Corinthians believed. This unity in the message is essential. The gospel isn’t about the person who preaches it; it’s about the unchanging truth of Christ’s death and resurrection.
Today, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to stand firm in this truth. We are not called to promote our church’s unique beliefs or get involved in political fights. We are called to preach Christ and Him crucified, to proclaim the gospel that has been handed down to us, and to make sure that what we share is faithful to the message that has been entrusted to us. By doing this, we follow in the footsteps of Paul and the apostles, keeping the gospel pure and powerful for future generations.
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