1 Corinthians 15

According to Paul in this section, what does it take for someone to be saved? 1-2

To receive the gospel and to stand in it

While Paul has many critiques of this church, he is still yet encouraged that they are standing for the gospel and receiving it.

They aren’t being pulled away or being haphazard about their faith, but rather they are standing in the finished work of Christ

Paul concludes this statement by adding that this is the mark of saving faith vs fake faith

Saving faith endures. It is not moved or forgotten

Fake faith is shaken and thrown away when a “better” faith comes around

What is the gospel? 3-8

Multiple ways to explain the gospel to others (See Slides)

Gospel

We sinned and caused eternal separation

Christ died in our place as an atoning sacrifice

we took on his righteousness while he took on our sin

He defeated death and appeared to over 500 witnesses

We now have eternal life in him

While this may seem elementary or overly simplified, this is something we cannot budge on or compromise

Yes we did sin. Yes that sin was great.

Yes that sin has been forgiven as a result of the work of Christ on the cross

Yes, he really did defeat death and there is historical evidence

Yes, if we receive this and this alone we will inherit eternal life

What do you do on the days you feel like Paul in the final few verses? 9-11

Paul was extended this incredible grace to be named an apostle

He is in the same breath as the 12 original guys that walked with the lord (minus Judas)

He was the chief persecutor of Christians. He had a past that outweighs all of ours.

in 1 Tim 1:15 he calls himself the chief of all sinners

Yet even Paul was given the grace of the gospel

From the extension of this grace, Paul works hard. His partnership with the Lord is not marked by passiveness. Rather it is marked by incredibly hard and difficult laboring for the sake of the Gospel.

He knows that he has struggled greatly. Yet he also knows the role he has played in the advancement of the kingdom

He is not naive about either role. Rather he acknowledges the gravity of both