The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Introduction

Paul had already dealt with a number of issues up to this point in his letter to the church at Corinth. At his point he turns his attention to the reinforcement of the gospel and specifically the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Paul had faithfully preached the gospel to the people of Corinth, and here, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, Paul reminds the believers what they have believed lest they are drawn away to doubt.

The gospel is the most vitally important message of all time, without which the world is hopelessly lost.

In - we find why Paul is writing to the church at Corinth for some had begun to deny the resurrection.

Paul’s Emphasis on the Gospel (Vs. 1-2)

Paul begins by reminding the church at Corinth how he had preached the gospel to them, and how they had received it, and that it was the basis for their salvation.

There are several important truths that are given to us in these first two verses.

The first is that the gospel must be preached. The entirety of the Word of God is profitable and must be preached, yet the message of the gospel is preeminent because without it no one will be saved.

We do not preach only the gospel but we must certainly preach the gospel. - gospel power of God unto salvation

It is clearly the responsibility of every believer to participate in the preaching of the gospel. For some as missionaries, evangelists, or pastors, for others as a concerned neighbor, coworker, family member, or friend.

Another important truth is that the gospel must be received. The benefits of the gospel are reserved for those who respond in faith to the its message.

- gospel does not profit without a response in faith

The impact of the gospel on the people of Corinth was due to the fact that many had received it (embraced it as true).

It is not your hearing, or your understanding of the gospel that brings salvation. Salvation is the result of receiving/believing the gospel!

Another great truth revealed here is that the gospel is the very foundation of our faith. Paul reminded these believers that their present stand was built upon their faith in the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He also reminded them that their future salvation was dependent upon this same faith.

We may believe many things but if we do not sincerely believe the gospel all our faith is vain!

The Essential Elements of the Gospel (Vs. 3-4)

At this point Paul reminds the church at Corinth of the essential elements included in the gospel message.

We recognize that in order for anyone to be saved, they must believe the gospel. The question remains, what exactly must they believe, what are the essential elements of the gospel?

Paul gives us the the clearest definition of what the gospel message entails. It is the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The gospel begins with the the death of Christ for our sins. People the world over are familiar with the historical fact that Jesus Christ died by crucifixion over two thousand years ago.

The real question is why did He die? The resounding answer is that He died for our sins!

To believe the gospel is to believe that Jesus Christ was crucified and that He died, but also to believe that His death was a substitutionary sacrifice for your sins and mine!

- he was wounded for our transgressions

The second essential element is His burial. His burial was proof positive that He was indeed dead.

- Jesus’ lifeless body was removed from the cross and was then wrapped in grave clothes and anointed with myrrh and aloes as preparation for being placed in the tomb. There is no possibility that Jesus was not actually dead.

The final and most controversial element of the gospel is Jesus Christ’s bodily resurrection. It is not difficult to believe that He died and was buried but it is only by faith that anyone can accept that three days later He rose again!

This final element of the gospel is where many throughout history and still today find great difficulty. Yet if a person is to be saved they must believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. This will be the emphasis of much of the rest of II Corinthians 15 because this was also a struggle for the people of Corinth.

We may note also the words “according to the scriptures” which serve as a reminder that Christ’s death and subsequent resurrection was the fulfillment of numerous old testament prophecies. , - not suffer thine holy one to see corruption

The Evidence for the Resurrection (Vs. 5-8)

Paul now shares with us the fact that the resurrection was supported by a number of eyewitness accounts.

- The story was to be that Jesus disciples has stolen his body in an attempt to support the idea of resurrection.

The fact that Jesus rose from the dead was supported by hundreds of eyewitnesses, many of whom were still alive as Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthian church.

He first mentions Peter who had seen the risen Christ on several occasions with a number of personal interactions.

He then mentions the twelve. We cannot fail to mention the account of Thomas who had already made up his mind that Christ had not risen until being confronted with overwhelming evidence to the contrary. - account of Thomas interaction with Christ.

The fact is that Jesus closest companions did not at first believe, but something happened (they encountered the risen Christ) and they were so deeply convinced that Christ had risen that they were willing to stand upon this truth even if it meant their persecution or death.

This could not have been just the hopeful imagination of a few disciples because Paul reports a time when Christ appeared to a crowd of over five thousand people at once. Many of them still alive to give testimony to the event.

He also appeared to James (Jesus brother) who had doubted Jesus claims to be the Son of God - brethren did not believe. He became a believer and ultimately played a prominent role in the early church.

Last of all he was seen by Paul himself. Paul, formerly a persecutor of the church was now one of it’s most prominent figures and supporters. What accounts for this change in Saul/Paul’s life? It was his encounter with the risen Christ!

There is plenty of evidence to support the truth of Christ’s resurrection, but for you and I we accept it by faith.

Paul recognized the difficulty for those who had not personally witnessed Christ’s resurrection to believe that it was true and yet he confirmed the necessity of belief in the resurrection for salvation.

Anyone who will be saved must believe that Christ rose from the dead for without the resurrection the gospel is incomplete and there is no hope for the lost.

The choice is yours, will you believe and be saved or will you reject the gospel and remain in your sins facing ultimate condemnation.