The Gospel of Grace and Jesus' Resurrection

The Gospel of Grace and Jesus’ Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 March 17, 2019 THE BIG IDEA: Only in the Gospel do we hear the clear truth of what God has done to make our forgiveness and reconciliation to Himself possible. Jesus’ bodily resurrection was and is the necessary center of our salvation. The Gospel is the story of God’s Grace – the announcement of Christ’s victory accessed only by faith! 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 (ESV) 15 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 3 The Plan of God: è Jesus’ Incarnation è Jesus’ Life è Jesus’ Death è Jesus’ Resurrection [Romans 10:9,10] è Jesus’ Appearances For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. 9 The Gospel: • It must be received by a conscious, deliberate choice of faith. • Only by The Gospel can I stand before God. • Through the Gospel we are being saved. • The proof of salvation is holding fast to the Word. The Gospel, according to Scripture, teaches that in response to Faith in Christ Alone, God justifies you and then your response to that is a life of obedience (works). The Gospel is Jesus + Nothing A False Gospel is Jesus + Anything Else “Holding fast” is the evidence of a real conversion. If you are persevering, you’re the real thing. Paul’s Testimony • His shameful past • God’s choice of him as a recipient of transforming Grace • His passion for the Gospel and obedience to God fueled by God’s grace • The Gospel Pattern: we preach and some believe QUESTIONS: 1. Are you “far from the Gospel?” 2. Are you ready to stop trusting in your own goodness and efforts and trust in Christ alone for your salvation?