The Gospel of the Resurrection of Christ

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

 

1 Corinthians 15:1-2

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.

(ESV)

 

The message of the Gospel of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most essential theology in the Church and as such, something the Church must not compromise. It is the essential foundation of the mission given to the Church by Jesus when he told His disciples to spread the Gospel around the world and make disciples (Mark 16:15; Mathew 28:19-20). The troubled Corinthian Church must return to the foundation of the Gospel if it is to remain on its mission, something the Church of today must also do.

 

Paul begins this passage with a reminder to remember the message of the gospel that he preached to them, that they received, and in which they stand. It is this message of the gospel that saved them provided they held fast to the word preached to them unless their belief was in vain and not genuine (1 Corinthians 15:1-2).

 

This message of the gospel is of first importance to us as believers and what Paul received on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19). The message of the gospel is also a simple message that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and raised from the dead on the third day, all according to Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). In addition to a scriptural foundation, there were also eyewitnesses to the resurrected Christ, Cephas, or Peter, the twelve Disciples, and more than five hundred brothers, many of whom were still alive at the time of the writing of this text (1 Corinthians 15:5-6). Jesus also appeared to James and lastly to Paul as one untimely born (1 Corinthians 15:7-8). Paul then teaches the importance of God’s grace for he believes he is the least of the apostles due to his persecution of the Church (1 Corinthians 15:9). However, due to the grace of God Paul is an apostle, and one that works harder than the others but not due to his own abilities but by the grace of God that is within him (1 Corinthians 15:10). It is therefore, through the grace of God that Paul and others preach and people, like the Corinthians come to believe (1 Corinthians 15:11).

 

Believers in Christ must remember the message of the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, which is the purpose of 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. Paul then reminds the Corinthians of the fact there are many eyewitnesses to the fact Jesus rose from the dead, many of whom were still alive at the time of Paul’s writing (1 Corinthians 15:6). While the Church today does not have any living eyewitnesses to speak with, we do have the writings of eyewitnesses in the Gospels, the Book of Acts, and the Epistles, so there is no excuse. We must also remember that anyone preaching this message, like Paul, does so by the grace of God who has forgiven them of their sin, even the sin of persecuting the Church like occurred with Pual.

 

God instructed the Israelites to leave Egypt and to observe the Passover so future generations would remember how God delivered them from death by coming under the blood of a lamb (Exodus 12). Both Jews and Gentiles who have professed their belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ now observe communion or the Lord’s supper to remember how the broken body and blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has saved them from death for their sins (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 10:9-10). Even if one has committed grievous sins like Paul’s persecuting the Church, the grace of God saves us and not our works, (Ephesians 2:8-9). May we, like the Jews observing Passover, observe the Lord’s Supper frequently and with humility and adoration towards God, remembering His great sacrifice, love, and grace towards us who have sinned (Romans 5:8).

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to ask Jesus to forgive your sins and make Him the Lord of your life through the profession of your belief in the death burial and resurrection of Christ (Romans 10:9-10), I urge you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.