A Needed Reminder
Christians in Corinth needed the reminder two thousand years ago. I need the reminder today. So do you.
Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 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, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Cor 15:1-8)
The gospel. Preached to. Received by. Standing in. Saved by. Holding fast to. Believing in.
The gospel is to be proclaimed to the whole creation.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matt 28:19-20)
The gospel is to be received by sinners for whom Christ died.
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
The gospel is to be stood in.
Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Cor 15:58)
It is by the gospel that disciples are being saved.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Rom 1:16-17)
The gospel is the word to which we hold fast.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:6-8)
In accordance with the Scriptures, Jesus died for our sins. He was buried. He was raised on the third day. He appeared to many.
And he is coming again. “Then comes the end” (1 Cor 15:24).
Preached to. Received by. Standing in. Saved by. Holding fast to. Believing in. The gospel.
I needed that reminder today. I’m guessing you did too.