1 Corinthians 15:3-5

I read a book a while back on the gospel by N.T. Wright. He makes the point that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not good advice but good news! In other words, the gospel is not advice from God on how we can live our lives better or differently in order to gain a right standing with Him. The gospel is not a formula to follow to make God happy! It is not a list of good works to perform in order to put God into our debt! The gospel is the declaration of the best news ever! The news that a right standing before God, the gift of forgiveness of sin and new life in Christ, is a standing that is received, not achieved! A person cannot be saved until they come to the end of themselves, to the end of all attempts at self-salvation. God’s salvation occurs in our lives when we place our faith in Christ alone as the One who paid the full penalty for our sins on the cross and was raised for our justification on the 3rd day. Again, we don’t achieve this by works, we receive it by faith! Have you?

PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 - "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve."

PAUSE: Paul explained to the Corinth church that our faith is built upon the foundation of the Gospel (Good News). The good news includes both the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Stop, meditate, and memorize these essential verses. Share the good news with at least one person this week.  

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus Christ not only to die but to conquer death for us all. I rejoice in the living hope of the resurrection.