That Which is of Most Importance
- Jerry Witham
- Mar 19, 2009
- Series: Sacred
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Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain (1 Corinthians 15.1-2).
The Apostle Paul was a fervent and faithful evangelist and he wanted so desperately for people to be saved. Here he draws the attention of the Corinthians to the gospel which he has proclaimed to them. This was Paul’s life ever since his conversion experience in Acts 9. This should be the story of every Christian as well. Once we are converted we are to share the gospel, this is our sacred calling. Isn’t it amazing how when we are first saved we want to tell others and seem to have a fire about us when it comes to evangelizing, but far too often that fire grows dim. Not with Paul.
As a result, the Corinthians have received the gospel message, they stand in the gospel as well and have been saved by the gospel. This is how God has ordained that people be saved - through the proclamation and preaching of the gospel. Paul then challenges them to hold fast (or hold firm) the word which I preached to you. Hebrews 10.23 says, Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Saving faith is not temporary. It is not a wavering belief. It is a belief that is fixed on Jesus both in mind and thought and whose life yields to the power of it daily. Such faith continues and perseveres to the end. It is secure faith in Jesus who is faithful to hold you in His hand and let know one snatch you out (John 10.28). If one’s faith is not like this then Paul says, it is in vain. So, where are you standing today?
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15.3-4).
What is the most important thing in life to you? For Paul it was the gospel. So, shall it be for us, whether in our homes, in the work place, in our neighborhoods, in our friends and truly everywhere. Could it be that we do not share it the gospel at all or as often as we should because we do not see it as that which is most important? May we ponder this.
Then Paul lays out the gospel message:
Christ died for our sins. Christ, who is the son of God, dwelt in eternity past, He has always been and always will be (John 1.1-3). He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end (Revelation 22.13; Colossians 1.17). He is the image of the invisible God, Creator and Sustainer of all things for His end and glory (Colossians 1.15-16). He came from heaven to earth taking on human flesh and nature; becoming a man even though He was God and He took the form of a servant (John 1.14; Philippians 2.6-8). He was tempted in all things as we are, yet He did not sin (Hebrews 4.15). Then He was obedient to death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2.8).
Christ died, He was not just some valiant man who died for a good cause, becoming a martyr. He was the Son of God dying for the sins of the world. He would be whipped and even have His beard plucked out. So much so that Isaiah says, Just as many were astonished at you, My people, so His appearance was marred more than any man and His form more than the sons of men (Isaiah 52.14). His death was violent and horrific as He physically bore the pain of nails piercing Him to a vile cross of wood and spiritually He experienced the weight of separation from the Father as He took on the sin of mankind. He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through (with nails) for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our wellbeing fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed…but the LORD has caused the iniquities of us all to fall on Him (Martin Luther calls this the great exchange!). He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth (Isaiah 53.3-5, 6b, 7). Paul says, He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5.21). Peter says, And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you are healed (1 Peter 2.24).
Why did Christ die?
For our sins. Sin is a failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude (disobedience), or nature (sin nature: the essence of who we are). Sin and the penalty of sin (death), entered into the world and was, and is the curse on the human race. Romans 5.12 says, Sin came into the world through one man. Romans 5.19 says, By the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners. The whole world, by the Fall is a lost world. Mankind is a sick man without a cure, a prisoner with a sentence upon him. All are born depraved. We are all in a state of lostness. We are all separated from God as a result of sin, we have no relationship, communion, or fellowship with Him. Isaiah says, All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way (Isaiah 53.6). Paul says, What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one” (Romans 3.9-12). For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3.23). Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (perverts), nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified (made clean), but you were justified in the name of Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6.9-11). In our thoughts, motives, what we say and do, desires, and longings, whether by omission (we don’t do what we are supposed to) or by commission (we do what we are not supposed to do) we sin. As a result, all of us stand guilty before a Holy God.
The result of sin is death. It is the penalty of sin. Sin leads to death (physical and spiritual). Paul says, death has become our enemy (1 Corinthians 15.26). For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6.23). This is the wrath of God, meaning we all face the punishment of God because of our sin. No one can escape it. That is why Paul calls us children of wrath (Ephesians 2.3). We all have one common problem, we are all sinners. And so was Paul. He says, For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God (1 Corinthians 15.9). He tells Timothy, I am foremost of all (sinners) or chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1.15). Thank God that Jesus is a friend of sinners (Matthew 11.19).
He was buried (John 19.38-42; Luke 23.50-56; Mark 15.42-47; Matthew 27.57-61) and He was raised on the third day. Acts 2.24 says, But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him be held in its power. The topic of the resurrection was hotly contested in Paul’s day. In fact, Paul speaks of the culture in Corinth and their beliefs about the resurrection saying, Some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead, but if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised (1 Corinthians 15.12-13). Some either did not believe in physical resurrection; or they just denied Christ’s resurrection; some only believed in a spiritual resurrection, but not physical; some believed the resurrection of the dead happened already turning it into an allegory (2 Timothy 2.18) and some doubted such a thing because it was too hard to understand (15.35). Paul said, Some have no knowledge of God (1 Corinthians 15.34). They were being taught false doctrine. Many ideas about the resurrection are present in our day. The other day Noah came home and told us that one of the kids at school told him that Jesus was dead and not alive. So the next day he was set on telling the young boy that he was alive. So, he told the boy, you may believe that Jesus is dead, but I believe He is alive!
Paul then gives us a list of those who were eye-witnesses to the risen Savior in 1 Corinthians 15.5-8. There were many eye-witnesses whom He appeared to. With such a list Paul is emphasizing the importance of the resurrection, for without the resurrection the gospel is powerless. Paul says, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification (Romans 4.25).
It is all about Jesus! This is the gospel. This must be central! When sharing the gospel a personal testimony is great, but we must never share the gospel to someone void of what Paul has shared here. Otherwise we have not shared with them the gospel.
According to the Scriptures. Not only does Paul mention the eye-witnesses, but He mentions a great witness and authority, which is the Holy Scriptures. This is what we should use when we evangelize. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Romans 10.17). This is one reason why we should be in the Scriptures often, so we are equipped to share. So, we should hear, read, study, memorize and meditate the Word of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me (1 Corinthians 15.10).
Salvation is a free gift, the grace of God, given by the Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit. For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace (John 1.16). Grace saved Paul and empowered Him to live out God’s sacred calling, so much so Paul said, I die daily (1 Corinthians 15.31). He was indicating his constant self-denial for the advancement of the gospel. As we share with people we must be empowered by the grace of God. His grace and love should be our motivation and strength in sharing the gospel. We also must make sure people know that it is by grace alone and that they can do nothing to earn the love and favor of God. It is a free gift and all one must do is receive it by faith. Paul says, For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2.8-9).
So may we deliver to our friends, our neighbors, our family, those sitting next to us on the plane, or those in our place of work that which is of most importance, the gospel.
