1 Corinthians 15:1-11
1 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.
3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. 9 For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.
10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. 11 So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.
It Really is a Simple Gospel
Almost every day on Facebook I get a notification that I have memories to go back and look at.
• As I go back and look at them, I am given an opportunity to repost them, so that my friends and family can join with me at looking at them all over again.
• It’s good for us to look back and remember.
Paul here in 1 Corinthians 15 begins the chapter by saying, “Let me remind you…”
• Let’s get back to the basics – the basics of our lives – the basics of our Christian faith.
• I want to invite you to look back – to remember when you first believed.
• When you first invited Christ Jesus into your life.
In the book of Revelation, we find this accusation against the Church in Ephesus:
• “I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!” (Rev. 2:4)
• Jesus tells the Church, “You have forgotten your first love.”
Now, I want you to understand something: They were still acting like the church:
Just before this complaint against the church, Jesus says, “I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.”
(Rev. 2:2-3)
• So, they were doing the things they needed to do – but their motivation in doing them was all wrong.
• I have said this before – and you will probably hear me said it again – you can be doing all the right things and still be wrong.
Here in the Church at Corinth – like we saw last week – there was division.
• Now, before I go any further, I want you to know that I am not bringing you these messages because I think there is division in our church. I don’t know of any, thank the Lord.
• I’m preaching these things to strengthen us as the church – to bring us not only closer together, but to keep us in unity so that together we can grow closer to the Lord and ‘be about our Father’s business.”
Paul here is coming to the end of his letter to the church ion Corinth – there’s only one more chapter in the book – and he “ends” by going back to the beginning.
• When a relationship is struggling, its often helpful to go back and remember how it started – to recapture those first emotions, thoughts, and decisions.
• To remember together when we first said yes.
• Paul is going back to the basics to remind them that this really is a simple Gospel we follow.
So, what does he say here?
I). First, he reminds us that Christianity is based on Historical Facts!
A). Jesus is not a myth – He wasn’t formed out of someone’s imagination.
• He is not a character formed out of a collection of morals or wise sayings.
• He is not founded upon some human imagination or hopefulness for a better future.
• He reminds us that our belief in Jesus is based on facts.
B). The facts are personal – they are connected with a person.
• And that person is not Socrates, or Plato, or Mohammed, or Caesar.
• He is not a wise man, or a prophet – but He is the Christ.
• And Christianity is founded upon the history, actions, and teachings of One individual – the only begotten Son of God.
C). Second, the facts are simple.
• The life of Jesus can be summed up in three simple phrases:
• Jesus died, He was buried, He arose.
D). Third, the facts are well proven.
• Paul says that after His resurrection, Jesus was seen by Peter, then by the 12 disciples, then by more than 500 of His followers, then by His half-brother James, by all the apostles, and finally, Paul says, I saw Him for myself.
• That’s a pretty good number of first-hand witnesses! That ought to hold up in any court.
II). But what did Christ come for? That’s easy: “Christ died for our sins” (v. 3)
A). Paul says just before this that this is the “most important.”
• Friends, Christianity was given first and foremost for the removal of sin!
• And like I stated last Sunday – if we would be sure that our sins are forgiven – if we would lead a life following the commandments of God and the love of Christ – every other problem in the world would take care of itself.
B). The great purpose and goal of Christianity is to rid the world of sin.
• In our hearts – in our minds – in our lives – in our institutions – in our customs - and in the governments of mankind.
• When sin is put away – evil is put away!
• Yes, we have added creeds and doctrines and denominations – and however correct and Scriptural those things are - the goal of Christianity is to “put away sin.”
III). That’s how Christianity should be preached – and that’s how Christianity is to be lived!
A). Look again at what Paul writes in the first two verses:
• 1 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.
B). Folks, Paul preached it then – and I am preaching it to you now.
• It really is a simple Gospel: Jesus died, He was buried, He arose
• And if you continue to believe that message you prove it by being obedient to Christ Jesus and His Word.
C). Today is our time of remembrance:
• As Paul wrote “You welcomed it then.”
• So, I beg you – “let’s still stand firm in it today!”
