TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18
1 Corinthians 15:1-2
Matthew 13:24-30

“I declare unto you the gospel
which I preached unto you.”

THE GOSPEL MUST BE PREACHED

1 Corinthians 15 is Paul’s magnus opus on the doctrine of the resurrection. The Corinthian Christians were confused by this doctrine and its implications. Thus, Paul had to address this topic for the resurrection is a cornerstone of the Christian faith.

Paul began this section by pouring out his burden to declare the gospel again to the Corinthian Christians. Why was there this need? It was because of Paul’s concern that some might “have believed in vain” (1 Cor 15:2). According to the parable of the wheat and the tares, there is every possibility of a mixed multitude in the local church (Matt 13:24-30). In fact, one of the common problems Paul had to face among the churches was contention with false brethren (2 Cor 11:26; Gal 2:4).

It seemed that there were some among the Corinthians who doubted and even denied the truth of the resurrection. “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?” (1 Cor 15:12). True saving faith is based on a right understanding of gospel truth. If these men continued in their denial of the resurrection, then they would have indeed “believed in vain”!

Similarly, we must never stop preaching the gospel in our churches. We must never assume that all are true believers. There may be some who profess faith and have been attending church services for years, but they may never have truly believed in the gospel. It is to such that we must endeavour to preach the gospel, for only the gospel of Christ has the power to save. There is no other way. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom 1:16).

THOUGHT: The Gospel of Christ is the power to save.
PRAYER: Father, may my church continue to preach the gospel.