OCT 17

1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Memorise 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
“I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you… wherein ye stand”

Paul emphatically prefaces his explanation of the gospel by saying that it was received from God and was not of his own device.

The first thing to note is that the gospel is about how Jesus Christ died for our sins. He died on account of our sins, not because of any sin of His own. He was “the just” dying for us the unjust. We caused His death and for us He shed His blood, to wash away our sins. His death is thus an atoning sacrifice, a vicarious offering.

Paul then referred to the Scriptures so that all may know that the writings of the Old Testament had prophesied of the Messiah who would die for the sins of the world. Christ came in fulfilment of the Scriptures, which foretold of Him and His death.

After Christ died, He was buried and He rose again the third day. Thus the gospel we share should not only mention the death of Christ but also the fact that He was physically buried. It was a real death; Jesus did not merely faint. It should not stop there but continue to mention that Christ triumphed when He rose from the dead. Again, this was according to the prophecy of Scriptures. One example is Psalm 16:10 which tells us, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”

Dear teens, when you witness, the gospel you present should always include the death, the burial and the resurrection of Christ. A complete gospel presentation should include all these three elements. They show the love of Christ in dying for our sins and taking our place for we have sinned. It should also include the fact that Jesus’ body lay in a tomb and He was buried. But after three days, He rose from the dead, thus conquering death and the grave. Anyone who repents and believes by faith will be saved. That is the good news that we should faithfully present.

Thought: What a privilege to present the glorious gospel which is the power of God unto salvation.
Prayer: Lord, teach me and grant me opportunities to bring the gospel to friends and loved ones who are still outside Thy kingdom.