The Gospel Message

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

“The gospel is very simple. Even a child can comprehend its content and respond to its message. The apostle Paul encompassed the heart of the gospel in just twenty-eight words - ‘Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and . . . He was buried, and . . . He rose again the third day according to the scriptures; and . . . He was seen’ (vv. 3-5). Paul was not ashamed of that gospel (Rom. 1:16) and proclaimed it wherever he traveled, assuring his readers in Rome that he had, up to the time of his writing, ‘fully preached the gospel of Christ’ from Jerusalem all the way to the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea (Rom. 15:19). In his heart, this first century missionary had determined that wherever he engaged with unregenerate men he would preach ‘Jesus Christ, and Him crucified’ (2:2). The church at Corinth was reminded of Paul’s burden ‘to preach the gospel in the regions beyond [them]’ (2 Cor. 10:16).

     

‘The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (2 Thess. 1:8) ‘is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth’ (Rom. 1:16). It was the gospel that Paul preached to the Corinthians (Acts 18), knowing that only through that message would they be saved (v. 2). The good news of Christ, the crucified One, was the very foundation of their salvation. Paul delivered the message he had received (v. 3), and God did a work of grace in their hearts as they responded favorably, in faith. The ‘light of the glorious gospel of Christ’ had penetrated their darkened hearts and given ‘the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ’ (2 Cor. 4:4, 6). Has that light pierced the gloom of your heart? Christ died for sinners - trust Him today!”[1]

Reference:

[1] John E. Duty (JED), “The Gospel Message”. Excerpted from the Fundamental Evangelistic Association’s FEATURE Bible Study Guide (April - June 2014), page 15, ellipsis his. Used by permission. John E. Duty is the pastor of Community Bible Church in Leola, Pennsylvania.