1.What Does Romans 1:3 Mean?

►
Concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the
flesh,

Verse Thoughts
The gospel of God was conceived in the heart of God. It centres on the good
news of God's grace towards mankind and its singular focus is the only begotten
Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord - who died for our sin and rose again the third
day, so that whosoever would believe on His name would not perish but receive
God's free gift of everlasting life, by grace through faith in Him.

But the most significant truth that is ridiculed by unbelievers, denied by cults and
blasphemed by doctrines of demons is that the eternal Son of God (the incarnate
Word, made flesh), who Himself created heaven and earth and Who upholds all
things by the omnipotent power of His almighty hand became a man.

Jesus became flesh and dwelt amongst us - living a perfect life so that He could
offer Himself as the only sacrifice to God for the sin of the whole world - and by
His death and resurrection redeem sinful mankind from eternal separation from a
holy God.
 
The genealogies of Christ through His earthly mother Mary, and His legal adoptive
father Joseph, stand as a true and authoritative witness to His humanity. The
God-Man who could say, before Abraham was I AM, was not only the root of
Jesse, through whom King David was born, but could also be identified as the
offspring of David.

It is only as God was He good enough to pay the price of sin and only as a Man
could he qualify to die for His fellow-men. Should we not treasure these things in
our heart and ponder them daily in our heart, by faith with thanksgiving
What Does Romans 1:4 Mean? ►
Who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead,
according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,

Verse Thoughts
Having just been reminded in the previous verse that the Lord Jesus was fully
human having been: made of the seed of David, according to the flesh, which
gave Him the right to the throne of Israel - we now read that Jesus Christ was
also: declared the Son of God with power, because He was resurrected from the
dead, by God's Holy Spirit.

Isaiah tells us that Jesus was the Son of Man that was born as well as the Son of
God that was given, and Paul confirms that He is of the earthly seed of David
while at the same time being declared to be Son of God.

It is only as Man could Jesus be identified with the human race and offer His
perfect life for the sins of the world, but only as God was He good enough to pay
the price for sin. Christ had to be God and Man to qualify as our Redeemer.
 
But the wonderful proof that God the Father accepted the sacrifice of Christ the
Son on our behalf, was His resurrection. It is this wonderful substitutionary death
and glorious resurrection that constitutes the Gospel - for which the apostle Paul
was set apart by both the Father and the Son - and which was promised before
times in the holy Scriptures.
2.What Does 2 Corinthians 5:19 Mean? ►
That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their
trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to
us.

Verse Thoughts
The Lord Jesus Christ was fully human - yet He was born without sin. He came
into this world without a sin nature for He was Son of the most high God. The
Lord Jesus was fully God for He was the Word made flesh Who was with the
Father from all eternity. In the beginning, He was with God and from the
beginning, He was God.

The Lord Jesus was truly God, but He was also fully Man. Indeed, if He had not
been a member of the human race, He could not have become our Kinsman-
Redeemer, nor could He have died on the Cross to pay the price for our sin. If
Jesus was not fully God, He would not have been qualified to pay the price for sin
- for God alone is holy and righteous, good and gracious. God alone is free from
sin. God alone was good enough to pay the price for sin.

However, God is Spirit and man is flesh and bone, and the only acceptable price
for the sin of mankind was the shed blood of a perfect Man. Only a sinless Man
could pay the price for the sin of the world, and God loved the world so much that
He gave His only begotten Son to be born into the human race and give His life as
the ransom price for mans' sin - so that whosoever believes on Him would not
perish but have everlasting life. 

It is important, therefore, that we acknowledge Jesus to be fully Man Who lived as

we live - according to the limitations of our fleshly covering and human makeup.
He grew weary and tired just as we do. He became hungry and thirsty and was
often footsore and weary. And Jesus was tried and tested just as we are - yet,
throughout the course of His earthly life, HE did not sin in thought, word, or deed.
Jesus was a Man Who learned obedience by the things that He suffered, and like
us, throughout his earthly sojourn He was acquainted with all manner of griefs.

During His earthly life, He prayed to His Heavenly Father and displayed deep
reverence and humble submission toward God. He was sinless and without guile;
He was humble and meek; He was full of grace and truth and found favour with
God and Man. Jesus was perfected during His life, to equip Him for His role as the
Author and Finisher of our faith - He was the source of eternal life for all who
would believe in Him and He was sent by the Father to give His life as the ransom
price for our sin.
But it is vital that the Lord Jesus is equally acknowledged as the living God - the
incarnate Word of the Father Who came from His heavenly abode to reconcile the
world to God. He was the very radiance of God's glory, the exact image of His
essence, and the perfect expression of His Father's nature, for the Spirit of God
was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself - restoring the world into fellowship
with Himself.

Jesus was the Mediator between God and man, for God was in Christ making
peace between the world and Himself: "God was in Christ reconciling the world to
Himself." Having restored those who believe on His name, He did not count our
trespasses against us, but He committed to us the word of reconciliation. God
made us ministers of reconciliation to point others to HIM.

Just as Jesus reconciled us who believe, to Himself... so we have been

entrusted with the word of reconciliation - we have been entrusted with the
responsibility of telling the unsaved the glorious gospel of grace. How
astonishing that we who have been saved have been entrusted with the message
of restoring people into fellowship with the Father!

It was through His work on Calvary's Cross that the Son of God, as Son of Man
worked to bring condemned sinners back to Himself. Sin had to be punished and
the wrath of God was poured out on His beloved Son - as payment for our sin so
that we might be reconciled back to Himself. And as He cried in triumph, "It Is
Finished," the veil of the Temple that separated a holy God from sinful man, was
torn from top to bottom. Justice had been done. The price of sin had been paid.
God was satisfied. God, in Christ, was reconciling the world to Himself.

This is indeed a great mystery that staggers our understanding... but in His grace,
God is ready to use us to be His tools by committing to us the word of
reconciliation. May we be ready and willing to witness to a lost world the
wonderful works of God so that lost sinners may continue to be reconciled to
God and return into fellowship with our Heavenly Father.

2. 2 Timothy 1:10 Mean? ►

But now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who
abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Verse Thoughts
Being the last letter Paul would write, it is not surprising that this second letter to
Timothy, his 'child in the faith' is intensely personal and charged with emotion.
These final words from Paul to the young pastor, are reminiscent of the farewell
address Moses gave to Israel before he transferred the reins of responsibility to
Joshua.

No doubt Paul felt a similar sentiment as he prepared for his departure from this
world into the next. Paul wanted Timothy to be equipped to confidently carry forth
the torch of the gospel of God in the years ahead, so that the light of the glorious
gospel of grace and the truth of our great salvation would be passed on from one
generation to the next.

The truth Paul preached with a passion was that God's plan of redemption was
made fully known to mankind, through the advent of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
He was the Messiah of Israel. He was the Saviour of mankind and the Light of the
world. He abolished death and gave life and immortality to all who trust in Him.
His life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, brought eternal life and
immortality to all who believe, so that the light of the gospel would bring them
from darkness into the glorious light of truth.
 
This is a letter that was meant to give Timothy much encouragement and support,
while providing him with detailed instruction on remaining true to the faith, and
sound in doctrine. Paul also felt it necessary to warn Timothy of the difficulties
and dangers in allowing false teachers to infiltrate the church... men like Jannes
and Jambres who resisted Moses and blasphemed God.

He encouraged Timothy to stand fast in the evil day and warned of struggles
ahead, approaching apostasy, and times of increasing danger. He even provided
a comprehensive list of the ungodly characteristics that would expose these
deceivers, to help Timothy identify evil-doers, and avoid those who are corrupt,
worthless, resisting the truth, and disregarding the faith.

Paul did not want to minimize the coming perilous times, because Timothy
needed to be prepared for what lay ahead. However, he did seek to encourage his
fellow-laborer to be faithful to his calling, to build up the Body of Christ and to
strengthen the resolve of this younger man, as he pressed on to the goal of his
calling. Timothy had shown himself approved unto God, and Paul wanted him to
be a bold and very courageous testimony to the truth, and to keep on sharing the
good news of the gospel of God, and Jesus Christ His only begotten Son.
Paul knew that Timothy could be timid and was sometimes intimidated, and so he
encouraged him not to be embarrassed to testify of the Lord Jesus, nor to be
ashamed of Paul, his father in the faith. "Rather, share in suffering for the gospel,
by relying on the power of God," were Paul's encouraging words. Paul had gone
through many difficult times himself and suffered in many different ways, but he
had learned that God's grace is sufficient, for His power is perfected in our
weakness and timidity, and Paul longed for Timothy to prove this truth for
himself.

"He has saved us and called us with a holy calling," he wrote to Timothy, "not
according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was
given to us in Christ Jesus before time began." OH YES!! Paul knew the value of
repetition. He knew that restating a fact is an important teaching tool, and it
reminded Timothy that we are not saved by our own good works. We are
redeemed by faith in the precious blood of Jesus.

Paul reminded Timothy of the training he received from his mother and
grandmother in his youth and the precious faith he placed in Christ, for salvation.
He encouraged Timothy to rekindle the passion for Christ he had, in bygone days,
and to remember that God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but one of power
and love and discipline.

He reminded him that God's redemption plan was formulated in the council
chambers of heaven... before the world was founded... "but now has been
revealed by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus." He abolished death,
through the sacrifice of Himself, and brought life and immortality to light through
the good news that Christ died for our sin, was buried, and was raised the third
day.

The gospel Paul preached to Timothy is the same gospel that we adore... for sin
and death has been abolished in our lives and by faith in Him we have been given
life and immortality. It was by grace that we have been given the light of the
glorious gospel of Christ and it is by grace that He will illumine our path and
bring us home victorious.

3. Romans 3:24
The only way that man can be justified and made right with God is through the
blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The only way that man can have his sins forgiven
and be redeemed from sin, death and hell is because Christ Jesus paid the price
in full. The only way man can have his unrighteousness replaced with the
righteousness of God is by being born from above and positioned in Christ. The
only way that a man can be saved is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:25
 God in His love did not immediately condemn the entire human race when Adam
sinned, instead He presented Jesus as our sacrifice for sin. Because the eternal
God became perfect man and lived a life that was pleasing to the Father. He was
qualified to die a death that took the punishment for the full measure of
humanities wicked ways, so that people are declared 'righteous' because of HIS
blood - that was shed on their behalf.

Romans 3:25
God is deeply offended by sin – and sinful man must be punished. Indeed, the
wrath of God must be poured out on all sin, which is why mankind seeks to
appease God’s wrath by offering gifts and sacrifices – by trying to do good works
and kind deeds – by trying to get right with God. But man is totally incapable of
satisfying the justice that a righteous God demands – and so by his own means,
man can never be reconciled to God.

Romans-3-24
The only way that man can be justified and made right with God is through the
blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The only way that man can have his sins forgiven
and be redeemed from sin, death and hell is because Christ Jesus paid the price
in full. The only way man can have his unrighteousness replaced with the
righteousness of God is by being born from above and positioned in Christ. The
only way that a man can be saved is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Justification is a free gift of God's grace to man, but at an enormous cost to the

Father. The price of our redemption was bestowed on us freely and without any
cost to us, but at a tremendous price to the Lord. The inestimable and eternal
riches of God are given freely to every-man at the expense of Christ's own life,
and all one has to do is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

Salvation is by God's GRACE as opposed to merit. Salvation is FREE from God

and is not a reward. Salvation is without cost and cannot be earned. Salvation is
given through God's favour and can never rest on man's merit, man's demands,
or man's work and salvation can never be gained as a reward, payment or by
some other measure of man's worthiness - it is by grace alone through faith alone
in Christ alone.

God is deeply offended by sin – and sinful man must be punished. Indeed, the
wrath of God must be poured out on all sin, which is why mankind seeks to
appease God’s wrath by offering gifts and sacrifices – by trying to do good works
and kind deeds – by trying to get right with God. But man is totally incapable of
satisfying the justice that a righteous God demands – and so by his own means,
man can never be reconciled to God.

How amazing to discover that because of God’s love and justice for the human
race, which He made in His own image and likeness, God Himself preordained in
His grace to present His only begotten Son as the unique and prefect atoning
sacrifice, Who alone would be the propitiation for our sins.

God provided the one and only means through Whom His wrath could be
appeased so that sinful man be reconciled to Himself. God purposed that Christ
alone would take the punishment for the whole human race so that BY FAITH IN
HIM – i.e. through faith in His blood, God’s wrath could be satisfied, and man
could be returned into full fellowship with Himself.

What an amazing demonstration of the love and justice of God meeting in the
Person of Christ Jesus, Whom God presented as our propitiation. What a glorious
demonstration of the righteousness of God - that He paid the price of your sin
and mine by giving His only begotten Son to die in our place. Praise His holy
name forever, amen. 

5. Mark 1:15
Along with many holy men of God, Isaiah prophesised of Christ, the Servant of
God, Jesus Christ the righteous, Who was sent to save His people.. Israel, from
their sins. He also prophesised of John the Baptist, God's final Old Testament
messenger, who was set aside from his mother's womb to prepare the way of the
Lord.

After laying this prophetic foundation and a brief reference to Christ's baptism in
the Jordan, His temptation in read more...

What Does Mark 1:15 Mean? ►

and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and
believe in the gospel."

Verse Thoughts
Along with many holy men of God, Isaiah prophesised of Christ, the Servant of
God, Jesus Christ the righteous, Who was sent to save His people.. Israel, from
their sins. He also prophesised of John the Baptist, God's final Old Testament
messenger, who was set aside from his mother's womb to prepare the way of the
Lord.

After laying this prophetic foundation and a brief reference to Christ's baptism in
the Jordan, His temptation in the wilderness and John's disgraceful
imprisonment, Mark plunges straight into Christ's extended Galilean ministry,
which it the main focus of his short gospel - until that final week of Christ's
astonishing life on earth.

Like all the gospel writers Mark wrote of the fulfilment of the time foretold by so
many Old Testament prophets.. the long-awaited King of Israel had arrived and
the promised kingdom, for which the nation had been anticipating for so long..
was a hand. The time had arrived - prophecies were finally being fulfilled! It was
time for the nation to repent.

Four hundred years of silence from God was broken with the arrival of Jesus. The
time was fulfilled. The seed of the woman Who would crush the serpent's head
had arrived. The Seed of Abraham and Son of David was present in their midst.
The Shepherd of Israel had come to gather the lost seep of the house of Israel
into the sheep-pen of their Messiah. The One Who had healing in His wings had
finally arrived.

They knew that He had come to heal the broken hearted, to set captives free, to
heal the sick, to cleanse lepers, to raise the dead, to rescue the perishing, to
bring liberty to those that were in bondage.. and to establish the prophesised
time of peace and prosperity in the land.. a time that had been promised to their
forefather Abraham, as an everlasting covenant.

But from their conception in the wilderness under the leadership of Moses.. Israel
broke their conditional covenant with the Lord and rebelled against their God,
Who likened their apostasy as to an adulterous wife.. And along with the arrival of
their Messiah-King the nation was once again called to repentance.. so that as
God's chosen nation they would be eligible to enter His millennial rule.

The prophesised time had finally arrived and the kingdom of God was at hand..
and so... as through their history, the rebellious nation of Israel was once again
called to repent. They were challenged to repent of their sin, to renounce their
wickedness, to turn from their apostasy - to have a change of mind and to turn
away from their past offence against God.
They were admonished to repent and change their attitude and their conduct -
their motive and their minds, so that they could produce the fruit of repentance.
This had been the clarion call of so many holy men of God in the past and now
that the time was fulfilled and the kingdom of God was at hand - Israel was once
again called unto repentance.

Repentance for sin and faith in the gospel of God, are two sides of the same coin.
Turning from sin and turning to Christ was the message that was being
proclaimed to the nation of Israel. Godly sorrow for their sin combined with a
wholehearted commitment to the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ as the
object of faith was the single message. The only possible way to turn away from
sin is to turn to Christ. And the only way to turn to Christ is to turn from sin.
Repentance from sin and faith in the gospel by necessity have to happen as a
simultaneous act of will. To believe on Christ by necessity requires a turning
from sin. - Repent and Believe.

And for three years Jesus sought fruit from His people Israel - but as a nation
they rejected Him. Israel did not understand that before He could set-up the
promised kingdom on earth.. that long anticipated kingdom of God, their
Messiah must become their Kinsman-Redeemer. Before He could set up His
promised millennial rule, Jesus must first be offered as the one and only
sacrificial Lamb of God - to take away the sin of the world.

Before Israel could inherit kingdom of God Christ must die for their national sin
and their personal sin and the sin of the world.. so that whosoever BELIEVES on
Him would not perish but have everlasting life. And that is why Israel, as a nation
was called to repent for the kingdom of God was at hand - repent and believe.
Sharing the Gospel
Maybe you’re afraid to share your faith because you don’t know what to say. Or maybe
you’re sharing the Gospel but nothing is happening; people aren’t committing their lives
to Christ. Are you doing something wrong?

You can’t open someone’s heart to the truth of the Gospel—but God can, by His Spirit.
The Apostle Paul wasn’t eloquent, but God used him because he depended on the Holy
Spirit to guide him (see 1 Corinthians 2:1-5). God guided many others in the Bible as
well—like Moses, who at first asked God to get someone else to lead the Israelites to
the Promised Land, or Jonah, who didn’t think the wicked Ninevites deserved God’s
mercy and tried to run the other way.

Remember that God does not call the equipped; He equips the called—and as
Christians, we are all called to share what Christ has done. Some of Christ’s last words
on earth were, “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Sharing our faith
isn’t just a suggestion, it’s a command. And God is with us when we obey Him.

What Do I Do?
One of the best ways to share your faith is to live a godly life. Non-Christians often look
at Christians as hypocritical because we say one thing but do another. Show those
close to you that you care—spend time with them, help meet their needs and offer to
listen when they have problems. You might not be able to answer all of their questions,
but they can’t deny the reality of what Christ has done in your life. If you find this is hard
to do, perhaps God is speaking to you about your own need to walk more closely with
Him every day.

Another important part of sharing your faith is to pray for those you interact with. If you
can’t think of anyone who isn’t a Christian, pray for God to place someone in your life
who needs Him.

Also make a habit of reading the Bible, praying and going to church. (Read more about
diving into your walk with God through prayer, Scripture and relationships .) These
things shouldn’t be done for attention or for the sake of doing them, but to help you grow
in your own faith. Being passionate about Christ will help others see that there’s
something different about you, and they will want to know what it is. You can also reflect
Christ through kind words, patience, a gentle temperament, choosing to love even
difficult people, carefully monitoring what you watch or listen to, and treating others with
respect.

At the same time, we must do more than live godly lives. People need to hear the
Gospel—to hear that God loves them, Christ died for them and that they can
have eternal life. Romans 10:13-14 says, “‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how
can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear
without someone preaching to them?”

4 Simple Steps
To share the Gospel, you can follow these 4 simple steps:

1. Tell them about God’s plan—peace and life. God loves you and wants you to
experience the peace and life He offers. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but
have everlasting life” (John 3:16). He has a plan for you.

2. Share our problem—separation from God. Being at peace with God is not

automatic. By nature, we are all separated from Him. The Bible says, “For all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). God is holy, but we are human
and don’t measure up to His perfect standard. We are sinful, and “the wages of sin is
death” (Romans 6:23).

3. Talk about God’s remedy—the cross. God’s love bridges the gap of separation
between you and Him. When Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave,
He paid the penalty for your sins. The Bible says, “‘He Himself bore our sins’ in His body
on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by His wounds you
have been healed’” (1 Peter 2:24).

4. Our response—receive Christ. You cross the bridge into God’s family when you
accept Christ’s free gift of salvation. The Bible says, “But as many as received Him, to
them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

To receive Christ, a person needs to do 4 things:

 Admit you’re a sinner.

 Ask forgiveness and be willing to turn away from your sins.

 Believe that Christ died for you on the cross.

 Receive Christ into your heart and life.

Romans 10:13 says, “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” Here’s a
prayer you can pray to receive Christ:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you
died for my sins and rose from the dead. I trust and follow you as my Lord and Savior.
Guide my life and help me to do your will. In your name, amen.”

More resources to help you share your faith: 

  Share PeaceWithGod.net, an interactive website that presents the Gospel in a
simple way.

 Read more about the Gospel—what it is and what it does.

 Findresources for sharing the Gospel, including videos, printable tracts, advice
on sharing your testimony and articles about sharing your faith.

5 Things to Remember
Gary Cobb, a BGEA staff member who helps train others to share their faith, shares five
things to remember.

1. Understand that your own life is a great part of your witness. If my relationship
with Christ isn’t vital, then I really don’t have a lot to share. People not only listen to your
words, they look at your life. We still fail and aren’t always a good example, so our only
hope is to come to God and surrender to Him. It’s nothing that we can do. It’s God’s
work.

2. Realize that we earn the right to be heard by sincerely listening to

others. Everyone has a story. You can’t just blunder into a situation and callously share
without listening. The Bible says that Jesus was a friend of sinners. That’s our example
—to be a friend, to listen to people, see where they are, and then take them where they
need to go.

3. Recognize that people are looking for a cure. When you go to the doctor, you
don’t say, “I have cancer.” Instead, you describe your symptoms. That’s where most
people live. They only see symptoms. “I’m lonely. I’m suffering from a broken
relationship. I’m stressed. There’s darkness within me that I don’t know what to do with.”
How do we share Christ with someone who is overwhelmed with their symptoms? We
know the ultimate cure. It’s Jesus Christ. Jesus didn’t die for their symptoms. He died
for their sins. Yet, people don’t wake up in the morning and think, “You know, I need to
accept Jesus.” They wake up with the symptoms, and so as people who are attempting
to rescue those who are lost, we need to start with their symptoms, show them the
disease (sin), and take them to the ultimate cure (Jesus).

4. Keep it simple. The Gospel is already simple. Christ died for our sins. He was
buried. He rose again. We need to turn away from the things that are wrong in our lives,
and accept what Jesus did on the cross for us and receive Him as Lord. Don’t
complicate it. So many times we throw in things like our denomination or other doctrines
or we use religious terms that a lot of people don’t understand. We end up confusing
them and creating barriers. Explain the Gospel in a way that people can understand.

5. Stress the love of God. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave
his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”
(NIV). It starts with love, and that’s where we need to start. Ultimately, we have to
explain that we’re all sinners and have violated God’s standards, and, because of that,
there is a judgment. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23, NIV). But don’t start with
that. People know they’ve done a lot of wrong things, but they first need to hear that
God is still open to forgiving them.

Is the Gospel Defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4?

1 Corinthians 15 does not contain the entire gospel. Nor is it a comprehensive list
of what a person must believe to receive eternal life. To the contrary, how to
receive eternal life is not even in view. Eternal life is assumed, and some
elements of the gospel are proclaimed to help those who already have eternal life
live in light of it.

This study is an excerpt from my Gospel Dictionary online course. This course
considers 52 key words of the Gospel and thousands of biblical texts. The course
contains over 100 hours Bible teaching. You can take the course by joining my
online discipleship group.

What is the Gospel?

The Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15

Paul’s explanation of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15 is probably more
controversial than any other gospel-related passage in the New Testament. This
is because 1 Corinthians 15 seems to explicitly define “the gospel.” Paul writes,
“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which
also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you
hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain” (1
Corinthians 15:1-2).

Paul writes that he is going to reiterate to them the gospel he preached when he
was among them, which they had received, and in which they still stand. All of
this is very similar to the language he used in Galatians 2.

The dilemma with what Paul writes, however, comes in the second half of 1
Corinthians 15:2: “…by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word
which I preached.” By this, many believe that Paul is explaining what is
necessary to believe in order to receive everlasting life.
But note that if this is what Paul means then the last part of verse 2 (“unless you
believed in vain”) implies that if a person doesn’t persevere in holding fast to the
gospel, then they either lose their salvation or never really believed in the first
place. If Paul is defining what a person must believe in order to be justified, then
apparently, they have to continue to believe it to stay justified or prove
themselves justified.

The only other option is to recognize that the word “saved” is not referring to
going to heaven when you die, but is similar in meaning to how Paul used the
word in Romans 1:16-17.

salvation

The word saved means “delivered,” and context determines what we are
delivered from (see Salvation: The Most Misunderstood Word in the Bible). The
word “saved” in 1 Corinthians refers to being “healthy” or blameless at the
Judgment Seat of Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18, 21; 3:15; 5:5; 6:19). The word
“saved” in 1 Corinthians is not about escaping hell and go to heaven when we die
(It almost never means this in the Bible). Instead, it is about believers living in
such a way so that when they stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ (a judgment
for believers only), they receive praise and commendation from Jesus for a life
well lived.

So the gospel Paul defines in 1 Corinthians 15 is a message for believers to help

prepare them for the Judgment Seat of Christ.

This passage is not about the essential elements that must be believed in order to
receive everlasting life. This is not a passage for unbelievers.

Rather, 1 Corinthians 15 contains essential discipleship truths which affect our

sanctification as believers and how we use the power of God in our lives (cf. 1
Corinthians 1:18).

What if 1 Corinthians 15 IS for non-Christians about how to receive eternal life?

Nevertheless, some still want to use 1 Corinthians 15 as a central passage for the
gospel that must be presented to unbelievers so they can receive eternal life. So
for the sake of argument, let us briefly assume that such a view is correct.
Let us assume that Paul is talking about essential “evangelistic” truths that a
person must believe in order to receive everlasting life. In this view, 1 Corinthians
15:3-4 delineate what these essentials are. Paul writes, “For I delivered to you
first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day
according to the Scriptures.”

When these two verses are used to define the essential gospel elements that
people must believe in order to receive eternal life, they end up with three basic
gospel truths. This passage, we are told, reveals three things a person must
believe in order to receive everlasting life. They must believe that:

Christ died for our sins.

He was buried.
He rose again from the dead.
Jesus crucifiedSome might add a fourth element on the top of this list which is
implied by Paul but not stated explicitly, namely that we must also believe we are
sinners. The logic is that since Paul writes that Christ died for our sins, people
must first believe that they are sinful before they can believe that Christ died for
their sins. Fine. Let us give the benefit of the doubt, and allow this implied truth of
the gospel as well.

But this approach leads to some serious problems about Paul’s definition of the
gospel.

For example, who within Christendom does not believe these three (or four)
truths? Sure, there might be a few liberal pastors and scholars who deny that we
are sinners or argue that Jesus didn’t actually rise from the dead, but for the most
part, these three (or four) truths are known, accepted, and believed by just about
everybody who bears the name “Christian.” Even the “non-evangelical” fringe
groups such as Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses believe these things.

Furthermore, entire segments of Christianity which teach that eternal life is based
on our own effort and good works will also wholeheartedly agree to these
statements. There is very little in these statements to separate evangelical
Christianity from all other forms. There is nothing here to separate orthodoxy
from unorthodoxy; nothing which separates true Christianity from cultic
Christianity.
Let me put it another way: What if someone believed they were a sinner, that
Jesus died on the cross for their sin, was buried, and three days later He rose
again from the dead, all in accordance with what Scripture says, but at the same
time, believed that Jesus was only human, was not born of a virgin, and sinned
just like the rest of us?

Has this person understood and believed the biblical gospel? Of course not! But
nothing that Paul says here indicates anything wrong with these other beliefs.

Furthermore, it would be possible to believe everything Paul states in 1

Corinthians 15:3-4, but also believe that we still had to live a life of good works in
order to make it to heaven. Has such a person understood and believed the
gospel? I would say “No,” as would most evangelical pastors and authors.

Some pastors and Bible teachers recognize this dilemma, and so they add some
ideas to what Paul mentions here to help clarify the gospel. They argue that
although Paul does not mention these other items here in 1 Corinthians 15, he
does mention them elsewhere, such as in Galatians 2 and Romans, and so these
other elements can be safely added to Paul’s list of essential gospel truths.

Of course, as soon as people start to go outside of 1 Corinthians 15 to add

elements to the gospel, there is no consistency in which elements people start
adding. Some Bible teachers will add elements about the deity of Jesus and the
necessity of justification by faith alone apart from works. Others will include the
sinless life of Jesus, His virgin birth, His atonement, and whatever other
“essential” gospel truths they think are necessary.

But as soon as we start adding things to the list of what a person must believe in
order to truly have everlasting life, there is no rational stopping place. It is all
subjective to how much doctrine you want to throw into the mix. Some will have
three essentials, another will have five, while someone else will have eight or ten.

And of course, all of these truths can be shown to be essential to the “gospel”
since all of them, in one place or another in the New Testament are included in the
gospel.

gospel-contextualizationThis arbitrary practice of augmenting Paul’s definition of

the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15 proves that Paul is not defining the gospel after all.
He is including some of the essential truths of the gospel, but by no means is he
including them all.
Evidence of this is further found in the fact that although most pastors and Bible
teachers want Paul’s definition of the gospel to conclude at 1 Corinthians 15:4,
this is not where Paul himself stops defining the gospel. He goes on to include
numerous truths within his definition of the gospel which no pastor or Bible
teacher ever includes in their augmented lists.

Paul continues on through at least 1 Corinthians 15:8, and maybe further than
that. In 1 Corinthians 15:5-8, he says, “… and that He was seen by Cephas, then
by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of
whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After
that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen
by me also, as by one born out of due time.”

So if 1 Corinthians 15 defines what a person must believe to receive everlasting

life, not only must we include the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ,
but also the appearances of Christ to Cephas, then the twelve, then to over 500 at
once, then to James, then to the apostles, then last of all to Paul.

If Paul is truly defining the essential gospel elements in 1 Corinthians 15 that an

unbeliever must believe in order to receive eternal life, we have no right to
arbitrarily stop his definition in 1 Corinthians 15:4, but must include all of the
elements he includes, and not add anything he fails to mention. But many pastors
and Bible teachers do both—they first add to Paul’s supposed gospel definition in
1 Corinthians 15 and then they also cut things out.

The only available solution to this problem is that Paul is simply mentioning
some of the elements of the broader gospel in order to make a particular point to
the believers in Corinth. And what point is that?

Paul is explaining the Gospel Truths about the Resurrection to Believers so they
can Properly Live
In context, it is a point about the resurrection of Jesus and the future bodily
resurrection of all believers (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:20-58). Paul wants the
Corinthians believers to be praised and well-received at the Judgment Seat of
Christ, and to do that, they need to understand that a future bodily resurrection is
coming, after which time they will stand before Jesus and give an answer to Him
for how they have lived their lives (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:11-17).
Toward this goal, Paul provides some specific truths from the multi-faceted and
all-encompassing gospel which will help them understand that the bodily
resurrection of Jesus proves that all believers in Jesus will also be bodily
resurrected in the future.

So while the gospel truths of 1 Corinthians 15 can be shared with unbelievers, the
truths Paul mentions are primarily directed toward believers, to encourage them
to live lives by faith in the Son of God and follow Him in love, service, and self-
sacrifice so that we will be spiritually healthy, strong, and bold when we stand
before Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

To summarize then, 1 Corinthians 15 does not contain the entire gospel. Nor is it
a comprehensive list of what a person must believe to receive eternal life. To the
contrary, how to receive eternal life is not even in view. Eternal life is assumed,
and some elements of the gospel are proclaimed to help those who already have
eternal life live in light of it. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is defending the resurrection
by showing that since Jesus was raised, believers will be raised also.

Conclusion
So what is the gospel? It can easily be proved from Scripture that the gospel is
more than faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. Much more. The gospel includes
elements of the kingdom of God on earth. It includes facts about justification,
sanctification, glorification, security in heaven, satisfaction and contentment on
earth, and eternal reward. The gospel includes all this and more.

Do you see what this scholar is saying about the gospel? The gospel is not just
the content of what is preached, but is also everything God has done for the
world in the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus, including the act,
process, and execution of the proclamation. The gospel is good news for
everybody, whether Jew or Gentile, believer or unbeliever, regarding the benefits
and blessings which come to us from the person and work of Jesus Christ.

And while different biblical authors seem to have different gospels, all they really
have is different elements which they emphasize in the one all-encompassing,
multi-faceted gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel contains everything related to
the person and work, of Jesus Christ, including the events before, during, and
after His incarnation.

So do you believe the gospel? I hope you not only believe the gospel truths you
have been taught, but also endeavor to learn and believe more gospel truths.
Most of all, I hope you believe the central gospel truth of them all, that eternal life
is the free gift of God to those who believe in Jesus for it.

Q:
I've heard preachers say that God gives us salvation as a free gift. But if that's
true, then why doesn't God go ahead and give it to everyone? I guess I don't
really understand this.

A:
One of the Bible’s greatest truths is that God offers us our salvation as a free gift. It isn’t
something we can buy, nor is it something we can earn by our own good works. The
Bible puts it this way: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

But the Bible also tells us two important truths about God’s gift of salvation. First, it tells
us that it is a costly gift. Think of it this way. Suppose you wanted to express your love
for someone by giving them a very fine gift. What would you have to do? Well, you’d
first have to go to the store and buy it—and the finer the gift, the more it would cost you.
To your friend, it’s a free gift, but it wasn’t free on your part.

The same is true with God’s gift of salvation. To us it’s free, but it cost God the life of His
Son. The reason is because on the cross Jesus Christ became the final sacrifice for our
sins. He paid for our salvation with His blood.

But the Bible also tells us a second truth: Like any other gift, God’s gift of salvation
doesn’t become ours until we accept it. Just as we can refuse the gift someone offers
us, so we can refuse God’s gift of salvation. But why would we? Don’t let this happen to
you, but by faith reach out and accept Christ into your life today.