GOSPEL BASICS - 2

THE CONTENT OF THE GOODNEWS

A quick look at the opening charge of Apostle Paul in his first epistle to the Corinthians, he gave us the details of the content of the good news. Remember that we have established that this news is about our salvation from sin. That it is the fulcrum of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 reads...

“1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.”

(we shall endeavor to explain it verse by verse, so we can do a thorough explanation of the contents for better comprehension)

Now, Paul said, he PREACHED the gospel to them; they RECEIVED it and then TOOK THEIR STAND on it.

This shows us, that there are three actions one can take against the gospel. Believing is the first action, the hearers are then expected to receive the preaching they hear. If the gospel is received, the receiver is expected to now stand on it. This is because many doctrines will be introduced to them after this period, and it will be required that they scrutinize those things in the light of the gospel. Any doctrine that is contrary to the foreknowledge and theme of the gospel should be discarded. This is what Paul actually meant by "standing on the gospel". So, those who are saved by the gospel but are now tossed to and fro is because they did not stand on it.

Okay, next verse...

“2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”

(Let us explain this statement also)

Paul said they ARE SAVED if they HOLD FIRM the word he preached to them. He then went further to explain what he meant. That is, IF THEY TRULY BELIEVE what he has preached. This therefore reveals to us how one can be saved by the gospel. The basic truth is that - one is saved only if they BELIEVE THE GOSPEL. This is why it is very difficult to know if someone who has listened to a preaching about the gospel is really saved or not. Salvation is totally dependent on BELIEVING THE GOSPEL ONLY, and this happens in the heart of the hearer.

Now this is why assurance of salvation is dependent upon what was preached to you and how it was preached. If the gospel is presented well, people will have no problem with the assurance of their salvation.

Now, Paul went further explain the gospel content in details. Let see...

“3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS according to the Scriptures,”

Now, Paul has to inform the people that he was also preached to, and that he also received the gospel. This is just something that is expedient for everyone; everyone who wishes to be saved must hear and believe the gospel. Paul made it clear that, he is not forcing the gospel upon them, it is a norm. Just to further explain, he proceeded into explaining the first crux, that CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS.

“4 that HE WAS BURIED, that HE WAS RAISED on the third day according to the Scriptures,”

Secondly Paul reminded us that HE WAS BURIED....and that HE WAS RAISED. All these he said, were according to scriptures. This is the charter of the gospel.

The gospel message is the good news about the DEATH of CHRIST as the ransom for the sin of world, the BURIAL and RESURRECTION as the crux for eternal life. All these were the phases that Jesus Christ went through, in other to redeem the world. This redemption is the good news that we ought to preach. This is because; through this redemption we have eternal life. And knowing that eternal life is the solution to the fallen state of man caused by the disobedience of the first man, definitely, this news is good.

This news about the redemption of humanity is good because it is exactly what the world has been waiting to hear. Since the fall of man, the world has been sold to sin and death. But through the finished work of Christ, we were all redeemed. Sin was ripped off its power, death was abolished. We have now been reconciled back to God. And since all the problems that mankind have today is traceable to the fall of man, we become very sure that the only "good news" that can save man is nothing but the gospel of the DEATH, BURIAL and RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ.

(c) Philip Oklu