“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how 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.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
The Bible definition of Gospel is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. The Gospel means the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection provides the Three Great Guarantees that God gave us.
I – The Guarantee Of Our Savior – “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
(Romans 1:4). The resurrection declares Christ is the Son the God. All conquerors have been conquered by death. All kings have been ruled by death. The philosophers have died as fools die. Religious leaders are all in their graves. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: .
(Hebrews 9:27) . All have died. Samson was not strong enough to resist death. Solomon was not wise enough to escape death. Methuselah live 969 years...but finally died. ONLY JESUS conquered death. Jesus is ENOUGH! If Jesus has not risen from the dead then the whole plan of God is a fraud, and you had better look for another Savior.
II -The Guarantee Of Our Salvation- “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”(1 Corinthians 15:17-20). If Christ be not raised: Your faith is vain. You are yet in your sins. No forgiveness; eternally guilty. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57). The power that brought Jesus back to life is available to us to bring our spiritually dead selves back to Christ.
III – The Guarantee Of Our Similar Resurrection – The WORD of GOD tells us that these frail, weak, sickly, imperfect and mortal bodies will one day be raised PERFECT BODIES. “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.” “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:53). Note: The Christian hope is ONLY for those who have believed in Christ. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.(John 11:25). He who believes in me shall live even if he dies.
(Messages by: Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon)
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