[Read the passage in your Bible or online by clicking the reference above.]
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel...
1 Corinthians 15:1
The gospel, literally, good news.
I've been wondering, lately, about the gospel. We Believers are encouraged to preach it, share it, but how many of us can actually articulate it? put words to it? Can we express why it is good news? I know it's a challenge for me.
Do we live by the gospel? as if we really know this good news changes everything?
I'm sure most of us can share the knowledge of Jesus's life in a nutshell. Paul did...
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance:
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day
according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas,
and then the Twelve.
1 Corinthians 15:3-5
Any of us who have attended church for any amount of time know the story... but do we know why it's good news?
Often we focus on the cross. His death.
We've turned a form of horrendous torture into wall art and jewelry.
But is His horrible unjust death really the foundation of the good news?
No. The foundation of the gospel and the good news are all tied up in His resurrection!
Then he appeared to James...
1 Corinthians 15:7
Do you know who James is in this passage? This is James the brother of Jesus. One of the brothers who doubted Jesus... mocked Him for His message and miracles (John 7:2-5). James. An unbeliever. Turned believer when Jesus appeared to Him. Resurrected.
Jesus's resurrection is the reason the crucifixion is part of the gospel. James went on to become the primary leader in the church at Jerusalem. This is the James who authored the book of James.
The appearance of the resurrected Jesus changed his life.
An encounter with the resurrected Jesus should change our lives too.
It's the reason we should live without fear of punishment, death, disease, pain.
Jesus. Resurrected. Brings us the same life when we truly trust in Him.
Believe with all our hearts in who He is and what He's done for us.
Again, our friend and teacher Paul --- who went from persecutor of the church to church planter --- states it clearly...
But by the grace of God I am what I am,
and his grace to me was not without effect.
1 Corinthians 15:10
Does this verse define your life too?
Has His grace poured out through His resurrection and your faith transformed your life? Do you get the good news of Jesus?
I challenge you today to share your understanding of the good news of the gospel in the comment section of this blog post. Help each of us who seek Him here to see Him better. We are all called to be witnesses of the gospel as good news!
[To leave a comment click the post title and scroll to the bottom of the post. There you'll find a comment box. Enter your comment and follow the directions.]
Father God, continue to grow me in my understanding of the good news of the gospel. Do not let Your grace, poured out through Jesus, leave me uneffected.
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