The Gospel Defended

1 Corinthians 15:1-6 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. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.  
 
A Christian finds it easy to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday. Our hearts are hopeful in this blessed gift God has bestowed upon us. We worship a Living Lord! But what can happen during the course of normal life and weekly worship? Might our faith become dull to the joy? Are there times we doubt the story and perhaps even minimize Jesus’ glorious victory over death?
   1 Corinthians 15 is a long chapter of Paul’s defense of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and return. Paul spent a good deal of time building up the church, preaching the gospel and teaching the gospel’s application. After his departure, the Corinth church had many problems, so he wrote this and 2 Corinthians to inspire, rebuke and encourage them back toward the truth. Here, he wrote at length to inspire the church back toward that “Easter joy” each of us should experience every day because we know Jesus is raised to glory.
   Paul first gave a brief summary of Jesus’ activities after the resurrection. Paul reminded them of the gospel he preached. It’s always a good thing to stop and remember the absolute history of the gospel. That’s why he hold Christmas and Easter as special historical marks of the church and Jesus’ life. Then he reminds the church of a crucial truth: they have taken their stand on that gospel. He has watched them stand on the truth amid a very pagan culture. He has heard their confessions and has seen their faith in action.
   Paul reminds them of the gospel’s future power for their souls if they hold firmly to the truth. The gospel has little power if we hear it but reject its heart-transforming work. Faith become useless, and our belief has no merit.
   Paul also teaches the power of passing on the gospel. He received it. He preached it. Absolutely crucial to know is the fact 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. Paul gave credit to the Old Testament prophets for their words to point to Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. God’s story was being told from long before the Corinthians heard it.
   Then he closes this section with more eyewitness evidence of Jesus’ resurrection. He speaks of Peter’s encounter specifically, perhaps because the Corinthians knew Peter. Or it can be Paul’s affirmation of Jesus’ forgiveness, even to those who deny him. Paul also confirms, as Luke did (Acts 1), that Jesus ministered to many people over 40 days between his resurrection and ascension. Many of those were still alive at this writing, so there was much evidence the crucified Jesus of Nazareth came out of the grave.
   Born into new life, this is your inheritance. Praise Jesus, and live in Easter joy each day.