The Gospel is for you

February 19, 2023

Preacher: Andrew Love

Series: 1 Corinthians

Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Isaiah 53:3-10

Service Type: Sunday Evening

Introduction

Coming towards the end of 1 Corinthians
Paul has addressed all sorts of difficult areas in this letter
- Disunity
  - Paul pleads with them to have one mind/heart and be united in Christ
  - Paul focuses on the cross of Jesus Christ
- Gross immorality
- Litigation of believers
- Singleness and marriage
- Conscience issues
- Abuse of the Lord's supper
Paul was seeking to deal with the issues within this church
In Chapter 15 Paul addresses a doctrinal error
- Some are saying there is no resurrection from the dead
  - A fundamental issue
- They were saying there would be no bodily resurrection
- They had taken hold of Greek thought
He begins addressing the issue by positively declaring the truth
- He starts with the gospel of Jesus Christ
- He affirms there were many eye witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus
- He does not first point out what is wrong
- The New Testament preaches truth
Looking at v1-11
- To think about the concept of preaching the gospel to the church
  - Not just to the unconverted
- v1 - Declaring the gospel to the whole church
  - It was preached to you
  - You believed the gospel
  - You stand in this grace

Why therefore do we need the gospel as believers?
- Although forgiven at the cross, we sin and fail each day
  - We need fresh repentance of our sins
  - There is amazing love from God for the sinner
- We are a Christian in progress (not the finished article)
  - It is the gospel of God that is the power of our salvation
- We have been saved, but we are being saved
  - v2 - are you holding fast to the gospel?
  - If you go away from the gospel
  - 1 Cor 1:18 - the gospel "is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God"
- The gospel is a necessity
  - The Lord's supper is a necessity - it is a proclamation of the gospel
What about the person who says we don't need this simple message?
- Something in wrong in the person - they have lost joy
- Something wrong in the preacher - they do not know the power of Christ
What about the person who says the gospel is simple and we need deeper teaching?
- The work of the Holy Spirit is not to lead people away from the cross but closer to the cross
  - Example of Mair Griffiths and the song 'near the cross'
- The way of love is more excellent that all the spiritual gifts - the greatest love is found at the cros
- Phil 3:10-11 – Paul wanted to know Christ in resurrection power
- Gal 6:14 - Paul only boasted in the cross of Christ
- 1 Cor 2:2 - Sometimes churches go astray, but the cross needs to be at the centre of all things
- Thus Paul preached the gospel - v1, 11

If the facts of the gospel are not true, our preaching and faith is empty – v13-15
- You cannot discount parts of the gospel
- You either believe the Bible or you don't
- The gospel is based on historical reality
Proofs of the resurrection:
- Eye witness accounts
  - Jesus was seen by Peter (Cephas) - v5
  - Jesus was seen by the twelve apostles (including doubting Thomas) - v5
  - Jesus was seen by 500 brothers at once - v6
  - Jesus was seen by James and all the other apostles - v7
  - Jesus was then seen by Paul - v8
  - Jesus was a historical person
    - There was a real death on the cross
    - There was a real resurrection
- The Scriptures
  - Paul makes it clear what he is saying is according to the Scriptures - v3
  - His death:
    - Isa 53:3-10
  - His resurrection:
    - He rose again on the third day - Jonah 1:17
    - Psalm 16:10

What God has done for you - grace
- Not about what you have done for God or for others
- There is nothing we could do - God has done it all
- Phil 3:4-9
  - Paul was the 'best' he could be
  - He realised these were 'rubbish' compared to Jesus
- Are you clear that Christ died to take our sin?
- Are you clear that Christ has clothed us in His righteousness?
- Are you clear that we are totally forgiven?
- v9 - God's grace was sufficient for Paul's salvation
A message of transformation
- Paul goes from persecuting to the church to being the most persecuted person in the church