BY THIS GOSPEL YOU ARE SAVED

Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Key verse: 3-4

NIV

The Resurrection of Christ

15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel(A) I preached to you,(B) which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved,(C) if you hold firmly(D) to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received(E) I passed on to you(F) as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins(G) according to the Scriptures,(H) 4 that he was buried,(I) that he was raised(J) on the third day(K) according to the Scriptures,(L) 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,[b](M) and then to the Twelve.(N) 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.(O) 7 Then he appeared to James,(P) then to all the apostles,(Q) 8 and last of all he appeared to me also,(R) as to one abnormally born.

9 For I am the least of the apostles(S) and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted(T) the church of God.(U) 10 But by the grace(V) of God I am what I am, and his grace to me(W) was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them(X)—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.(Y) 11 Whether, then, it is I or they,(Z) this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 15:3 Or you at the first
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:5 That is, Peter
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Resurrection of Christ

15 Now I would remind you, brothers,[a] of the gospel (A)I preached to you, which you received, (B)in which you stand, 2 and by which (C)you are being saved, if you (D)hold fast to the word I preached to you—(E)unless you believed in vain.

3 For (F)I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died (G)for our sins (H)in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised (I)on the third day (J)in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that (K)he appeared to Cephas, then (L)to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to (M)James, then (N)to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, (O)he appeared also to me. 9 For (P)I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because (Q)I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, (R)I worked harder than any of them, (S)though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 15:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 6, 31, 50, 58
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Before closing his letter, Paul thought it worth reminding the Christians in Corinth about the gospel. The gospel is the foundation of new life in Christ. It is the power of salvation for all who hold firmly to it. In the gospel, God fulfilled his word. He sent Christ to die for our sins and be buried. Christ was buried with our sins so that we may have eternal life. More than that, Christ was raised from the dead. He is living, having defeated the powers of sin and death.

After his resurrection, Christ appeared to his apostles and many others—more than five hundred people. Here Paul included himself. Jesus appeared to Paul when Paul was persecuting God’s people. But Jesus had grace on Paul, appointing him instead to be an apostle. It is the grace of Jesus that made Paul new. Jesus still appears today, in the saving grace of the forgiveness of sins that gives people new birth.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for Jesus, who died, was buried and was raised. Thank you that Jesus is revealed today in every forgiven sinner. Help me witness the saving grace of the risen Jesus today.

One Word: Saved by the gospel