Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
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 to the Twelve.
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.
1 Corinthians 15:1-8
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In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul takes a moment to remind the church in Corinth of the gospel. It’s actually a pretty interesting paragraph when you think about it. After 14 chapters filled with instruction and guidance for the Church, Paul takes time to remind them of the gospel message. Why? Why would he do that?
I think it’s because Paul knows we need to remember the gospel. The gospel truth that Christ died on the cross to provide us with forgiveness and rose again three days later, victorious over sin is not something we learn once and move on. It is a reality that must shape our hearts, our minds, and our lives every day.
We know Paul is speaking to people who have already received the gospel. They know it. They’ve accepted it. But, the Holy Spirit, through Paul, still wants to remind us. He understood that no matter how long we’ve been believers, we must never move on from the gospel. It is the foundation of everything we believe, and it should be at the center of how we live.
Why should we return to this truth every day?
First, the gospel reminds us of who we are in Christ. Through the gospel, we are reminded that our identity is found in Him. We are no longer defined by our past mistakes, our sins, or our failures. We are defined by what Christ has done for us. We are forgiven, loved, and accepted. This truth shapes how we view ourselves and how we interact with the world around us.
Second, the gospel gives us purpose. Paul says that we “have taken our stand” on this gospel. It’s not just something we believe in our minds—it’s something we live out. The gospel calls us to action. We have been saved, forgiven, and redeemed—not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has done. And we are his ambassadors to take that message in the world.
And thirdly, the gospel keeps us grounded in God’s grace. The gospel reminds us that all we have is from God. And when life is full of challenges, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But when we remember the gospel, we are reminded of God’s unchanging love and grace. He has rescued us in the past, and He is faithful to rescue us again.
Paul’s reminder in 1 Corinthians 15 wasn’t just for the believers in Corinth. It’s for us today, too. We need to come back to the gospel every day. We need to remember that Jesus died for our sins, that He was raised to life, and that through Him, we are saved. When we start each day by remembering the gospel, it affects everything about us: how we view ourselves, how we interact with others, and how we approach life’s challenges.
So take a moment today and focus again on that amazing truth: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. He was buried and raised on the third day. Hallelujah.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus, for your love, and for the gospel. Help me remember this truth today—and every day—and may it guide how I live and love. Amen.