What is the gospel?
The gospel is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again according to the Scriptures. It is the fulfilling of God's eternal purposes, giving the whole human race access to God's plan of salvation. It cannot be shortcut; one must reject it or accept and believe it by faith.
Les teaches that the cross was not merely Israel rejecting her King and putting Him to death, but the fulfilling of the eternal purposes of God, so that by that crucifixion the whole human race would now have access to God's plan of salvation. This culminated in His resurrection as He came forth in power. Les then points to the words: "I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and He rose again according to the Scriptures." He says that is the gospel—Christ died for my sins, was literally dead three days and three nights in the tomb, and arose from the dead. It cannot be shortcut; a person can only reject it or accept and believe it, and that is where faith comes in.