What are the core facts of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15?
The core facts are that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Paul preached this gospel, which believers receive and stand in, and by which they are saved if they do not believe in vain.
Les explains that the gospel one must believe for eternal life and entrance into God's heaven is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. There Paul declares the gospel he preached, which the Corinthians received, wherein they stand, and by which they are saved—conditionally, so they must understand and know what they believe, lest they believe in vain. Les connects Paul's words “I delivered unto you that which I also received” to Paul's Damascus road experience, where the ascended, glorified Lord—not Jesus of Nazareth in His earthly ministry—saved him by grace and revealed this gospel: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Les further notes this was all pre-planned before creation: God would create man, man would sin and need a Savior and Redeemer, and God set everything in motion, bringing about Christ's earthly ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and return to heaven, from which He revealed these things Paul calls the Secrets or Mysteries, with the gospel as the very core—that Christ died for our sins.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
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