What are the parts of the gospel Paul preached about Christ's death and burial?
The gospel Paul preached includes a threefold aspect: the eternal Creator God took on human flesh, died and shed His blood, was buried three days and three nights in the grave as proof He was really dead, and God raised Him from the dead the third day according to the Scriptures.
Les explains that everything comes back to the threefold aspect of the gospel. The eternal Creator God took on human flesh, died and shed His blood, and was buried three days and three nights in the grave as proof positive that He was really dead. Les contrasts this with liberal or modernistic preachers who claim He was only unconscious or brought back to life. He emphasizes that Christ was literally, physically dead, and then God raised Him from the dead the third day according to the Scriptures. Without resurrection power there is no eternal life; if Christ were not raised, faith would be vain and believers would still be in sin and doomed.