Yes—Paul's core message is the Gospel: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day.
The Apostle Paul states this plainly in 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, and Galatians 1:4 adds that Christ gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from this present evil world. Les Feldick teaches that this is the 'purest form' of the Gospel and that all Paul's writings are saturated with this theme. Paul's letters, addressed to believers, contain the fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the local church.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — Paul directly states the core message he delivered: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
Galatians 1:4 — Reveals why Christ gave Himself—for our sins and to deliver us from this present evil world.
The clearest New Testament statement of Paul's core message is in 1 Corinthians 15:3–4: "For 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 that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." Paul calls this message 'first of all,' showing it is the foundation of everything he taught. Galatians 1:3–4 expresses the same core in the form of a blessing: "Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Here Scripture states that Christ's death was for sins and that its purpose was deliverance from the present evil world. Additionally, 1 Corinthians 1:18 shows Paul's message centered on the cross: "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
Les Feldick teaches that the core of Paul's message—indeed the Gospel itself—is the finished work of the cross. He points to 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 as the purest form of the Gospel: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Les says all Paul's writings are 'pregnant with this theme,' and it is all Paul ever preached—the Gospel of grace, the Gospel of Christ, and the Gospel of God. Les also emphasizes Paul's explanation of why Christ died: He gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil world (Galatians 1:4). The basis of Paul's salvation message is Christ's finished work—His blood shed, His burial, and His resurrection for our justification. Paul is the designated apostle of the Gentiles, and his letters contain the fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the local church. At the same time, Les is careful not to pit Paul against the rest of Scripture. Paul's letters are written to believers, and while they are crucial for the Church Age, Les says he uses the whole Bible, Genesis through Revelation, because Paul himself says all Scripture is profitable.
Scripture records Paul's own summary: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Les Feldick says this is the Gospel in its purest form and that all Paul's writings are full of this theme. As Les notes, this is all Paul knew—the Gospel of the grace of God, the Gospel of Christ, and the Gospel of God.
Galatians 1:3–4 says Christ gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil world according to the will of God our Father. Les points out that Paul's emphasis is not on what we do, but on what Christ did: He gave Himself, He died for us, and He rose again for our justification.
Les consistently teaches that Paul is the designated apostle of the Gentiles for this age of grace. He says Paul's letters are where we find the fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the operation of the local church. These letters are written to believers, not the unsaved world, though they are still appropriate for everyone. At the same time, Les uses the whole Scripture, Genesis through Revelation, because Paul himself says all Scripture is profitable.
Les teaches that some truths about salvation—such as Christ's blood shed, His burial, and His resurrection for our justification—are not found in Scripture until the revelations given to the Apostle Paul. However, Les clarifies that he does not isolate Paul's letters. The doctrines of grace are unique to Paul, but the whole Bible is used in his teaching.
Paul's Commission to the Gentiles
Les explains that Paul was commissioned at his conversion to go to the Gentiles and was separated unto the Gospel of God, showing the core message of Paul's ministry.
Paul's Letters as the Source of Fundamental Truths
Les teaches that for the Church Age, Paul's letters contain the fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the local church.
The Gospel Defined by Paul
Les quotes 1 Corinthians 15 to show that the core message Paul delivered was Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again—calling it the purest form of the Gospel.
The Preaching of the Cross
Les says this Gospel—the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ—is all Paul knew throughout his epistles; the preaching of the cross is central to his message.
Christ Gave Himself for Our Sins
Using Galatians 1:3–4, Les shows that Paul's core message includes Christ giving Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil world.
The Finished Work of the Cross
Les emphasizes that Paul's gospel is based on the finished work of the cross—Christ's blood shed, His burial, and His resurrection for our justification—truths revealed to Paul.
Paul Writes to Believers
Les notes that Paul always writes to believers, not the unsaved world, which shapes how we understand the core message of his letters.
Using the Whole Scripture
Les clarifies that while Paul's writings contain unique doctrines of grace, he teaches the whole Bible, Genesis through Revelation, and does not isolate Paul's letters.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For 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 that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Paul's own words to the Corinthians summarizing the Gospel he had delivered to them.
Galatians 1:3-4: Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Paul's apostolic blessing that reveals Christ gave Himself for our sins to deliver us.
1 Corinthians 1:18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Shows how Paul's cross-centered Gospel is viewed by the perishing versus the saved.
The core message is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. Les Feldick calls this the purest form of the Gospel and says all of Paul's writings are full of this theme.
Yes. According to 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, Paul delivered that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.
Galatians 1:4 says He gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from this present evil world according to the will of God our Father.
Paul writes to believers. Les says Paul always addresses the believer of grace by faith alone, though the letters are still appropriate for everyone.
No. Les uses the whole Scripture, Genesis through Revelation, while emphasizing that the doctrines of grace are unique to Paul's writings.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul's Letters Are the Most Neglected in the Bible