The gospel according to 1 Corinthians 15 is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, all according to the Scriptures.
Paul declares that this is "the gospel"—the message he preached, which the Corinthians received, and in which they stand. He defines it in three parts: Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day. Les Feldick emphasizes that this is the one and only gospel and that nothing can be added to it or taken from it.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 — This passage is the definitive biblical answer—Paul directly names the gospel as Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:1–4 is the passage in which the apostle Paul explicitly states what he calls "the gospel." In verse 1, he says, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand." In verse 2, he writes, "By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." Then in verses 3–4 he defines the content: "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." These verses show that the gospel is a specific message centered on Christ's death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day—all in accordance with the Scriptures.
Les Feldick teaches that 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 contains the definitive gospel message. He points out that Paul says "the gospel"—not "a gospel"—showing that it is one and only. He also stresses that believers are saved by this gospel, not by something else, and that they must understand and know what they believe. Les identifies three non-negotiable elements: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried (proving He was really dead), and He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. He says this is the purest form of the gospel anywhere in Scripture and that all of Paul's writings are "pregnant with this theme." He also notes that the shed blood is implied in His death and describes the gospel as "the finished work of the cross."
Paul's gospel has three parts: "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3); "he was buried" (1 Corinthians 15:4); and "he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:4). Les Feldick says this is the gospel—"you can't add anything to it. You can't take from it." He also notes that the shed blood is implied in Christ's death.
Les emphasizes that Paul says "the gospel," not "a gospel"—meaning it is one and only. Les says it is by the gospel that we are saved, and that these Corinthians came out of paganism because of Paul's gospel. He also says this is the gospel believers must believe if they want eternal life and entrance into God's heaven.
Paul includes "he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" as part of the gospel message. Les calls 1 Corinthians 15 "the resurrection chapter" and notes that Paul gives detailed teaching on resurrection there. He also says Christ's burial proved He was really dead, not just in a coma, and that His resurrection completed the gospel.
Paul says Christ died "according to the scriptures" and rose "according to the scriptures." Les says the Old Testament foretold it, but it was in such veiled language that people could not understand it at the time.
What Does "Saved by Faith" Really Mean? Romans 1:16-17
are right now, today, tomorrow, next week, next month, and so forth. And it is, it's hard to keep people's attention, because they'd rather be talking about something exciting out there in the future, and I can see that. But bear with me, because, see, this is what the church today, when I talk about the church, I'm talking about that whole realm of people who claim to believe the Bible.
The One and Only Gospel
Les explains that Paul introduces "the gospel"—not "a gospel"—as the one and only good news by which believers are saved, and that Christ's death for our sins was foretold in the Old Testament.
Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Les emphasizes that Christ was truly dead and buried—not in a coma—and that His resurrection on the third day is part of the gospel that cannot be added to or subtracted from.
The Purest Form of the Gospel
Les calls Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 15 "the purest form" of the gospel found anywhere in Scripture and says every Pauline epistle is filled with this theme.
Paul's Only Gospel
Les shows that throughout his epistles Paul proclaims only this gospel—the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ—as the gospel of the grace of God.
The Shed Blood Implied
Les points out that while the gospel is Christ crucified, buried, and risen, the shedding of His blood is implied in His death, summarizing it as the finished work of the cross.
The Gospel You Must Believe
Les stresses that this gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is the gospel we must understand and believe for salvation, warning against believing in vain.
The Resurrection Chapter
Les identifies 1 Corinthians 15 as the resurrection chapter and shows that Paul's gospel is summarized in these opening verses—by which believers are saved.
1 Corinthians 15:1: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
Paul introduces the gospel as the message he preached and believers received.
1 Corinthians 15:2: By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
Paul links this gospel to salvation, with a warning about believing in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:3: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
The first element of the gospel: Christ died for our sins according to Scripture.
1 Corinthians 15:4: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The second and third elements: His burial and His resurrection on the third day.
The gospel is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Paul says this is the gospel he preached and by which believers are saved.
In the transcripts, Les says of 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, "That's the gospel. You can't add anything to it. You can't take from it." He emphasizes that the death, burial, and resurrection are the completed gospel message.
Yes. Paul writes, "By which also ye are saved" (1 Corinthians 15:2). Les says this is "the Gospel that we better believe if we want eternal life" and that you must understand and know what you believe.
Paul says Christ died and rose according to the Scriptures. Les explains that the Old Testament foretold it, but it was in such veiled language that people could not understand it.
Watch the Teaching: What Does "Saved by Faith" Really Mean? Romans 1:16-17