The gospel according to 1 Corinthians 15 is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
Paul declares this as the gospel which he preached, which the Corinthians received, and by which they are saved. Les Feldick points to 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 as the clearest, most complete definition of the gospel in all of Scripture.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 — This is the passage where Paul explicitly defines the gospel he preached and by which believers are saved.
In 1 Corinthians 15:1–4, Paul writes, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 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 also says in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." And in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." So Scripture defines the gospel as the message of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and it is through this gospel that people are saved.
Les Feldick teaches that 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 is the one portion of Scripture that lays out the gospel completely, clearly, and simply. He emphasizes that Paul preached "the gospel"—not "a gospel"—because there is only one gospel. Les calls this "the purest form" of the gospel and says all of Paul's writings are filled with this theme. Les summarizes the gospel as the finished work of the cross: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. He points out that the shed blood is implied in Christ's death. He also stresses that salvation is not by church membership, baptism, or any human work; the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Les further explains that believers must understand and know what they believe. Salvation is a gift, not wages earned by work. Believing in vain means not truly understanding the gospel that saves.
In 1 Corinthians 15:1–2, Paul says he preached the gospel that the Corinthians received and in which they stand, and that by this gospel they are saved. Paul calls it "the gospel," and Les points out that this means it is one and only. This is the same gospel Paul calls "my gospel," the gospel of the grace of God, the gospel of Christ, and the gospel of God. There is no other gospel for salvation.
Paul writes, "I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received," and the content is "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." Les notes that Paul delivered this message first to the Gentile congregation at Corinth. The Old Testament foretold it, but in veiled language that people could not fully understand.
Paul says believers are saved "if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." Les explains that believing in vain means a person has not understood and known what they believe. Many people believe, but they must know the content of the gospel. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation—not membership in a church, not baptism, not a work, but the message of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Salvation as a Gift, Not Wages
Les explains that the gospel is God's power unto salvation, not a matter of church membership, baptism, or human works, because salvation is a gift.
Paul's Gospel Defined
Les states that the gospel Paul preached is simply that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that this is all Paul knows.
The Clearest Gospel Passage
Les says 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 is the one portion of Scripture that lays out the gospel completely, clearly, and simply, and he reads the opening verses to show that believers stand in this gospel.
The Finished Work of the Cross
Les summarizes the gospel as the finished work of the cross—Christ crucified, buried, and risen—with the shed blood implied in His death.
One Gospel, Believed with Understanding
Les stresses that Paul declares "the gospel," not "a gospel," and that believers must understand what they believe so they do not believe in vain.
The Gospel Worth Repeating
Les mentions how often he returns to 1 Corinthians 15:1 because it is the gospel, and he wishes he could use these verses every week.
The Only Plan of Salvation
Les says there is only one plan of salvation for us today, and it is believing the gospel; he stresses that you have to know what you believe.
Christ's Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Les says the purest form of the gospel is found in 1 Corinthians 15:3–4: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
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 the believers received and stand in.
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.
This verse connects the gospel directly to salvation and warns against 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;
Paul states the first part of the gospel: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:4: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Paul completes the gospel definition with Christ's burial and resurrection the third day.
Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Paul identifies the gospel as the power of God unto salvation.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This verse contrasts earned wages of sin with the gift of eternal life.
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.
Paul shows that the gospel message of the cross appears as foolishness to the unsaved.
The gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Paul says this is the gospel by which believers are saved.
No. Les says salvation is not by church membership, not by baptism, and not by any work. The gospel itself is the power of God unto salvation.
According to Les, believing in vain means a person does not understand or know what they believe. A person must understand and believe the gospel itself, not just believe in some general way.
Watch the Teaching: How Can You Know You're Saved? The Plan of Salvation in Scripture