The gospel Paul preached is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul identifies this as the gospel he received, preached, and by which believers are saved. Les Feldick stresses that this is the purest form of the gospel, that nothing can be added to it, and that salvation comes through believing it rather than through works or religious ceremonies.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 — Paul directly defines the gospel he preached, by which believers stand and are saved.
In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, the apostle Paul identifies the gospel he preached as that which the Corinthians received and in which they stand. He says it is the gospel by which they are saved, provided they hold fast to what he preached. Paul then gives the substance of this gospel: he delivered to them first of all that which he also received — 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. Twice Paul adds the phrase 'according to the scriptures,' showing that the death and resurrection of Christ were in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Scripture itself makes the gospel a message to be believed and the basis of salvation.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul's gospel is the one and only gospel — not a Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, or any other denominational gospel. He emphasizes that its purest form anywhere in Scripture is 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. Les stresses that you cannot add anything to it and you cannot take anything from it. Paul received this gospel by revelation from the Lord, not from men, and it is not based on Judaistic law or merely on Christ being Israel's Messiah. It is the gospel of the grace of God, the gospel of Christ, and the gospel of God — all of Paul's writings are filled with this theme. Les also points out that there is no mandated baptism, no mandated joining, and no mandated doing in the gospel; it is simply believing. He urges people to know what they believe so they do not believe in vain.
The phrase 'according to the scriptures' appears twice in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, indicating that both Christ's death for sins and His resurrection on the third day were foretold in the Old Testament. Les Feldick explains that the Old Testament prophesied His death and resurrection, though it was given in veiled language that people could not fully understand at the time.
Paul's gospel includes the death of Christ for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection. Les Feldick adds that the shed blood is implied in His death, and he calls the gospel the finished work of the cross. He also teaches what the gospel excludes: it is not based on Judaistic law, and it does not mandate baptism, joining something, or doing some work. It is simply believing the message.
Paul says believers stand in this gospel and are saved by it. Les Feldick points out that this is the position of the believer — standing in the one and only gospel, not in a denominational gospel. He connects this to the instruction to stand steadfastly in what Paul preached, so that faith is not in vain.
Only One Way to Glory
Les teaches that the gospel Paul preached is the one way to be assured of glory, that believers stand in it, and that it is not a denominational gospel.
Purest Form of the Gospel
Les says 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 is the purest form of the gospel found in Scripture and that all Paul's writings are filled with this theme.
Finished Work of the Cross
Les explains that the gospel is that Christ was crucified, buried, and rose again, and he calls it the finished work of the cross, with shed blood implied in His death.
Nothing Added to the Gospel
Les emphasizes that the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ are the complete gospel — you cannot add anything to it or take anything from it.
Paul's Only Message
Les says the gospel of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection is all Paul knows, whether he calls it 'my gospel,' the gospel of the grace of God, or the gospel of Christ.
Received by Revelation
Les teaches that Paul received this gospel by revelation from the Lord, and that it is not based on Judaistic law or just on Christ being Israel's Messiah.
No Works Added
Les shows that Paul's gospel contains no mandated baptism, no mandated joining, and no mandated doing — it is simply believing.
The One and Only Gospel
Les stresses that the gospel is not 'a gospel' but 'the gospel' — one of a kind — and that people must understand and know what they believe.
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 identifies the gospel he preached as the message the Corinthians received and in which they stand.
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 directly ties salvation to the gospel Paul preached.
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 gives the first element 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: Christ was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
According to Les Feldick's teaching from 1 Corinthians 15, Paul's gospel contains no mandated baptism, no mandated joining something, and no mandated doing something. It is simply believing that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.
Les Feldick explains that all of Paul's writings are built on the same message: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Paul refers to it as 'my gospel,' the gospel of the grace of God, the gospel of Christ, and the gospel of God, because it is the one and only gospel he preached.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul received the gospel by revelation from the ascended Lord. He delivered what he himself had received, namely the message that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens at the Rapture? 1 Corinthians 15 Explained