The gospel according to Paul is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
Paul states this plainly in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Les Feldick emphasizes that this is the one gospel by which believers are saved, that it is the finished work of the cross, and that there is no other gospel or plan of salvation for people today.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 — Paul explicitly defines the gospel he preached, by which believers are saved.
Ephesians 2:12-13 — Shows why Paul's gospel is needed: those who were far off are brought near by the blood of Christ.
Paul defines the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 when he declares to the Corinthians the gospel he preached — the gospel they received and in which they stand. He says it is by this gospel that they are saved, if they keep in memory what he preached, unless they have believed in vain. The content of that gospel is 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. Ephesians 2:12-13 describes the condition the gospel addresses: those who were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world, are now in Christ Jesus made nigh by the blood of Christ. First Corinthians 1:18 further shows that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish, but to those who are saved it is the power of God.
Les Feldick teaches that the gospel according to Paul is the one gospel — not a gospel, but the gospel — and that 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is the purest form of the gospel found anywhere in Scripture. The gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. Les calls this the finished work of the cross, with the shed blood implied in Christ's death, and says nothing can be added to it or taken from it. He emphasizes that this is the gospel for people today. It is the gospel Paul preached among the Gentiles at Corinth, and it is the gospel believers must adhere to even now. Les says all of Paul's writings are saturated with this theme and that Paul refers to it as my gospel, the gospel of the grace of God, the gospel of Christ, and the gospel of God. There is no other plan of salvation, no other gospel, and no other way. Les also stresses that a person must know what he believes; otherwise, he may have believed in vain.
In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Paul declares the gospel he preached to the Corinthian church — a predominantly Gentile congregation. Les Feldick notes that Paul came to these Gentiles at Corinth with this message first, and that this is the purest form of the gospel found anywhere in the Scriptures. The gospel is 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.
Les teaches that the gospel is the finished work of the cross. He says nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. The burial proves Christ was really dead — He did not just go into a coma or an unconscious state. The shed blood is implied in His death, and the resurrection completes the three-pronged fact Paul proclaims. Les says all of Paul's writings are pregnant with this theme.
Les points to Ephesians 2:12-13, where Paul describes Gentiles who were at one time without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants, without hope, and without God in the world. But now, in Christ Jesus, those who were at one time far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Les says the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is what makes all the difference in the world. The gospel Paul preached among the Gentiles at Corinth is the gospel believers must adhere to today.
Les stresses that believing the gospel is not simply believing anything. Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15:2 warn that believers are saved by the gospel only if they keep in memory what he preached, unless they have believed in vain. Les explains this means a person must understand and know what he believes. The gospel is a definite body of truth — Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again — and it is the only gospel.
Far Off Made Nigh by Christ's Blood
Les teaches that before Christ, Gentiles were without hope and without God, but through the blood of Christ those far off are brought near — showing why Paul's gospel matters for people today.
The Purest Form of the Gospel
Les identifies 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 as the purest statement of the gospel: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day.
Finished Work of the Cross
Les explains that the gospel is the finished work of the cross — Christ crucified, buried, and raised — with the shed blood implied in His death.
Nothing to Add or Take Away
Les stresses that the gospel is exactly Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and that it cannot be altered.
The One Gospel and Knowing What You Believe
Les emphasizes that Paul declared the one gospel, not one among many, and that believers must know what they believe in order not to have believed in vain.
Paul's Gospel Titles and the Foolishness of the Cross
Les shows that Paul refers to this message as my gospel, the gospel of grace, the gospel of Christ, and the gospel of God, and that the world sees it as foolishness.
Our Gospel Defined
Les says 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is our gospel and the truth of the gospel, adding that a believer must know what he believes.
The Only Plan of Salvation
Les teaches that Paul's gospel — Christ died, buried, rose again — is the only plan of salvation and the gospel believers must adhere to today.
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 he preached and the Corinthians 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.
Salvation is through this gospel, but a person must know what they believe.
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 Paul's gospel is that Christ died for our sins.
1 Corinthians 15:4: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The burial and resurrection complete the gospel Paul preached.
Ephesians 2:12: That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Describes the hopeless condition of Gentiles before Christ.
Ephesians 2:13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Christ's blood brings those far off near to God.
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.
The cross is central to the gospel and is received differently by the saved and the lost.
Paul defines the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Les Feldick calls this the purest form of the gospel and the only plan of salvation for today.
In 1 Corinthians 15:2, Paul says believers are saved by the gospel if they keep in memory what he preached, unless they have believed in vain. Les Feldick explains this means you have to understand and know what you believe — believing in vain is possible when a person does not believe the right message.
Yes. Les explains that Paul preached this gospel to the Gentile congregation at Corinth. Ephesians 2:12-13 shows that Gentiles who were once without hope and without God are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Les says the gospel Paul preached among the Gentiles is the gospel we must adhere to today.
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