The gospel you must believe is the gospel Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 — that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.
Les Feldick teaches from 1 Corinthians 15 that Paul declared “the gospel” — not a gospel — which the Corinthians had received and by which they were saved. Paul insists believers keep in memory what he preached, because salvation comes only by believing this gospel. The heart of the message is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 — Paul defines the gospel he preached and by which believers are saved, directly answering the question.
In 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, Paul tells the Corinthian believers, “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.” Then in verses 3-4 he states what he delivered: “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.” This is the gospel the Bible identifies as the message by which believers are saved.
Les Feldick teaches that the only gospel by which a person is saved is the gospel Paul preached to the Gentile congregation at Corinth. Paul did not call it “a gospel”; he declared “the gospel,” and Les emphasizes the singularity — “there's only one” (Clip 2). This is the message the Corinthians had received, the message in which they stood, and the message by which they were saved if they kept it in memory (Clip 1). Paul wrote to a predominantly Gentile church, and Les says it is by this gospel that Gentiles are saved (Clips 3, 7).
In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 Paul defines the gospel: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Les Feldick emphasizes that this is what Paul received by revelation and delivered to the Corinthians — that the Messiah of Israel, the Son of God, died on a Roman cross, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again. Les stresses that this gospel is not based on Judaistic law and is not found in the Gospels or the Old Testament in this form (Clips 5, 7).
Paul says believers are saved by the gospel if they keep in memory what he preached, unless they have believed in vain. Les explains this means we have to know what we believe — salvation is not something glib. The gospel must be understood, not merely heard, and Les teaches that a person can believe in vain if they do not know what the book says (Clips 1, 2, 4).
Les Feldick says 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is the only portion of Scripture that lays out the gospel so completely, so clearly, and yet so simply. When Paul refers to the gospel, this is what Paul is referring to. Les points to these first four verses as the gospel that we better believe if we want eternal life and entrance into God's heaven (Clips 4, 6).
Paul's Gospel vs. Peter's: What You Must Believe to Be Saved
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
The One Gospel Paul Preached
Les identifies the gospel as the one Paul declared to the Corinthian church — 'the gospel,' not 'a gospel' — which they received and by which they are saved.
Only One Gospel
Les emphasizes that 'the gospel' is singular; there is only one, and believers must know what they believe.
Revealed to Paul
Paul delivered what he received by revelation from the ascended Lord, and Les says it is by this gospel that Gentiles are saved.
The Gospel That Brings Eternal Life
Les says the gospel we must believe for eternal life is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, and salvation is conditioned on knowing what you believe.
Christ's Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Les defines the gospel as Christ's death for sins, His burial, and His resurrection — not based on Judaistic law or merely Messiahship.
The Clearest Gospel Passage
Les says 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is the one portion of Scripture that lays out the gospel so completely, clearly, and simply.
A Gospel Missing From Gospels and Old Testament
Les says this gospel language is not found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, or the Old Testament, and he notes Paul wrote to predominantly Gentile believers.
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 to the Corinthians and that they 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 comes through this gospel when it is kept in memory and understood.
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 the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:4: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The completion of the gospel: His burial and resurrection according to the Scriptures.
The gospel is the message Paul delivered in 1 Corinthians 15: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day. Les emphasizes that this is 'the gospel,' the one by which believers are saved.
According to Les, there is only one. Paul says “I declare unto you the gospel,” not “a gospel,” and Les points out that the word is singular — “there's only one.”
Paul says we are saved by the gospel if we keep in memory what he preached, unless we have believed in vain. Les explains that we have to know what we believe; salvation is not just something glib.
Watch the Teaching: Paul's Gospel vs. Peter's: What You Must Believe to Be Saved