The true Gospel is the message that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
According to Les Feldick, the Gospel is only one thing: Christ died for us, paid our sin penalty, was buried, and arose victorious. He teaches that 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 gives the purest form of the Gospel, and he summarizes it as the finished work of the cross. Common clichés like 'take Jesus into your heart' are not the Gospel, though believing the true Gospel makes Christ one's personal Savior.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — Paul directly defines the Gospel as Christ's death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection — the exact answer to the question.
Romans 6:23 — Shows the problem of sin and death that the Gospel answers with God's gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:1–4 gives the plain scriptural definition: '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 states that by this Gospel believers are saved (1 Corinthians 15:1–2). The Gospel is the message of Christ's death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day. Scripture also shows the problem this Gospel answers. Romans 6:23 says, 'For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.' Sin and death have been joined ever since Adam's transgression, and the Gospel announces God's gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 5:15 explains the purpose of Christ's death and resurrection: 'And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.' Ephesians 1:13 describes how the Gospel is received: 'In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.'
Les Feldick proclaims that 'the Gospel is only one thing': Christ died for our sins, paid the sin penalty, was buried, and arose victorious (Clip 1). He identifies 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 as the definition of the Gospel and calls it 'the purest form that you can find anywhere in the Scriptures' (Clip 6). Les summarizes it as 'the finished work of the cross' (Clip 2) and insists it is 'nothing more, nothing less' (Clip 3). He warns that the Gospel has been reduced to clichés — 'come and take Jesus into your heart,' 'just believe in Jesus,' 'take Him as your personal Savior.' These phrases are 'well and good as far as they go, but that's not the Gospel' (Clip 4). However, once a person believes the true Gospel of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, Christ becomes his or her personal Savior (Clip 1). Les also grounds the Gospel in the human condition: when Adam ate, he sinned, and death entered (Clip 0). The Gospel is God's answer to the law of sin and death. He stresses that salvation is only by virtue of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection — never by His earthly ministry (Clip 7).
No. Les Feldick says that inviting people to 'come and take Jesus into your heart' or 'take Him as your personal Savior' reduces the Gospel to clichés. 'Those are all well and good as far as they go, but that's not the Gospel' (Clip 4). He explains that the Gospel itself is the message of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Believing that message is what brings Christ into a person's life (Clip 1).
Les teaches that 'our salvation could never be complete until he rose from the dead' (Clip 7). The resurrection is essential because, as he says, 'because He lives, you and I know that we live and will live' (Clip 1). Paul always presents the complete picture of death, burial, and resurrection as the Gospel (Clip 5).
Les explains that sin and death have been inseparably connected since Adam ate and sinned (Clip 0). Romans 6:23 warns that 'the wages of sin is death,' but the other side of the coin is that 'the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.' The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets believers apart from the reality of sin and death (Clip 0).
Les is critical of books and teachings that present 'the gospel according to Jesus' as His earthly ministry, saying you cannot be saved by that. He points to Paul's writings, where 'we know only Christ crucified and risen from the dead' — 'that's our gospel' (Clip 7). All of Paul's writings are pregnant with the theme that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again (Clip 6).
Les teaches that people are sealed with the Holy Spirit when they hear the word of truth, the Gospel of their salvation, and believe (Clips 2–3). He makes the emphasis on believing: 'You heard the word, you believed. Now look what God did. You were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise' (Clip 3). The result is that Christ becomes the believer's personal Savior (Clip 1).
Sin and Death Since Adam
Les connects the Gospel to the human condition of sin and death: Adam sinned and death followed, and Romans 6:23 shows every person is locked into sin and death — but eternal life is God's gift through Christ.
The Gospel Defined as Christ's Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Les declares the Gospel is only one thing: Christ died for you, paid your sin penalty, was buried, and arose victorious — and believing it makes Him your personal Savior.
The Finished Work of the Cross
Les teaches that the Gospel of salvation is 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 — Christ crucified, buried, and risen — which he summarizes as the finished work of the cross.
Nothing More, Nothing Less
Les says the Gospel is Christ died, was buried, and rose again — nothing more, nothing less — and those who hear and believe are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Gospel Clichés Are Not the Gospel
Les warns that phrases like 'come to Jesus' or 'take Jesus into your heart' are clichés that are not the Gospel, even though they contain an element of truth.
Death, Burial, and Resurrection in Paul's Writings
Les shows from 2 Corinthians 5:15 that Paul consistently presents the complete picture of death, burial, and resurrection as the Gospel.
The Purest Form of the Gospel
Les points to 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 — Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day — as the purest form of the Gospel.
Salvation Only Through the Finished Work
Les teaches that salvation is only by Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and that no one can be saved by the gospel of Jesus' earthly ministry.
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 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 definition with Christ's burial and resurrection on the third day.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Les uses this verse to show that sin and death are connected, while the gift of God is eternal life through Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:15: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Paul shows that Christ's death and resurrection compel believers to live for Him.
Ephesians 1:13: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
This verse links hearing the Gospel of salvation and believing with being sealed by the Holy Spirit.
No. Les Feldick says this phrase is a cliché that has reduced the Gospel to a handy set of words. He states such phrases are 'well and good as far as they go, but that's not the Gospel.' The Gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.
Paul wrote 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). Les Feldick calls this the purest form of the Gospel found anywhere in the Scriptures.
Yes. Les teaches that when a person understands and believes that Christ died, was buried, and rose again, that person takes Christ into his or her heart and He becomes their personal Savior (Clip 1).
Les teaches that 'our salvation could never be complete until he rose from the dead.' Because He lives, believers know they live and will live (Clips 7, 1).
No. Les Feldick says that 'the gospel according to Jesus' refers to His earthly ministry, and you cannot be saved by that. Salvation is only by virtue of His death, burial, and resurrection (Clip 7).
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