Paul focuses on Christ's death, burial, and resurrection because that event—not His earthly ministry—is the gospel.
In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Paul defines the gospel as Christ dying for our sins, being buried, and rising again the third day. Les Feldick explains that Christ's earthly ministry happened before the cross was accomplished, so Paul did not make the miracles and signs of that ministry the basis of salvation. Paul's one message everywhere was the crucified and risen Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — Paul explicitly states the gospel is Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, which is the very focus of his preaching.
2 Corinthians 5:15 — Paul points believers to the One who died and rose again for them, showing the death and resurrection as the center of his message.
In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Paul writes, "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." Here Paul defines the gospel as the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Paul also writes in 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." The apostle consistently fastened his preaching to Christ's death and resurrection, not to the events of Jesus' earthly ministry.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul's gospel is always the complete picture of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says this is "the gospel," and Les adds, "You can't add anything to it. You can't take from it." Paul's writings, Les points out, are "pregnant with this theme" (Clip 4). Les also contrasts Paul's focus with much modern preaching that continually presents Jesus in His earthly ministry, with His miracles, signs, and wonders. Paul says, "henceforth know we no man after the flesh" — we are to see Christ after the work of the cross, as the ascended, glorified Lord (Clip 3). Les explains that Christ Himself could not preach His own death, burial, and resurrection during His earthly ministry because it had not yet taken place (Clip 5). For Paul, the gospel is not based on the earthly ministry, miracles, or healings; it is based on the fact that Christ died, paid the sin debt, defeated death and hell and Satan, and rose victoriously from the dead (Clip 6). At Corinth, Paul came with one message: "Christ died for the sins of the world" (Clip 7).
No. Les Feldick says, "Our gospel isn't based on his earthly ministry. Our gospel isn't based on his miracles and on his signs and healings." Instead, the gospel is based on the fact that Christ died, paid the sin debt, defeated death and hell and Satan, and rose victoriously from the dead. Paul's focus is the crucified and risen Christ, not the earthly Jesus with His miracles.
Les Feldick says the reason is simple: it hadn't taken place yet. Christ was not preaching death, burial, and resurrection in His earthly ministry because the cross had not yet been accomplished. He knew it was coming, but the full gospel message could only be proclaimed after those events were completed.
Paul's gospel is defined in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: "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 Feldick calls this "the purest form that you can find anywhere in the Scriptures" and says you cannot add to it or take from it.
The 3 Requirements for Redemption: Person, Blood, and Power
Christ our," what? Our Passover, see? "...He was our Passover Lamb. Even as Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." Now then, if you'll come back to Exodus again, we come down to the third step now. In these next few verses, God is going to have to bring about their redemption by exercising His power. Israel is not going to be able to throw up a pontoon bridge.
Paul Always Shows the Complete Gospel
Les shows that Paul continually brings believers back to the death, burial, and resurrection as the complete gospel, even when he references only part of it.
The Gospel Cannot Be Added To or Taken From
Les reads 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 and stresses that this death, burial, and resurrection message is the gospel itself—nothing can be added or removed.
No Longer Knowing Christ After the Flesh
Les contrasts Paul's 'no man after the flesh' with preachers who focus on Jesus' earthly miracles and signs, showing Paul instead points to the ascended Christ after the cross.
Paul's Writings Are Pregnant With the Theme
Les presents 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 as the purest form of the gospel and says all of Paul's writings are filled with this death, burial, and resurrection theme.
The Cross Had Not Yet Happened
Les explains why Christ could not preach His own death, burial, and resurrection during His earthly ministry: those events had not yet taken place.
Saved by His Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Les directly affirms that our gospel is based on Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, not on His earthly ministry, miracles, signs, or healings.
One Message at Corinth
Les recalls that Paul came to Corinth with one simple message—that Christ died for the sins of the world—showing the singular focus of Paul's preaching.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: 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 passage Paul uses to define the gospel as Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
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 connects the believer's new life to Christ's death and resurrection, not to His earthly ministry.
2 Corinthians 5:16: Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
Paul says believers are no longer to view Christ according to His earthly life, but as the risen Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:23: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
Paul's preaching centered on the crucified Christ, which he himself identified as his message.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul's gospel is not based on Jesus' earthly ministry, miracles, signs, or healings. Paul's focus is on Christ after the work of the cross—His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to glory.
In the gospel Paul preached, the resurrection proves the power of God in salvation. Les Feldick says the power of our salvation is epitomized at the resurrection—without it, we would still be dead in our sins.
Paul came to Corinth with one message: that Christ died for the sins of the world. Les Feldick says this simple gospel message—Christ's death, burial, and resurrection—is almost forgotten in much of today's preaching.
Watch the Teaching: The 3 Requirements for Redemption: Person, Blood, and Power