Simply Gospel

“For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” ~1 Corinthians 15:3-4 HCSB

People ask me how they can share the gospel from the Bible, what is a good verse.  Or they ask, “What are verses that best describe the gospel”?  For me these two verses are the best. In fact Paul says in verse one “I want to clarify for you the gospel I proclaimed to you.”  So here is the gospel in a nut shell.  Paul starts by saying this is “most important” and it was something he had received, someone had shared these words with Paul before. Paul stated three important facts about the gospel in these verses.   

Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and this had been God’s plan from the beginning of time.  It was clearly outlined in the scripture that Christ would die for our sins.  Psalm 16:18-11 says, “I keep the LORD in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely. For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see decay. You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.  Isaiah 53:5-6 says “But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the LORD has punished Him for the iniquity of us all.” Christ dying for our sins wasn’t an accident it was carefully planned out.    

Jesus was also buried.  People were there when he died and when they laid him in the tomb.  Witnesses prepared his body, wrapped him in burial clothing and sealed the tomb.  Most importantly Jesus rose from the dead and was seen just had he had said (Mat 12:40) and as the Psalmist wrote.  Jesus took on our sin, he died nailing our sin to the cross and was buried.  On the third day He rose again, according to plan.  Through Him we have eternal life, He who was without sin became sin so that we might have life.  Because Christ rose again we know we too will rise again. This is the gospel, the good news for all people.  By putting our faith in the work of Christ, in what he did for us in grace, we will have forgiveness of sin and eternal life.  So when someone ask you to explain the gospel take them to these verses and share this with them, just as someone shared with Paul.  Take comfort in the fact that this has all be planned out, that Christ had you in mind since the beginning of time.  

Lord help us today to live for your glory, knowing you died for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day, according to the scripture.  Lord fill us with the joy of your salvation and let that joy spill over to others around us!  Amen.