Monday, October 8, 2012

The "Nutshell Gospel" Part 3


And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,” 1st Corinthians 15:4. Burial was a distinct proof that Jesus was in fact dead. Christ died on the cross, was pierced by a Roman spear, and taken down from it dead, Mark 15:43-45; John 19:34. Payment had been rendered to God; this was demonstrated by the physical death of Christ. The resurrection is the flip side of the coin. It was now demonstrated quite triumphantly that God accepted Jesus’ payment for the world’s sin.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

The "Nutshell Gospel" Part 2

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,” 1st Corinthians 15:1. Paul was presently reiterating the gospel that he had already proclaimed and which they already believed; “I declare to you (present tense) the gospel which I preached to you (past tense), which also you received (past tense) and in which you stand (present tense).”

Thursday, October 4, 2012

The "Nutshell Gospel" Part 1


Every now and again I find it edifying and refreshing to return our focus to the heart of the Christian faith: the gospel. In this instance I would like to visit a chapter in the New Testament that provides what I like to sometimes refer to as “the nutshell gospel.” Like all of Paul’s inspired writings, this presentation of the gospel we are about to read was not arbitrarily given late in his letter to the Corinthian church; it was a reminder that was the driving point to counter false teaching that was being propagated within Corinth.