This Is the Gospel :: 1 Corinthians 15:1-10

Now I make known to you, brothers, the Gospel which I [preached] to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word that I preached to you — unless you believed for no reason (vv 1-2).

[Prayer]

Heavenly Father, we gratefully remember the sufferings and death of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation. You have given us the forgiveness of sins on account of his blood. Rejoicing in his vicarious resurrection from the dead, we draw strength from his ascension to your right hand, where he intercedes for us. Gather us now from the ends of the earth, drawing us near through baptism, to hear your word absolution and to receive your marriage feast of the Lamb, which has no end, graciously delivering and preserving us, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

[Introduction]

What is the Gospel? If you have attended more than one Bible study class of mine, you know I ask this question all the time ... What is the Gospel? You should know how to answer this question. By learning to do this, Peter says, you will always be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in you (1 Pt 3:15). 

The Gospel is not just good. The Gospel is the most important news you can ever know ... you can ever learn ... you can ever speak ... and of course, you can ever receive and believe, or I should say, have faith in. The Gospel not only changes your life, God uses the Gospel to change the lives of those around you who hear you speak it ... with words. The Gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world with words as a testimony to all nations (Mt 24:14). 

We must speak the Gospel. 

1. But first, we need to talk about what the Gospel is not.

Many, many people can provide you with broad brush strokes that dance around the Gospel without ever speaking the Gospel. They will say the Gospel is the Good News, which is really true, if only because that is literally what the word means. The word gospel is a translation of the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον. The syllable εὐ in εὐαγγέλιον literally indicates it is something good, and the rest of the word ... αγγέλιον ... literally means news or announcement or message. The Gospel therefore means good news. Good news and the Gospel are synonyms. 

But that is not the Gospel. 

Others will say the Gospel is the Word of God ... which again is true ... but so too is the Law. The Word of God contains both Law and Gospel. Although both Law and Gospel are good, and are both news, you should know that the Law kills and the Gospel gives life. So they are not the same thing.

Some will say Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the Gospel. Again, those books contain the Gospel in a full sense ... they all tell us about Jesus ... but they also contain Law. Therefore, they are not the Gospel.

I have heard people say the Gospel is loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself. Brothers and sisters in Christ, that is a really good thing to do, and it is good news when you do that ... but that is NOT the Gospel. The Gospel has nothing to do with what you do ... or how you live your life ... or what you ask for. The Gospel is not a philosophy. It is not the power to live a new life. It is not the power never to sin again. The Gospel is not an experience that you have. In fact, it has absolutely nothing to do with what you do or don’t do. It is not a decision you make. Nor is the Gospel a sermon that inspires you to be better. The third use of the law might do that. 

2. So ... what is the Gospel?

The Gospel is so simple that a newborn baby can believe and receive it, yet it is so profound, we will spend our lifetimes exploring it, searching for it, studying it, proclaiming it, listening to it, and never understand it fully because it is so unique. This Good News comes only from God. 

Paul writes, For I delivered to you in priority what also I received, that Christ died ... [on behalf of ... or for the realization of] ... our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he was seen [by] Cephas, then the twelve. Then he was seen [by] more than five hundred brothers at once, out of whom many remain until now, but some have fallen asleep. Then he was seen [by] James, then [by] all the apostles. Then last of all, just as if [it was an] untimely birth, he also was seen by me (vv 3-8). 

THIS IS THE GOSPEL

This is the only Gospel. There is not another. Certainly, there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel (Gal 1:7), heaping platitudes upon you to make you feel good about yourself. But there will be a time when (people) will not endure sound teaching ... they will turn away from hearing the truth (2 Tm 4:3-4).

3. So let us remind you of the one and only Gospel.

The most important aspect of the Gospel begins with the good news that Christ was crucified on the cross to pay the penalty for all sin everywhere ... your sin, my sin, your neighbor’s sin, the world’s sin, yesterday’s sin, today’s sin, tomorrow’s sin ... forever and ever. In sin you could not go to God or believe. You could not call on God in prayer. You could not draw near to him. You were dead in your sin and trespasses (Eph 2:1).

This sin Paul speaks of is not simply a mistake you made. This sin is your rebellion, your immorality, your perversity, your refusal to do justice. Your sin is your deceit and fits of anger. Your sin is your worship of another god ... most notably, your feelings. Your sin is betrayal and divisiveness. Your sin is a refusal to share freely the forgiveness of sins with each other. 

As the psalmist says, You hate discipline, and you cast [God’s] word behind you. ... You keep company with adulterers. You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother’s son (Ps 50:17, 18b-20). 

Therefore, repent every one of you in the name of Jesus, knowing that he was crucified for these sins and so many more ... and that you ALWAYS need the forgiveness of sins.

4. [Catechism]

Please turn to page 329 of your [Lutheran Service Book] and join me in confessing our faithful doctrine on the Gospel from the Christian Questions and Answers in our catechism, beginning with question 9. What has Christ done for you that you trust in Him? ... 10. Did the Father also die for you? ... 11. How do you know this? ...

5. The way we learn the Gospel is through his Divine Service. 

This is how God comes to you. In his Divine Service, first, he was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. This is why Jesus came in the flesh to be with you the first time. Whereas the wages of your sin demanded death, Jesus the Son of God stood in your place. He was crucified for your sin, iniquity, and transgression (1 Jn 3:16). Jesus bled and died in your place. As the evangelist (Gospel preacher) proclaims in the book of Hebrews: Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, sprinkled the blood that speaks a stronger word than the blood of Abel, that God heard crying from the ground in our Old Testament reading (Hb 12:24, Ge 4:10). 

Now when we lift our eyes in faith, we see “ON” the body of Jesus our sin crucified. 

Then he was buried. Think about this fact from Paul’s proclamation of the Gospel. Even in death, God rested on the Sabbath, doing something for you. Don’t forget this: It is another example of how perfect the sacrifice of Christ was. Jesus obeyed the Law even in death. 

But death could not hold him, nor will it hold you. Remember, Jesus is not only the author of life, he is the firstfruits of the new life. And so ... because God is just ... He is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah! And you who have been baptized into Christ Jesus will walk in the newness of life, too (Rm 6:3-4). This is the Gospel!

So you see, the resurrection is not just a nice idea we feel in our heart. The resurrection is not just the warm fuzzies. The resurrection is real. That’s why Paul named names of those who saw Jesus. He was seen by Cephas ... the Aramaic name of Peter ... then the twelve. Then he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at once. ... Then he was seen by James and all the apostles. Then last of all, just as if [it was an] abnormal birth, he appeared to Paul (vv 5-7). 

You need to know: Jesus didn’t just appear to them. He was seen by them. He stood in front of them and declared, Peace to you, which is the forgiveness of sins. That is the Gospel

[Conclusion]

Brothers and sisters in Christ, in his Divine Service, not only two thousand years ago, but even today, Jesus continues to show us the Good News ... proclaim the Good News ... embody the Good News ... and deliver the Good News in communion. These few words of the Gospel come to us in baptism, absolution, and the Lord’s Supper ... so that indeed you may have fellowship with us. Return as often as you can to hear the Gospel, to receive the Gospel, to see the Gospel, to touch and taste it. Then you will know how to proclaim the Gospel. And it will never be in vain ... In Jesus’ name.