The gospel is about the person and work of Jesus Christ, especially his death and resurrection. It is rooted in an historical event and God’s promises in the Scriptures. Jesus’ death for our sins and his bodily resurrection for our justification is the only real solution to our fundamental problems of sin and death, and judgment. The gospel offers salvation from God’s wrath and a living hope of his kingdom. We are saved not by our merits, but by God’s grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul preached this gospel to the Christians in Corinth as of first importance. He reminds them of it again. Likewise, we need to be constantly reminded of this gospel. We need to hold firmly to it at all times for the gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.

In order to prove Jesus’ bodily resurrection, Paul introduces eyewitnesses, some of whom were still living at the time he was writing. Paul himself was one of them. His life was radically changed after meeting the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. If we believe in Christ crucified and then raised to life, we also experience God’s grace of forgiveness and his transforming power in our lives. We can live as witnesses of the Risen Christ to others as Apostle Paul did.

Application: Lord, thank you for the gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Help me hold onto it and pass it on to others as of first importance.
One Word: By this gospel I am saved