LET'S PREACH THE GOSPEL Part 3
An
Exhortation To Every Believer And Bible-Teaching Pastor
by
Pastor-teacher Dennis Rokser
In our last two articles, we have been
examining the beginning of
1 Corinthians chapter 15 in order to grasp
a biblically-balanced teaching ministry with the Gospel as an emphasis. So far
we have underscored six important principles.
PRINCIPLE #1: Pastors need to KEEP PREACHING and believers need
to KEEP HEARING THE GOSPEL. (1 Cor. 15:1a)
PRINCIPLE #2: The Gospel, by its very nature, is GOOD NEWS FROM
GOD TO MAN. (1 Cor. 15:1b)
PRINCIPLE #3: The Gospel is the message which BELIEVERS ARE TO
PROCLAIM TO THE LOST. (1 Cor. 15:1c)
PRINCIPLE #4: Hearing the Gospel is not enough as PEOPLE NEED
TO PERSONALLY RECEIVE IT. (1 Cor. 15:1d)
PRINCIPLE #5: BELIEVERS need to STAND for THE GOSPEL. (I Cor.
15:1e)
PRINCIPLE #6: The Gospel offers the good news of SALVATION to
us. (1 Cor. 15:2a)
PRINCIPLE #7: Believers need to HOLD FAST to the truths of the
Gospel, as false teaching and doctrinal compromise can successfully undermine
it. (1 Cor. 15:2b)
…if ye keep
in memory what I preached unto you…
The phrase "keep in memory" is
one Greek word "katechete" which means "to hold fast; to hold firm."
Paul is exhorting these believers to remain doctrinally faithful to the Gospel
in light of verse 12.
Now if Christ
be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that
there is no resurrection of the dead? (1 Cor. 15:12)
Over time, there has always been numerous
doctrinal assaults on the Gospel. Ron Merryman's series on "Justification
by Faith and Its Historical Challenges" will enumerate these in some
detail. But what is clear from these verses is this: even believers who have
been doctrinally established and taught by the apostle Paul can be led astray.
I marvel
that ye are so soon removed
from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is
not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel
of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto
you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said
before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than
that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)
The apostle Peter echoes the same warning
when he wrote,
Ye therefore,
beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led
away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. (2 Peter 3:17)
Don't forsake or ever compromise the
gospel of grace, as it alone is "the power of God unto salvation to
everyone that believes." (Rom. 1:16)
The downward path of the compromising
believer: recognizes
error, tolerates error, excuses error, defends error, condones error and
embraces error.
PRINCIPLE #8: The Gospel which Paul received and preached is of
PRIMARY IMPORTANCE. (1 Cor. 15:3a)
For I
delivered unto you first of all that which I also received.
"Delivered" indicates that
Paul's teaching was authoritatively presented. He didn't design it, but he did
deliver it. He was not the manufacturer of the message, he was the distributor.
How the church needs careful exegetes to clearly and accurately expound the
Gospel which Paul received from Jesus Christ. (Gal. 1:11-12)
The phrase "first of all"
(en protois) communicates that the Gospel was "of primary
importance; first and foremost." While the doctrine of creation is
foundational, the Gospel is of primary importance. While prophecy is
interesting and needful, the Gospel is the first and foremost message that Paul
preached to the Corinthians. Is the Gospel the emphasis of our preaching and
teaching? Is the Gospel of first and primary importance? It was with
Paul!
PRINCIPLE #9: The Gospel centers in the PERSON, WORK, and
ACCOMPLISHMENT of JESUS CHRIST. (1 Cor. 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...
First of all, the gospel of salvation
centers in a specific PERSON: JESUS CHRIST..."how that CHRIST..." This is significant because of WHO Jesus
Christ is.
In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All
things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made… And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, we beheld his glory, the glory
as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1,14)
For there is
one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
(1 Timothy 2:5)
Jesus saith
unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John
14:6)
Being the unique God-man, He alone
qualified to be our redeemer as He was born and lived outside the slavemarket
of sin. Furthermore, being deity assures us that His work is perfect. On the
other hand, being born as a man, Jesus Christ then could not only reveal God to
man (John 1:18), but could "die" in full payment for the sins of the
entire world.
But we see
Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of
death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste
death for every man. (Hebrews
2:9)
Forasmuch then
as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise
took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that
had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear
of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Heb. 2:14-15)
When preaching the Gospel, remember that
you are not preaching a church (as no church can save); nor are you declaring a
ritual to be performed (as no works are needed). Furthermore, you are not
proclaiming an experience (as the Gospel involves historical facts). You are
heralding a PERSON ¾ the unique and eternal Son of God, the Lord Jesus
Christ, the one and only Savior of the World.
Secondly, the gospel of salvation
centers in a specific WORK: "how that Christ DIED...and that He ROSE
AGAIN..."
The word "died" underscores that
Christ's death is a completed past event (aorist tense) that He voluntarily
chose (active voice). It is a fact of history, not some religious myth
(indicative mood).
Jesus had to die to provide salvation for
mankind, as the penalty for our sin is "death" (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 5:12;
6:23). Furthermore, "without shedding of blood is no remission of
sin." (Heb. 9:22)
Thus, Christ's sinless life, amazing
miracles, flawless example, deep compassion, divine teaching, and royal
birthline clearly indicated that He was nothing less than God manifested in the
flesh and the rightful heir to the throne of David. Yet, it was only His
death that could pay for our sins. And what is the proof of His death?
"…and that he was buried."
The second aspect of Christ's work is that
He "rose again." This underscores for us the importance of Christ's
bodily resurrection. The phrase "He rose again" (egegertai) is a
perfect tense verb indicating past completed action with abiding present
results. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead on the third day and He remains
alive to this very day. He is a living Savior who got out of death, hell and
the grave alive! The passive voice here indicates that God the Father raised
Jesus Christ from the dead. This is the canceled check that Christ's death
satisfied every holy demand of God relative to our sins so that He raised Jesus
Christ from the dead (Rom. 4:25; 1 John 2:2, 4:10). The indicative mood again
portrays Christ's resurrection as a historical fact, not a religious fable. And
what is the proof that Christ was raised from the dead? "…and He was seen
of Cephas, then of the twelve..." (1 Cor. 15:5)
Thirdly, the Gospel centers in a specific
ACCOMPLISHMENT... "Christ died FOR OUR SINS...." Why is this significant? First of all because it
indicates a SUBSTITUTIONARY SACRIFICE. The Greek word "for" (huper)
is one of three Greek prepositions that underscore the concept of substitution
(huper; anti; peri). "Huper" communicates how Christ died ON BEHALF
OF our sins.
For when we
were yet without strength, in due time Christ died FOR the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)
But God
commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died FOR us. (Romans 5:8)
For even Christ
our passover is sacrificed FOR us. (1 Cor. 5:7)
Who gave
himself FOR our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil
world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4)
For Christ
also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might
bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18)
The second reason "for our sins"
is significant is because it reveals Christ's death as a COMPLETED SACRIFICE.
Note how "for our sins" is only attached to Christ's death. Why?
Because when He cried, "IT IS FINISHED," the sins of all mankind for
all time were PAID IN FULL on the cross. He need not be "buried" for
our sins or "raised" for our sins as His death fully accomplished the
paying of our sin debt to God.
Who being the
brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all
things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins,
sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Heb. 1:3)
By the which
will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once
for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering
oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after
he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand
of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Heb. 10:10-14)
What does all of this mean? It means that
no mass, no fires of purgatory, no sacraments, no amount of good works, no
personal suffering, no indulgences, etc. can atone for our sins. "'IT IS
FINISHED!"
This also indicates that our sins, though
making us worthy of God's judgment, will never actually condemn us to eternal
hell. Why? Because Jesus Christ fully paid for our sins past, present, and
future. In fact, all of our sins were future when Christ died for us. What
ultimately condemns a sinner to hell is not their sins, but their rejection of
Christ through their unbelief.
He that
believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned
already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son
of God. (Jn. 3:18)
And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they
believe not on Me. (John 16:8-9)
And with all
deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received
not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God
shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they
all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians
2:10-12)
This means that regardless of the nature
or amount of sins that we have committed, God, by His grace, is willing and
wanting to save us. And without compromising his holy character, God will save
every sinner who places their faith in Jesus Christ alone, since Christ died
for all of their sins and rose again.
To declare, I
say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is
excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we
conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:26-28)
Now to him
that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him
that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his
faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans
4:4-5)
For by
grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works,
lest any man should boast. (Ephesians
2:8-9)
No wonder the Gospel is called GOOD NEWS! n