AN EXHORTATION TO EVERY BELIEVER AND BIBLE-BELIEVING PASTOR:

LET'S PREACH THE GOSPEL Part 4

An Exhortation To Every Believer And Bible-Teaching Pastor

by Pastor-teacher Dennis Rokser

In three previous articles we have been underscoring the importance of a biblically-balanced teaching ministry with the Gospel as an emphasis from 1 Corinthians chapter 15. We have covered nine of our ten principles derived from this passage. By way of review, they are…

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)

PRINCIPLE #8: The Gospel which Paul received and preached is of PRIMARY IMPORTANCE. (1 Cor. 15:3a)

PRINCIPLE #9: The Gospel centers in the PERSON, WORK, and ACCOMPLISHMENT of JESUS CHRIST. (1 Cor. 15:3-4)

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, 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. ( 1 Cor. 15:3-4)

Having discussed last time the content of the Gospel from these verses, you might be wondering, "But is the Gospel of Jesus Christ credible and verifiable?" Paul gave us three evidences from 1 Corinthians 15 to affirm this.

a. Proof #1: The Gospel is "ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES".

"According to the Scriptures" is underscored for us twice, once in verse 3 and once in verse 4. The person, work and accomplishment of the Lord Jesus Christ was predicted in the Old Testament Scriptures hundreds of years before these events actually happened. Biblical Christianity is different and unique from all the religions of the world which are minus fulfilled prophecy. Over 100 specific prophecies were fulfilled in Christ's first coming, including the prediction of His death on the cross and His bodily resurrection. (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, Zechariah 12:10)

Those who deal with the laws of probability inform us that the mathematical odds of these prophecies being fulfilled are astronomical. But as Jesus Christ proclaimed to His disciples, "with men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." (Mark 10:27)

b. Proof #2: The Gospel is HISTORICALLY CREDIBLE and VERIFIABLE.

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." (1 Corinthians 15:5-8)

Jesus Christ, after His resurrection, made various appearances to actual people. One could call to the witness stand numerous individuals to testify that they saw the risen Christ. Those specifically mentioned here are…

Peter (vs. 5), who was the chief apostle and previous thrice-denier of Jesus Christ.

The Twelve (vs. 5), who were the chief authorities of the early church and who previously deserted Jesus Christ.

500 believers (vs. 6), who saw the risen Christ at one time. Now that is a lot of witnesses!

James (vs. 7), the half-brother of Jesus, who had been an unbeliever prior to Christ’s resurrection. (John 7:5)

All the apostles (vs. 7), which included Thomas, the chief doubter. (John 20:26-31)

Paul (vs. 8), who previously had been the chief persecutor of Christians. (Acts 8:3)

This is quite a large and valid group of eyewitnesses, wouldn't you say?

Sir Edward Clarke said, "As a lawyer I have made a prolonged study of the evidences for the events of the first Easter day. For me, the evidence is conclusive, and over and over again in the high court I have secured the verdict on evidence not nearly so compelling. Inference follows on evidence, and a truthful witness is always artless and disdains effect; the Gospel evidence for the resurrection is of this class, and as a lawyer I accept it unreservedly as the testimony of truthful men to facts they were able to substantiate."

The historian Thomas Arnold of Oxford adds, "The evidence for our Lord's life and death and resurrection may be and often has been shown to be satisfactory. It is good according to the common rules for distinguishing good evidence from bad. Thousands and tens of thousands of persons have gone through it piece by piece as carefully as every judge summing up on an important case. I have myself done it many times over, not to persuade others but to satisfy myself. I have been used for many years to study the history of other times, and to examine and weigh the evidence of those who have written about them, and I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is better proved by fuller evidence than the great sign that God has given us that Christ died and rose again from the dead."

c. Proof #3: The Gospel is PERSONALLY TRANSFORMING.

For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. (1 Cor. 15:9-11)

How does one explain the conversion of Saul of Tarsus into the apostle Paul apart form the destiny-changing, life-transforming message of the Gospel?

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:12-17)

Thus, if we are going to preach the Gospel accurately, we must be certain to teach the PERSON, WORK, and ACCOMPLISHMENT of JESUS CHRIST. As we do this, we can be assured that our message is ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, HISTORICALLY CREDIBLE and VERFIABLE, and has the power to be PERSONALLY TRANSFORMING in the lives of those who respond to it.

PRINCIPLE #10: The only proper RESPONSE to the Gospel is simply to BELIEVE it.

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

(1 Corinthians 15:2)

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (1 Corinthians 15:14)

For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (1 Cor. 15:16-17)

How had the Corinthians responded to the Gospel that was preached to them? They BELIEVED it. Our word translated "believe" (pisteuo) means "to rely on, to trust in, to depend on, to believe." Being in the aorist tense (in verse 2) does not indicate a required on-going action (present tense), but a definite decision at a past point in time. The active voice indicates that they chose of their own volition to believe the Gospel. The indicative mood reveals the reality of their decision to trust in Christ alone.

"In vain" means "without a basis or cause." Paul here is hinting at the issue he will take up as the chapter progresses, namely,

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (1 Corinthians 15:13-14)

Let me again call your attention to the only right response to the Gospel. One is saved by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone based on His finished work alone. In light of Christ’s death for our sins and bodily resurrection, the issue in salvation is not do, but done. The basis is not our walk, but Christ’s finished work. The means is not works but simply faith.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (John 8:24)

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25 26)

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38-39)

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (Rom. 3:28)

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 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)

As these verses set forth, the Bible clarifies the way of salvation by explaining both how one is saved and how one is not saved. Believers cannot be too clear on this issue. As someone has humorously said, "A fog in the pulpit creates a mist in the pew."

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? (1 Cor. 14:8)

Dr. Charles Ryrie has wisely stated,

"Just as words were the means God used to record the Gospel in the Scriptures, so words are the means we use to explain the Gospel to others. Therefore, a correct choice of words is important, even essential, in stating the Gospel well."¹

In heeding this good counsel, let us not garble the Gospel, nor muddle the means to everlasting life by confusing the condition of salvation through telling people such erroneous conditions such as...

"asking Jesus into your heart"… as He comes when you believe the Gospel, not by asking Him in. (John 1:12; Galatians 4:6)

"giving your life to Christ"… as He does not want your "dead-in-trespasses and sins" life, but wants to give you a new life in Christ. (John 10:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

"making a commitment to Christ"… as salvation is not assured by your promise/pledge to Christ but on God’s promise/pledge to you. (1 John 2:25, 5:13)

"turning over the controls of your life to Christ"… as Romans 12:1 is an exhortation to believers ("brethren"), not to unbelievers.

"believing plus baptism"… as a believer’s baptism is to be done as a public testimony of one’s faith and identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as a result of being saved ¾ not as a means to salvation. (1 Corinthians 1:17; Acts 8:36-38, 18:8)

"believing and keeping the Ten Commandments"… as God never designed the Ten Commandments to be a way of salvation, but to show us our sin and need of the Saviour. (Romans 3:20, 3:28; Gal. 2:16, 21, 3:10, 3:24-26)

"submitting to Christ’s mastery /lordship in your life"… as James 4:7-10 is clearly a passage for believers (1:2, 1:16, 1:19, 2:1, 3:1, 3:10, 3:12, 4:1, 4:11), not for unbelievers. And while there is no debate that Christ is Lord, the issue in salvation is… "BELIEVE on the LORD JESUS CHRIST and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:31)

"repenting of or confessing your sins"… as 1 John 1:9 is a condition for believers to have "fellowship" with God (1 John 1:3, 6, 7) as a child of God (1 John 2:1), not a means to be born again for the unsaved (John 1:12-13). And while one must see he is a sinner before a holy God in order to see his need of a Saviour, the solution is not confessing ones sins to God. Instead, it is believing that Christ made full payment for your sins upon the cross (1 John 2:2, 4:9-10). Otherwise, how many sins must you repent of, how often, in what areas, and how perfectly in order to know you are saved? Confusing, isn't it? One must repent (change their mind) about trusting Jesus Christ versus something else.

"praying the sinner’s prayer"… which is found nowhere in the Bible. Where do you find anyone in Scripture leading someone else in prayer to be saved? Nowhere!

"coming forward"… as the issue is not getting out of your seat, but coming to Christ by faith in Him alone. (John 6:35-40)

Now I can almost hear someone screaming out, "But isn’t this all simply a matter of semantics?" My reply to that objection is "yes" and "no" depending on what you mean. Yes, it is a matter of semantics if you mean that word meanings and definitions are very important. On the other hand, this is not a matter of semantics if you mean that "trusting in Jesus Christ alone" and one of these inaccurate, misleading statements are really saying the same thing.

When the Holy Spirit directed the writers of Scripture to record in perfect accuracy the inerrant Word of God, He knew the difference between "pisteuo" (believe) and "aiteo" (ask), or "homologeo" (confess) or "hupotasso" (submit) or "didomi " (give). Over a hundred plus times in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit decided that "pisteou" (believe) would be the word used to describe the one and only condition of salvation.

Dear friend, if "pisteuo" (believe) was good enough for the Holy Spirit, is it not good enough for you? I exhort you. Do not let your pride ("I’ve taught that cliché in the past") or your emotions ("I’ve prayed this with my kids") or your religious traditions ("our church has always said that") get in the way of truth and biblical accuracy on the most important issue that anyone must address. I appeal to you to do away with these "sacred cows" of modern evangelicalism, and let us return to the authoritative Word of God to embrace what the Lord says about our eternal salvation.

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…. (Acts 16:30-31)

So what have we learned from this series on 1 Corinthians 15? What can we learn regarding balance and emphasis from Paul's ministry? While the purpose of the gathering of the church is clearly to be edificational (1 Corinthians 14:1, 12, 17, 26), does not the emphasis and focus still need to be on Jesus Christ and the Gospel? It certainly does!

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:24-28)

Let’s preach the Gospel! ¢

Footnotes:

^{1Ryrie, Charles C., So Great Salvation (pg. 24)}