I’ve written previously about The Simple Good News of the gospel using as few ‘religious’ words as possible. But, it’s alright to have multiple definitions of the phrase. So, what would a Bible author say if you asked for their definition? The Apostle Paul explained the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15. To Paul, the key points of the gospel aren’t about church services or music. They aren’t even directly about repentance, baptism, or confession. Before anything else, the gospel is about Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and return.
Paul’s Reason for Writing
As Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthian Christians, he knew there were a lot of issues that needed to be corrected in their church. But, he saved one of the most fundamental topics until almost the end of the letter: Is there life after death? To answer this question, he only needed to remind them of the core gospel message he’d given them from the start. But, before delivering that refresher, he underlined the importance of what he was about to say.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
Paul shared the gospel with them for a reason. He wanted them to have genuine belief that would lead to their salvation. If they had actually forgotten or misunderstood the significance of Paul’s teachings, his efforts to teach them had been in vain.
Gospel Basics
So, to address the very simplistic question they were asking, Paul distilled the gospel to only the most essential elements. Using these building blocks, he would be able to show the absolute necessity for a Christian to believe in life after death.
1 Corinthians 15:3-9 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve[, then many others].
In this description, Paul reduced the entire thrust of his evangelistic message into a few basic truths. If someone believed that Christ died for their sins, laid in the grave, and came back to life, they knew the gospel. By looking at the scriptures Jesus fulfilled, they would be able to understand how His story would impact their own. Despite their church’s issues, Corinth’s acceptance of these truths is why Paul called them “sanctified” and “saints” at the beginning of the letter (1 Corinthians 1:2).
If the Gospel is Wrong
So, having re-established the very foundation of the gospel, Paul then proceeded to answer the Corinthians’ question about life after death. If there is no resurrection of the dead, we’re all hopelessly lost and deceived. If there’s no life after death, then Jesus never rose, we were never saved, and we have no hope beyond the grave.
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. […] 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Without the resurrection of the dead, the gospel isn’t true. If the gospel isn’t true, our entire lives are a waste. But, if someone understands the gospel, they will understand the reason it’s such good news.
The Gospel’s Good News
Because Christ rose from the dead, we will too. Since Jesus demonstrated the resurrection, every Christian has the same hope. Since Jesus proved His power over the grave, we know His eventual fulfillment of Psalm 8:5-6 will result in the final destruction of death, itself.
1 Corinthians 15:20-29 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, […] 22 so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he […] has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. […] 29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?
If there’s no life after death, why would someone bother getting baptized in the name of Jesus? If there’s no life after death, He’s already gone, His name has no power, and becoming His disciple is futile. Christians don’t follow a dead man. We follow a raised man!
Death’s Last Day
Because of the gospel, we can look forward to the end of our life. Whether we’re alive or have already died, we’ll all be given new immortal bodies when Jesus returns. Then, He will demonstrate His power over death, as described in Hosea 13:14.
1 Corinthians 15:51-57 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 52 […] For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 [… T]hen shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Because Jesus conquered the grave, death is no longer something to fear. Our sins have been forgiven. We’re not under the curse of a law we cannot keep (Romans 3:23). We have victory over sin and death through Jesus. That’s the gospel according to Paul!