1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-3)
Thoughts: How do you define the good news? Is it when there is no more hurting of animals? Is it when there is no more polluting of the environment? Is it when everyone gets paid equally? Is it when the candidate of your party gets elected? Is it when your child is elevated above other children by grades or sports accomplishments? What is the end goal you have in mind- a safer earth; a fairer economy; a better political system; the elevation of your child?
The good news for the Gospel is there for anyone who will take it. It is the good news that sin and evil (which are realities) will not win. It is the good news that death and sickness (also a reality) will not win. It is that we are saved from all the things- including needless hurt or degrading of the environment- or injustice- but even more importantly the saving of who you are deep- deep down; and perhaps even the saving of your child. If the earth was made perfectly harmless unpolluted and fair- we would still need to have our souls saved for eternity.
The good news is found in verse 3- it is "of first importance." It is that Christ really did come; He really did die for our sins; He was really buried; and he is really alive right now.
It is His eternal life that affects our eternal life. It is His resurrection that affects our own. That is good news- He made it out.
I remember watching the movie "Escape from Alcatraz." Alcatraz was a prison island off the California coast and no inmate had ever escaped from there- until 1962. A plot was made to escape but one of those in the plot backed out because of fear- he didn't believe in the plan. But the five inmates escaped- giving hope to all the inmates there. The prison was closed the next year. Jesus has escaped death- and that affects all of us. But more than that- He comes to us to get us through at the end of our days.
The good news for the Gospel is there for anyone who will take it. It is the good news that sin and evil (which are realities) will not win. It is the good news that death and sickness (also a reality) will not win. It is that we are saved from all the things- including needless hurt or degrading of the environment- or injustice- but even more importantly the saving of who you are deep- deep down; and perhaps even the saving of your child. If the earth was made perfectly harmless unpolluted and fair- we would still need to have our souls saved for eternity.
The good news is found in verse 3- it is "of first importance." It is that Christ really did come; He really did die for our sins; He was really buried; and he is really alive right now.
It is His eternal life that affects our eternal life. It is His resurrection that affects our own. That is good news- He made it out.
I remember watching the movie "Escape from Alcatraz." Alcatraz was a prison island off the California coast and no inmate had ever escaped from there- until 1962. A plot was made to escape but one of those in the plot backed out because of fear- he didn't believe in the plan. But the five inmates escaped- giving hope to all the inmates there. The prison was closed the next year. Jesus has escaped death- and that affects all of us. But more than that- He comes to us to get us through at the end of our days.
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you are the risen Lord. Thank you that by believing in you I can also have that eternal life.
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