1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
At the Core. What is at the center of your life? What’s
really the main thing in your
life? What’s at the top of your list? What
are you most passionate about? What do you love to talk about? What do you think about most when your mind is
free? What defines you? Maybe it’s a relationship or your
family. For some it is a cause, movement, or political affiliation. For others it is their hobby or their
team. Some are defined by their talent,
or a possession. Maybe at this time in
your life what defines you is constantly shifting from one thing to another.
Of
First Importance. “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also
received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…” (1
Corinthians 15:3; NASBU). The Greek word
protos, translated “of first
importance,” means “foremost in time,
place, order or importance” (Strong’s). According to the Holy Spirit, the death of
Christ for our sins is of first importance.
It is to be foremost in the days of our lives. It is to have first place in our hearts. Who He is and what He did at Calvary is to be
of first importance to each of us. His
death for our sins is to be at our core, it is to be what defines us.
Thee
Gospel of Christ. The gospel of
Christ is the worst news any of us will ever hear. Every one of us has sinned against our
Creator and the Sustainer of our lives.
The I AM is holy and just. His
nature and character require Him to punish sin.
Ours is an inescapable penalty: “…for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…For the wages of sin is
death…” (Romans 3:23; 6:23; NKJV). At the same time, the gospel of Christ is the
best news any of us will ever hear. The
One we have sinned against is the very one who is going to save us! The divine dilemma gives the great I AM the
opportunity to perform the divine rescue!
“…being justified freely by His
grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,whom God set forth as a
propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness,
because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously
committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might
be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans
6:24-26; NKJV). GOD’S wrath, stored up
beginning with Adam’s sin and extending to all of your sin and mine and to all
the sin to the end of the world was poured on Christ on the Cross. “All of this sin needs to be punished,” cries
the one seeking to accuse Jehovah of injustice.
It was. At the cross. Christ drank the cup of GOD’S wrath for you
and me. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21; NKJV). At the cross, the holiness of Jehovah was
maintained. His justice was upheld. The penalty for all the sins of all time was
paid. The wrath of GOD was appeased at
the cross. Sins are forgiven at Calvary.
In My
Life. In my life Jesus is to be
the main man: “…the Man Christ Jesus…” (1 Timothy 2:5; NKJV). In my life the crucifixion of Jesus is to be the
main event: “…gave Himself a ransom for all…” (1 Timothy 2:6; NKJV). Perhaps
John Stott said it best: “The Cross is
the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, but we have to get
near enough for its sparks to fall on us.”
Let us see that “Jesus Christ and
Him crucified” is to be “of first
importance” in our lives. Let us
allow His blazing fire to kindle our love for Him. Let us pray His aid in keeping us near His
cross. Let us live in such a way that
Galatians 2:20 is true of each and every one of us: “I have
been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me” (NKJV).
