A doctrine of the first rank

1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,… 1 Cor 15:1-4

This week we spend time focusing on the gospel of Jesus Christ. The word gospel can be translated good news, and in this case the good news about how God has provided salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul describes this life changing message as one that he himself had received and had equally passed on as of first importance. Matthew Henry says “It was a doctrine of the first rank, a most necessary truth”.

Obviously, Matthew Henry speaks in past tense describing the days of Paul and the early apostles. The question is can we say that of our time as well? Can we say that today we treat the gospel with the same kind of primacy and urgency as they did. Do we consider that this is the most important news we will ever handle and do we handle it with the fervour that Paul did? Repent of ways in which you haven’t done so and ask God to let the fire of the gospel burn in your heart more than ever before from this day forth. Read the verses again and allow God to start answering that prayer as you do so.

Comments

comments