The Gospel (10)

The gospel of Jesus Christ matches our template very well… because it really is our template.  While Paul doesn’t use the term “template”, he seems to be using it as one.  Again, he declared the gospel to be the death, burial, and resurrection.  This declaration is made in I Corinthians chapter 15. 

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand:  by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you unless ye have believed in vain.  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.”   (I Corinthians 15:1-4)

In these scriptures Paul states his intent to “declare” the gospel, but seems to take his time in doing so.  The declaration is made by the time the first four verses of the chapter are complete, however, he makes a number of statements concerning different functions and aspects of the gospel in those four verses as well.  It is those statements that I would like to examine here, as they will give weight to the importance this great message holds.  We will consider each statement, but first let’s simply list those statements.

·         He preached it. 

·         They (the Corinthians) received it.

·         They stand in it.

·         They are saved by it.

·         They must keep it in their memory unless their belief was in vain.

·         He delivered to them the gospel he had received.

Now let us consider the implications of these statements and how they add explanation to the importance of this three-fold gospel… as well as to our template… for they are the same.

Paul stated that he preached the gospel… he preached the very same points as our three-fold template!  The ramifications of a simple statement like this can easily be overlooked.  Let’s look at some of them.  Paul writes a stern warning to the Galatians concerning changing the gospel… Paul says, some would “pervert the gospel”.  

“But though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”  (Galatians 1: 8)   

The word accursed is the Greek word “anathema” which Paul used in conjunction with the Greek word “maranatha” in his warning to the Corinthians.  The translation would be that those who do not love the Lord would be accursed at the coming of the Lord in judgment.  The point being that Paul issues a strong warning to those who do not preach the same gospel as he… whether it be man or angel!

That Paul took ownership of the gospel is made clear when he states on more than one occasion that it was “his gospel”.  To Timothy he wrote, “Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel”.   (II Timothy 2:8) 

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.”  (Romans 16:25)

These words from the apostle reveal the gospel Paul preached was not only owned by him, but that it came by revelation.  It was not to be perverted, lest severe consequences come upon those who would change the simple three-fold message. 

They received the gospel.  The good news of salvation will not be of any benefit to those who do not hear and respond to the message.  Paul’s responsibility was to deliver the word to those who he preached to; it was the responsibility of those who heard him preach the gospel to act upon the message. 

Paul was stating that the Corinthians had not only heard the gospel, but had responded appropriately… they received it.  Similarly, the people of Berea in Acts chapter 17 received the word.  It was written concerning their attitude toward the preaching of the gospel that…

 “These were more notable than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, as whether those things were so.”  (Acts 17: 11)

The power of the gospel remains latent, awaiting the response of the hearer.  While God would move heaven and earth to save the sinner from his sin (and he did more than that upon the cross), it is the choice of the lost soul that brings this wonderful power to its effective potential.  Paul wrote in Romans that the gospel “is the power of God unto salvation”.  How unfortunate it is for that powerful message to fall upon ears that don’t hear and upon a heart that doesn’t care to seek its veracity!

Jesus commanded his disciples to shake off the dust of the city in which there was no response to the word of God.  He declared that in doing so they would testify against those who would not hear.  It is a good thing to continue to search for the implications of this message of death, burial, and resurrection… and to be counted alongside the church of Berea as “noble” in your efforts of searching and verifying its authenticity!

Standing in the gospel

To stand speaks of being unmovable and in an upright position.  Once the gospel is heard and responded to, Paul asserts that the Corinthians are to stand in the gospel… as it is the only foundation.  As we use the gospel template, we see that it can be applied to many teachings and stories to give an ever increasing understanding to the child of God.  With each new illumination we add strength and surety to our foundation. 

He is telling us that the three-fold gospel is not just a starting place, it is a standing place.  The foundation never needs adjusting, or replaced… it just needs to be the place where the child of God places their feet.

Saved by the gospel

What more needs to be said?  The entire writing here is to help a seeker of truth to come to the saving knowledge of the Lord’s gospel.  Paul writes to the Romans…

“Whosoever calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10: 13)

And then.

“But they have not all obeyed the gospel.  For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?  Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  (Romans 10: 16 &17)

It is clear that salvation is contingent on obedience to the gospel.  As Paul wrote, calling upon the name of the Lord is part of that obedience.  There is more to learn here, but for now we will simply conclude that the gospel saves us.  It must be asked, if the method of salvation used by churches and preachers does not include the three-fold gospel template, can it really be the salvation message at all?

Keep it in memory or believe in vain

The statement here is similar to his word about standing in the gospel, but now he adds the consequence of not keeping the gospel in mind.  The gospel is our salvation and will continue to be its keeping force.  In a sense it is the warning to the inner man to not change, pervert, or do away with the very template of the gospel that first saved you.  We may preach the gospel outwardly to others after we are saved, but Paul points out the danger of letting the wonderful message slip from its spiritual position of importance.  Let it always permeate our thoughts!  Jesus died was buried and rose again for you!!

Delivered the gospel you received

One of the principles coming from a group of spiritual laws known collectively as the law of the harvest is that you reproduce after your kind.  To state it in the words of Genesis chapter one, “whose seed was in itself”.  Simply, apples reproduce apples, and oranges reproduce oranges.  We reproduce what we are. 

It is obvious that with the many varying beliefs, doctrines, and denominations, which go by the name of “Christian”, this law has not been adhered to.  The gospel message has been changed down through time.  To verify (like the Bereans) that our gospel is the pure message we must put aside all modern teaching on salvation and return to its original source.  While that may seem to be a daunting task, it is really quite simple… and it makes all the sense in the world.  We will look at that soon. 

Paul’s conversion can be easily seen in the book of Acts and as we identify the elements of it, and compare his salvation experience to his teaching a very important conclusion can be made.  In as much as he stated that he delivered (preached and administered) what he had received, we must find his experience and his teaching to be in alignment… not only with each other, but with our gospel template as well!  Our conclusion then is; when all of these things (and many more) dovetail the chance for error is completely eliminated!  When it concerns the salvation of your soul, the search effort is not even worth considering.

One last thing.  Paul received the gospel experience and that experience should be the same as ours, or more precisely, ours should be the same as his… which in turn should be the same as his teaching… which in turn should be the same as the gospel template.  We are developing a fool proof manner of checks, which will verify our own salvation experience. 

Paul also received the gospel in another form.  Whereas we have been considering his salvation experience, we can also look at his salvation doctrine and where it came from.

Notice his statements from the book of Galatians:

“But I certify you brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.  (Galatians 1:11 & 12)

When God called Paul… “to reveal his Son in me (Paul), that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:  neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.  But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother”.  (Galatians 1: 15-19)

The scriptures are rather clear that Paul not only received the gospel experience on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), but that he received the “gospel doctrine” in Arabia by revelation from God.  He is an original source of the “gospel seed”.  Paul by spiritual revelation and the other apostles by the direct teaching and commands of Jesus.  These are the original sources of the gospel message… they can be trusted.  We will consider more closely their message… remembering that each of these different angles must converge with all the others in the gospel message… which is our gospel template.