Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(1Co 15:4) “And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (5)  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:”  Often overlooked is the fact that the resurrected Lord appeared to Peter before appearing to the twelve: (Joh 1:40) “One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. (41) He first findeth his own brother Simon,…(42) And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” ; (Luk 24:34)  “Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.”

(1Co 15:4) “And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (5)  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:”  Notice carefully the number of apostles mentioned here. Twelve. Yet, Judas is no longer among them. That means his replacement was among the number to first see the resurrected Lord.

(1Co 15:4) “And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”  The Old Testament recorded: (Isa 53:9) “And He made His grave with the wicked [executed as criminal], and with the rich in His death [buried in a rich man’s tomb]; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. (10)  Yet it pleased the LORD [His Father] to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed [the saved by His being resurrected], He shall prolong His days [everlasting life], and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.”

 (1Co 15:3) “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”  Jesus died “because of” our sin. It is personal. I am the reason Jesus died. Wrath abides on the lost soul who has not repented of the sin that caused this death.

(1Co 15:3) “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”  The phrase, “according to the Scriptures”, is referring to the prophecies found in the Old Testament. Here’s one: (Isa 53:5) “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”  

(1Co 15:2) “By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.”  One of the aspects, or results of salvation, is a resting (peace) in God’s promise of a resurrection. Though one cannot lose everlasting life (1Co_3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.), one can rob self of peace of soul.

(1Co 15:1) “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;”    “Wherein ye stand”: to stand speaks of stability, to abide, to be established. You and I cannot and need not to add to our position as “saved”, “children of God”. To think that way is to imply Jesus was not enough. He is and always will be enough to save your sinful soul!

(1Co 15:1) “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;”   “Which ye also received”: it is not enough to hear and believe; one must take and embrace it. Seeing the heart’s desire, the Lord honors it by giving forth the Gift of Everlasting life. That new life changes a person: (2Co_5:17) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Have you been changed?

(1Co 15:1) “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;”   In order for the gospel to be truly “received”, it must be understood. No one could fulfill the standard (law) of perfection earning heaven. Jesus lived that sinless life and then offered it up in torture and death for you. God honored that bringing Him back to life, eternal life. Now He gives the eternal life earned by Christ to those whose hearts condemn them and ask forgiveness desiring to life as God wants us to live. He then bestows upon them the gift of everlasting life.

(1Co 15:1) “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;”  So often today the saved wrongly make the assumption that others have heard the gospel. If they go to church, surely they have heard it. Not so. I am afraid that to most, if you believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and try to live the best you can, then you are saved. That is not…..the gospel (to be continued).