Memory Verse: Week of April 9th

Week of April 9th

1 Corinthians 15:3–4
[3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 ESV)

Context: This chapter starts out telling us that we never get past the Gospel. It is of first or primary importance. In v.1-2 of 1 Corinthians 15 we are told that it is crucial to have the Gospel of Jesus preached to our hearts that we might receive it, take our stand in it (finding our identity in the Gospel), hold fast to it (Him), and continue to believe it, for we never get past our need of the Gospel.

Then in our verses (v. 3-4) we see that the Gospel is about Jesus; sin and substitution, and resurrection. This Gospel is not about what we must do, but what Jesus has done for all those who put their faith in him. Thus it is all about undeserved grace – not our merit at all (v. 9-10).

Verses 5 and following go on to tell us that this historical reality is based on eye-witness, life-transforming accounts. Those eye-witnesses were skeptics, doubters, family, friends, and even enemies. These individuals gave up everything with joy, because they were undeniably convinced of the physical and bodily resurrection of Jesus.

Thus, the resurrection of Jesus is verified by the authority of Scripture (including fore-telling in the Old Testament Scriptures long before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, that he would accomplish this). It is verified by the authority of credible eye-witnesses, as many as 500 at one time. It is verified by the life-transforming response of these same eye-witnesses. And it is the greatest news ever to a people who are all headed to death, that Jesus offers to resurrect us, to be with him, if we surrender to him and receive him as the Lord and Savior he is. This is amazing grace!