Remember the Gospel

Remember the Gospel
I Corinthians 15:1-2

On this Memorial Day we are put in remembrance of those brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives in the line of military duty.
It is important that we recognize that patriotism and respect for the sacrifices of military service are virtues that are consistent with our Christian faith.
Remember that those who have died in war were there because they believed something was more important than their own lives.
They cared enough for the preservation of the freedom of others to put their own lives on the line for that cause.
The price of our freedom will always be measured in the lives of brave men and women whose selflessness led to their own death.
Their accomplishments are undeniable in the records of history and even today thousands of lives are changed and people freed because of the sacrifices that some have made.
As we look toward the future of this world, we can be sure of one thing, that as long as Jesus Christ delays His return, freedom will be won by those willing to pay the price and lost by those unwilling to pay the price.
Let us be sure this weekend to thank someone whose service risked their own life and remember those whose sacrifice paid for the freedom we enjoy today.
When we remember those who have fallen in war we give credit to those whose actions remind us One Who gave His own life for our freedom, our freedom from sin and its eternal penalty.
Jesus' great work of redemption outshines any military victory and is more important to remember than anything else.

In our text we are reminded to keep something in memory.
Let us read our text and see this great command this morning.

READ TEXT
PRAY (I Corinthians 15:1-2)

We see that herein the Apostle Paul has written here a declaration of the Gospel.
The nature of the Gospel is outlined here, not for the first time for the Church at Corinth, but repeated because Paul was concerned that they remember the Gospel without alteration or additions.

Before we get into the imperative and its subsequent motivations and instructions, let us first get a handle on the nature of the Gospel itself.

The word "Gospel" is a bit of a contraction of the original old english word "Godspel" meaning, good news.
Today it is the ultimate good news concerning our way to have eternal life and a relationship with God.
The word is translated perfectly from the Greek word Euangelion, which means, glad message.

Truly, the word, "Gospel" is descriptive of the good news that Paul outlines here.
Let us see what the good news is that Paul is so adamant that we remember:

1.) Jesus Christ died for our sins. (Verse 3)
Here is where we see the implication of a dire condition and a desperate need:
It will serve us well to remember that no news is good if it glazes over the truth.
The stark reality and the truth that serves as the background against which the Gospel shines in relief is that we are sinners.
Ps 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

While this may not be the most enjoyable part of the Gospel, it is indispensable.
We must recognize that we are sinners and that sin is punishable by death and separation from God.
Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death...
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Re 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

This is the bad news that puts us in a position to receive the Gospel and appreciate its true power.
Ro 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

So then Christ has borne the penalty for our sins.
He did not swoon on the Cross.
That would not cover the sin debt.
He did truly die.

The second part of the Gospel reinforces the first:
2.) Jesus Christ was buried.
His burial was more than just a formality.
It proved beyond any doubt the ultimate sacrifice was paid.
His flesh was dead and clod in the tomb that Pilate sealed and the Jewish rulers made as sure as they could.
As we have described on Easter Sunday, Jesus stayed in that tomb for three long days and three long nights according to the prophecy.
Mt 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

This time of burial represents the complete eradication of our sin from the presence of God in Heaven.
He took that sin on himself on the cross and was buried with it.
However, if the Gospel ended with this second element, we would have no assurance of the efficacy of Christ's payment.
If Jesus had died and stayed in that tomb, there would be no indication or proof that we could ever hope for more than an oblivious eternity.
1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

It is this third element of the Gospel that gives us that Hope.
3.) Jesus Christ rose again!
This is why we can have hope of eternal life.
Jesus was preaching this even before His own death:
Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

As Adam sinned and passed on an inheritance of death for all men, So the Son of Man arose and passed on a legacy of life for all who believe.
1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

Now we have hope that is not draped in death, it is a living, a lively, and active hope of someday going to live with Him in heaven.
1Pe 1:3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Now we have seen the nature and definition of the Gospel.
Let us see that this imperative is none other than to remember the Gospel.
We can find motivation to this end within out text:

Every person must remember the Gospel

1. Because of what the Gospel cost.
We must get the story right because of the great price which Jesus paid.
It cost the blood of God's own Son.
It cost the life of Jesus on the Cross.
A price so high gives motivation to remember the Gospel.

2. Because of what the Gospel accomplished.
The Gospel accomplished the eradication of our sins.
It accomplished not just partial payment but full payment.

3. Because of what the Gospel can do.
The Gospel is not finished with what it can do.
It pays in full the debt of any sinner who places his faith in the person of the Gospel.
It accomplishes the justification of every sinner by faith.

The text also tells us how we can remember the Gospel.

1. By receiving the Gospel by faith.
Ro 1:16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Verse 3 tells us that Paul received the Gospel.
Verse 1 tells us that the Corinthians had received the Gospel.
The Gospel is of no benefit to those who reject it.
The great news of Jesus payment for our sin must be received by faith.

2. By standing in the Gospel of Grace.
Ro 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Once we have received the Gospel by faith, it is essential that we stand in the Gospel.
We must never forget, it was not our righteousness that saved us, it is not our righteousness that will keep us saved.
It was the goodness of God that brought us salvation, it will be His goodness that draws us closer to Him throughout our lives.
His goodness must flow through us like we are His channels to the world.

3. By delivering the Gospel to others.
Paul is declaring the Gospel to the saved in Corinth as He had delivered it to them when they were lost.
The Church in Corinth had Paul to thank for delivering to them the Good news of Jesus Christ.
The preservation of the Gospel Message will be through the telling of it.
Let us share the message of the Gospel as if it is the best news ever to be told to mankind, for indeed it is.