Text:  1 Cor. 15:1-4

INTRODUCTION:

A.      GOSPEL - "GOOD NEWS" - SAME ROOT AS "EVANGELIST."

B.      OUR TEXT TELLS US MUCH ABOUT THE GOSPEL.

I.      "WHICH I PREACHED UNTO YOU"

A.      WHAT DID PAUL PREACH? ( 1 Cor. 15:3-4 ).

          1.       The cross is central in his preaching ( 2:2 ).

          2.       Includes all that Jesus taught ( Matt. 28:19-20 ).

          3.       Excludes teachings of men ( 1 Cor. 1:22-24;  Col. 2:8 ).

          4.       The cross is the foundation of what is taught ( 1 Cor. 3:10-11 )

B.      WHERE DID PAUL GET THE GOSPEL? ( Gal. 1:11-13 )

          1;       The Holy Spirit was the agent of Jesus ( 1 Cor. 2:10-13,16 ).

          2.       Paul preached and wrote ( Eph. 3:3-5 ).

II.     "WHICH ALSO YE RECEIVED"

A.      EVEN THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE ( Acts 18:8 ).

B.      OPEN-MINDED, NARROW MINDED ( Acts 17:11 ).

C.      THE CLOSED MIND IS CONDEMNED ( Acts 18:6 ).

III.    "WHEREIN YE ALSO STAND"

A.      CALL TO FAITHFULNESS ( 1 Cor. 15:58;  16:13).

B.      BUT STAND IN THE STRENGTH OF GOD ( 1 Cor. 10:12;  Eph. 6:10-11).

IV.   "BY WHICH YE ARE ALSO SAVED"

A.      THE POWER GOD USES ( Rom. 1:16-17 ).  INFORMATION:

          1.       About the sacrifice of Jesus.

          2.       About our expected responsed ( Titus 2:11-12 ).

B.      WE MUST OBEY THE GOSPEL ( 1 Pet. 1:22;  Heb. 5:8-9 ).

V.    "EXCEPT YE BELIEVED IN VAIN"

A.      NOT CONSIDERING FAITH WITHOUT WORKS.  THEY HAD OBEYED.

B.      NOT CONSIDERING THOSE WHO FALL. - "WHEREIN YE STAND."

C.      WHAT COULD CAUSE THEIR ENACTED ON, HELD FAST FAITH TO BE IN

          VAIN? ( see ftnote. and vs. 13-14 ).

D.      ANY SUBSTANCE TO THEIR FAITH?  WAS JESUS RAISED? ( vs. 5-6 ).

E.      WHAT BEARING DOES THIS HAVE ON US?

          1.       If we have faith it is not in vain ( vs. 2 ;  2 Cor. 4:13-14).

          3.       Our resurrection is unto life ( John 5:28-29 ).]

CONCLUSION:

A.      WE MUST OBEY THE GOSPEL FOR IT TO SAVE.

B.      WHAT DOES THE GOSPLE DEMAND OF ME?