Why You Need to be Firmly Rooted in the Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The Central Necessity of the Gospel

One of the main principles the Apostle Paul focuses on in 1 Corinthians is the central necessity of the gospel message to revolutionize and change each of our lives, just as it did in salvation and continues to do afterward. There is an utter need to be firmly rooted in this gospel.

Paul introduces this passage by saying, "I need to remind you of the gospel." Especially in a congregation that has gone through so many errors and problems. Recall 1 Corinthians 2, where Paul determined to know nothing among the Corinthians except Jesus Christ and him crucified. We need to be constantly reminded of the gospel.

Ask yourself: How much gospel remembrance do you have? Do you think about the gospel constantly, daily, every waking moment as humanly possible?

You might think some issues in this passage seem basic: Jesus Christ was crucified, dead, and rose on the third day. Yet this summary form of the gospel contains essential truths Christians must be reminded of. Do you think about the gospel? Does it matter to you? Is it important?

Just as you think repeatedly about someone attractive when pursuing a relationship because they mean something to you, do you think about the gospel more than once, beyond just when it's preached? Little to no recalling or remembrance of the gospel reveals serious problems in a Christian's heart.

Paul focused on the gospel amid all the problems in Corinth—divisions, immorality, doctrinal errors. He resolved them through the gospel. Twice in 1 Corinthians, he emphasizes it: in chapter 2, "I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." This becomes the sounding board for all we believe and practice.

To discern if something is right as a Christian, compare it to the gospel: Is this a sin my Lord died for, or the sanctification he died for me to live in?

In chapter 15, Paul reminds them again of the gospel "of first importance." Not tongues, marriage, or youth groups, but this. Twice presented in summary form, it shows why we should pay attention and how we benefit beyond salvation. The gospel fixes anything in our lives—it changes us, changing how we experience circumstances.

Avoiding Vain Belief

Watch out for the "unless": "unless you believed in vain." You need to be reminded of the gospel, hold fast to it, see its importance regularly, or you'll miss its blessing in every area of life.

1. The Gospel Saves and Revolutionizes Your Life—if Not in Vain

Faith is the instrument of justification—how you are saved. But the gospel is that Jesus died for you. In John 2 and 6, people "believed" in Jesus—saw miracles, yet Jesus did not entrust himself to them. Many believed and came to him, but later abandoned him (John 6:35-45, the feeding of the 5,000).

Why didn't their belief take root or revolutionize their lives? Their belief was not continuous. Don't focus on a past-tense belief, like a sinner's prayer at age six. Ask: Am I currently believing in the gospel now?

If yes, enjoy its fruits. But vain belief is like James 2: faith without works—dead, useless, pointless, of no eternal weight. A vain believer says, "I believe in Jesus," but it doesn't change their life or motivate kingdom work.

A vain believer attends church Friday nights, sings songs loudly—yet doesn't live them out. Stop singing songs of radical abandonment if you don't mean it.

How to know the difference? "The gospel... which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast... unless you believed in vain." Receive it, stand in it (passive salvation), hold fast—fighting distractions to focus on it.

Paul's grace "was not in vain": "I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." Holding fast requires diligence, hard work—not a loose grip. Valuable things demand effort. Paul's work was gospel-focused, not worldly success.

The difference: Trusting grace does not return void. Vain believers look saved but aren't holding fast.

2. The Gospel Confirmed by Numerous Eyewitnesses

If you doubt the gospel's power, consider hundreds who saw Jesus alive after death: Cephas, the twelve, over 500 brothers (most still alive), James, all apostles, and Paul himself—"one untimely born," the least of apostles because he persecuted the church.

Yet he worked harder. How terrible were you as an unbeliever? Paul held coats at Stephen's stoning, condoned murder. Stephen forgave, like Jesus. This shows grace's power.

Even if converted young, recognize sin's ever-present reality. The gospel changes circumstances.

3. The Gospel Refocuses Christians out of Error and Sin

Paul corrected Corinth's disunity, immaturity, doctrinal errors, heinous sin (incest)—all by knowing nothing except Christ crucified. Fix sexual sin, drunkenness, lying, anger, marriage problems the same way.

Never feel ill-equipped against sin—be reminded of the gospel, receive it, stand, hold fast, treasure it. No sin, no problems. Christ crucified deals with sin.

It won't make life easier or avoid pain, but gives advantage to experience them for God's glory and your good. Problems need a holier you—achieved by knowing nothing except Christ crucified.