by Melonie June Johns 

Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you — unless you have come to believe in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and 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 and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 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, unfit 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 has not been 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 proclaim and so you have come to believe.          —1 Corinthians 15:1-11

 This section of Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth articulates the heart of the gospel. It’s what Paul constantly preached: Christ’s death and resurrection as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. He preached the same gospel and taught the same truth. And we, like the Corinthians, believe it in our hearts. The doctrine of Christ’s death and resurrection is at the foundation of Christianity. Christ’s crucifixion and victory over death are the very source of our spiritual life and hope. It is that alone by which we gain salvation.

Paul goes on to confirm the truth of the resurrection with his own case for Christ. First, we have strong validation of the gospel as it corresponds with ancient prophecies. Paul then outlines the testimony of the many eyewitnesses who saw Christ after He had risen from the dead: Cephus (Peter), the 500 in Galilee, all the apostles at Mount Olivet when Christ was taken up into heaven. How can we deny the evidence of Christ’s resurrection when so many saw him alive at so many different times? Finally, we are secure in the knowledge that Paul not only preached the same gospel himself at all times, but that all the apostles upheld this same truth, taught the same good news, and presented the same evidence. Throughout generations, Christians have believed Jesus Christ – crucified and resurrected – is the very heart of Christianity. Paul and the apostles proclaimed it; we have come to believe it. 

Lord, may our faith make us witnesses to the truth of Christ’s death and resurrection. Amen.