◄ What Does 1 Corinthians 15:4 Mean? ►

Not only was the crucifixion of the eternal Son of God foretold in Scripture, but Isaiah 53 prophesied of His burial, while in Psalm 16 there is clear evidence of His Resurrection from the dead. The death, burial, and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the mainspring upon which our salvation rests, and the Holy Spirit Himself inspired holy men of God to record in advance the saving message of grace, upon which our salvation rests: "That Christ died for our sins, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day - according to the Scriptures."

Not only is the salvation message under attack from unbelievers with their satanically inspired, unbiblical worldview, and also from many Christian cults and sects that disown or distort one or other aspect of this complete saving message of grace, but also from some that are inside the Body of Christ.

The Word of God is the sure testimony of the reliability of the gospel message of salvation, for the Word of God is steadfast and sure. The Word of God stands fast for ever and ever - and God has placed His Word above His holy name. And yet, every aspect of this three-fold witness of the death, burial, and Resurrection of the incarnate God, the Man Christ Jesus, has been under attack from the very beginning.

There are some who water down the saving message to make it more palatable for the 'sin-shy, seeker-friendly' unbeliever, who finds the Cross unpalatable. But there are also those who swing to the opposite extreme of imposing crippling legalistic burdens on their Christian brothers and sisters. In their desire to defend the truth of the saving message of salvation (by grace alone through faith alone in Christ's finished work alone - as recorded in the Scriptures alone), these enthusiastic legalists add a wide range of works to this God-breathed message of the Cross.

When the plain text of Scripture is read, the incredible message of salvation is so simple that even a little child can understand and believe. It was this plain, uncomplicated message that Paul preached to the Corinthian Christians, who received it by faith and were saved by grace through faith in the death, burial, and Resurrection of the God-Man, Jesus Christ the righteous. But if any aspect of this simple gospel of Christ is omitted, then we too have believed in vain - for we have believed an incomplete gospel message.

Let us hold fast to the uncomplicated truth: That God the Son, in the Person of Jesus Christ, died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scripture - to Whom be all praise and glory for ever and ever.

Heavenly Father, thank You that I have been saved by believing on the death, burial, and Resurrection of Your only begotten Son, my Saviour Jesus Christ, AMEN.