"In Accordance with the Scriptures"

“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.”        (1 Corinthians 15:3-5 ESV)

If we get the gospel wrong, if it is not taught correctly, or if it is not founded in the scriptures, people who believe they are saved may still be at enmity with God. This is tragically dangerous for many who believe in a false gospel.

Paul is clear that scripture elicits an understanding of what the gospel is and what it means. The gospel is not based on one's interpretations of the Scriptures. We cannot interpret scripture; it is the truth on its face. The interpretation of the gospel leads to a person infusing their thoughts and ideas about what the “gospel” means to them, which may be opposite to its true meaning. Teaching this way is incredibly dangerous.

Paul notes that Christ died for our sins. He died for our sins and was put forth by God as a propitiation, which is the act that satisfies God’s anger against human sin. In simpler terms, it means that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross appeased God's righteous anger towards our sin. We know this pleased God. However, Paul, in the same sentence, makes it clear this happened, “in accordance with the Scriptures.” In the Old Testament, God foretold that He would send forth His son born of a virgin and that He is the Messiah. Everything Jesus did was foretold in the Old Testament, even stating on the cross, “I thirst.”

The gospel that Paul taught does not come from his heart, but from the scriptures. This eliminates any claim or allusion that it is a man-made story. Again, Paul taught that, “that he (Christ) was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. Again, the risen Christ, defeating sin and death, did so according to the scriptures. And this was witnessed by the twelve and by at least five hundred other people. The gospel is foretold and witnessed, not just by two persons as required by first-century laws, but by hundreds.

This gospel is not founded in the Commandments. In Matthew 22:36, Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”(vv.37-39) Believing that keeping these commandments is what saves is a form of moralism and legalism. Jesus ended this with, “On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”(v.40) But the first-century Jews who studied the Old Testament did not believe Moses or the prophets who wrote about Jesus. Like many people today, they did not want to give up their lifestyle, status, popularity, or wealth.

Therefore, we must rely on the scriptures, which provide a factual, eyewitness account of the foretelling and fulfillment of the sacrifice of the Son of God for the salvation of the world. In apologetics, we cannot rely solely on reason. You cannot reason with a debased mind. However, reason can be a powerful tool when used in conjunction with scripture to defend and explain the faith. But I hear, “they do not believe in the Bible.” God uses scripture to change hearts. In pure terms, the gospel, when received, will change hearts when God has willed it.

People have said, I have never heard the gospel like this when all that has been done was the reading of scripture. That is the work of the Lord on the human heart. The true heart of the gospel lies in Scripture. This is where we begin because there is nothing more authoritative or specific than the Scriptures. Paul wrote, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17) The Scriptures are alive, the living word of God. The authority comes from those who gave us the Scriptures, enabled and inspired by God. The witnessing of the events in the Bible is evidence that comes through the authority. And Christ is the fulfillment of the Scriptures as foretold and recounted with authority and witnessed by many.

In the incarnation, the Son of God was born into creation. He ministered to many, to repent as in Him, the kingdom of God had drawn near to humanity. He was arrested, beaten, and scourged. He was nailed to a tree. Sinless in nature, yet He bore our sin, taking our punishment from God and dying on that cross. He was buried, laid in a borrowed tomb, and lay underground for three days. He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures, defeating sin and death. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father; he is our mediator with God. It is the one who has faith in Christ and repents of their sins who will find salvation and everlasting life in Jesus.

Do you know Christ as your Savior? Seek salvation in Christ today; it may be your only chance.

Grace and Peace.