As Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth draws near its close Paul underscores the source of his faith and the heart of the gospel: “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” (1Corinthians 15:3-8).
There is, of course, more than a few sermon’s worth of material contained in these verses. But I find it helpful to note that Paul marks this statement as “of first importance.” Paul is saying, in effect, “it begins here; this is what it is all about.” It is not enough to know the Christ died; we must also be aware that Christ died for our sins. It is not enough to know that Christ died for our sins; we must also know that he was raised from the dead. It is not enough to know that he was raised from the dead; we must also know that he appeared to his followers at various times. It is not enough to know any of this unless we also know that it happened “in accordance with the scriptures.”
For Paul the gospel is not an isolated event or a single statement of fact. It is a tapestry of threads drawn together in God’s grace and creating a new reality. Yes, Christ died, but that death which is the source of our redemption was also a prelude to the resurrection and the creation of the church. To single out any one aspect of God’s work in Christ is to overlook the fact that it all fits together. This is the message that Paul is sharing, the words “of first importance” for his readers-including you and me-to recall and claim as their own.
Prayer: Lord may we live each day mindful of the grace we have been given through Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
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