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.  [1 corinthians 15:1-2]

 

when i read paul’s words, i am struck by two words: remind and receive.

 

we need to be reminded:

we are so easily swayed, we are so easily convinced by the conmen and swindlers and salesmen of this world that there is something out there, some way that we can save ourselves.  Instead of crying out to God, and placing our trust in his word, we have bookshelves and youtube histories full of the techniques and tricks we can use to find relief for the suffering we experience or to enhance our lives. what we need instead is Christ. 

this is why we are in community, brothers and sisters: by the Word of God and by the community of believers, we remind one another of the goodness, mercy, grace and providence of our Father!  we never outgrow the good news of the gospel! we ‘are being saved’! day by day, hour by hour we need a new infusion of the gospel! let us remind one another–reach out to someone–right now–and remind them of the mercies of Christ!

 

we received the gospel!

as marc preached wednesday, the gospel was not an invention of man, a device to manipulate. why would we devise a way to suffer, to die for the gospel?

why would we invent a religion where we would deserve pity because of the pointlessness of our endurance of suffering?

 

“if in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” [1 corinthians 15:19]

 

the one who has received Christ’s words and has received the Holy Spirit knows better:

Jesus, praying in john 17 says:

“now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. for I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.”  [john 17:7-8]

 

we know the truth because we received the word of God!  let us abide and hold fast to the word, let us come into the presence of the Lord and be reminded of his grace, receiving his truth daily!

 

~ conor eastman