The Fact of Christ’s Resurrection
1Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Paul sets before us the statement of belief in verses 3 and 4. If you believe with all your heart, mind and soul then you are saved and have nothing to fear. But if you don't, then you will be stepping over Christ's dead body before you enter Hell. Yes He threw Himself down before you because of your sins as a sacrificial Lamb. And if you reject His gift of Salvation you are literally stepping over His dead body to enter Hell!
Paul demonstrates his humbleness in this text as the least of them, because he persecuted the church. Yes he even killed Christians. If God can forgive him and use him mightily for His glory, what about you? But you try to convince yourself that God will never forgive you and your past? STOP it! Satan is whispering in your ear! Read your bible and see whom He has forgiven! Come to Him with a repentant heart and you will be forgiven!
Blessings, David
Scripture blog; http://stanfordsancutaryscripturestudies.blogspot.com
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