This is the 5^th episode of our Bible study series dubbed the Gospel and Spiritual Growth. This bible study is shared by our online adult bible study group, which is made up of several brothers and sisters from the church of Christ.

In the previous episodes we have been introduced to the gospel, its implications, the prophesies that foretold the coming messiah and how these affects our spiritual growth.

This episode will dwell mostly on the argumentative implications for the gospel.

 

Mastering the components of the Gospel

            The components of the gospel can be shortened down and can be found in 1 Corinthians 15, the story of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and its implications. Christ is the subject of the gospel and at the same time the object of the gospel since the things that occurred were for him.

The context where Paul wrote about Christ is based on the messianic prophesy in the Old Testament regarding the  Christ. Christ is the anointed one, the king, priest and prophet. The people at the time of Paul understood the concept of king but not so much of the priest and prophet. It can be said then that the gentiles of that time, and of our time, who have no background in Judaism were not able to appreciate those things. So then the gentile converts must have been taught of the gospel in a more applicable concept and that is the concept of sin.

So the gospel can be said as events and the implications of those events. Christ is the subject and the process of the gospel which began with his death are the components.

Sin and the Death of Christ

The process of the gospel starts with the death of Christ. This a very strong point. Many try to discredit Christ by claiming that he did not actually die due to the crucifixion. The Bible emphasizes many accounts that Christ died. He died for a purpose and that is for our sins. Accepting  the gospel then requires an admission  that Christ died for our sins and that brings us back into what sin is.

[8] If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1Jo 1:8 NASB)

Teaching the gospel then, compels us to get into the notion of sin. To be able to claim that Christ died for our sins, we have to understand what sin is. Opening a discussion about sin brings about opportunities  for discussions about God and His nature.

The concept of sin can be tackled from anywhere. In particular, some schools in America teaches that there is no God and that the concept of right and wrong is dictated by morality, and morality is a relative term because it is dependent on the culture and norms of society. There is nothing more wrong than this.

It may make sense to most that the nature of sin is defined by culture, that is to say, there was nothing wrong with what the Nazis did because it is in their culture. In other words, the sense of right and wrong is dictated by morality and morality depends on your circumstances, where you live and so on.

These are teachings of the enemies of Christ. And this is a good place to start the discussion on sin and a perfect place to start discussing the gospel.

Obedience to God

In sharing the gospel, somewhere in the discussion of Christ dying for our sins, we can emphasize that Christ did these things in obedience to God. This is what the scriptures say, and when putting emphasis on what the scripture say, we are putting more and more power in the Bible. We establish it as the sole authority on the word of God, and not our opinions or the opinions of others.

This brings more importance on being able to know where to find those passages in the Bible where it prophesies what the messiah will do and find a parallel verse in the New Testament that shows what and how Jesus has fulfilled those prophesies.

 

The process of the Gospel

            The process of the gospel which Jesus went through is that first he died for our sins according to the scriptures, and then he was buried also according to the scriptures. Isaiah 53 brings about these prophesies.

The third part of the process was that Christ was raised and he appeared alive to us. He was dead, and then he was alive. He rose on the third day. So the process is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

The argumentative implications of this process, or the implications that appeal to the rational mind but aren’t that necisarry for spiritual growth, can be set in at least 2 tiers:

First, Paul wrote in verses 6 to 8 of 1 Corinthians 15 translational passages that declares the events to be provable.

[6] After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; [7] then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; [8] and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. (1Cr 15:6-8 NASB)

Paul is saying that the report is true, that what he said of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is true. There are people who can testify to it. It is provable. The testimonies imply that the prophecy has been fulfilled.

Second, an argumentative implication based on premise. It is written on the scriptures and Jesus fulfilled them therefore Jesus is the Christ. God raised Christ. If God can raise the dead, he can raise you. Paul is making the proposition that  the dead are raised in Christ.

Resurrection

[54] But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. [55] “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” [56] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; [57] but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (1Cr 15:54-58 NASB)

Paul emphasizes in the above verses that death is inconsequential to Christians. Death is only temporary, and therefore Christians should not fear it. Instead, Christians should remain steadfast in the works of the Lord even when staring at death. Those who are dead are raised in Christ.

This statement is extended into the theological aspect of Christ being the king. He is the preeminent, the over-all authority and he has subjected everything under his feet, even death.

[25] For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. [26] The last enemy that will be abolished is death. [27] For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. [28] When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all. (1Cr 15:25-28 NASB)

The work of the Lord

            The last verse of 1 Corinthians 15 uses the word “thereforeâ€, and denotes a conclusion. We who are in Christ must be steadfast in the doing the work of the Lord. We are called, called to Christ and therefore called to preach the gospel.

For next episode

            As an assignment for the next episode, it has been said in this podcast episode that a good place to start preaching the gospel is to introduce the concept of right and wrong. This is because, outside Christ, there is nothing that distinguishes right or wrong. So the assignment and the challenge for us are to find a single thing that distinguishes right or wrong outside Christ.

Until next week!