Lesson 481

(Lesson 481)(12-09-12) 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed."

In this lesson, Paul tells the Corinthian Church that he has preached pure truth just as he received it from Christ Himself. He explains that eternal salvation comes only to those who believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the only begotten Son of God.

That salvation is free, by the grace of God, to all who will accept it.

Paul's authority as an Apostle comes from being a personal witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as he was struck down on the road to Damascus and personally appointed to the Apostleship by Jesus Himself.

Being careful to give all credit to God, Paul humbly declares himself unworthy of the position to which he was appointed, but maintains that he has done his very best to live up to his selection and encourages all of us to do the same. "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed."~