2. 10. A Reminder of the Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
p. 1062

3. “Palm Sunday” Just a silly church tradition?
Passing on what is received (v 3)
We re-tell the story of salvation
People learned by participation
Central week in the whole story of our salvation
Reminded of the Gospel (v 1)

4. 1. Of First Importance Very heart of the Gospel (vv 3-5)
Christ died for our sins
He was buried
He was raised on the third day
He appeared to Cephas & the twelve …
“in accordance with the scriptures”

5. A very early creed (statement of belief)
1. Of First Importance
A very early creed (statement of belief)
Paul “received” it and “delivered” it to them
It is what all the apostles were teaching (v 11)
“Christ died for our sins”

6. 1. Of First Importance . . . The Nicene Creed
The first part emphasizes Jesus’ equality with God:
God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God,
Begotten, not made,
Being of one substance with the Father,
By whom all things were made;
E.g. John 1:1-5, 9, 14.
A great and mighty God. We understand.

7. 1. Of First Importance . . . E.g. Phil 2:6-7
Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven,
E.g. Phil 2:6-7
No god conceived by humans would do that !
It’s so degrading. Human are weak and petty.

8. 1. Of First Importance . . . This is the Gospel. BUT . . .
He did more:
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried,
To be crucified for our sins blows the mind (Phil 2:8)
All the apostles state it (Rom 3:25; 1 Jn 4:10; 1 Pe 1:18,19)
This is the Gospel.

9. 1. Of First Importance . . . The Nicene Creed
The first part emphasizes Jesus’ equality with God:
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,
Begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God,
Begotten, not made,
Being of one substance with the Father,
By whom all things were made;
Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven,
And was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary,
And was made man,
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried,
And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,
And ascended into heaven,
And sits on the right hand of the Father.

10. 2. What we Received. Not forget what we received:
The story “by which we are being saved”
The story “in which we stand”
Reveals the unimaginable love & grace of God.

11. We receive it correctly and fully
2. What we Received . . .
We receive it correctly and fully
Not to be edited or adapted by our expectations
“Vain” has connotation “incorrect” or “incomplete”
We hold fast to the story AS IS.
We need add nothing
We need fear nothing

12. Dwell in the very centre of our story
Living it
It is not a story easy to receive.
This week:
Dwell in the very centre of our story
in wonder and joy!