The Original Gospel

Many people around the world have been thinking recently about the birth of Jesus Christ. Interestingly, the Bible tells us to focus on his resurrection!

Why? Because our hope as Christians is to share his glory!

1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him…”

Philippians 3:20-21 “We also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”

Jesus is called the “Firstborn from the dead”, “The First-fruits of them that slept” – he is the prototype, that by God’s grace we can be conformed to!

• Colossians1:18 “He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:20 “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
• Romans 8:29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

In fact, the hope of the resurrection is SO important, that Paul says without resurrection there is NO hope!

• 1 Corinthians 15:13-14 “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”
• 17 “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”
• 18 “Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.”
• 19 “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”
• 20 “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

This hope of resurrection to eternal life, with an immortal body like Jesus who was seen by his disciples, and is coming back to set up God’s Kingdom on earth, was such a focal point for the Original Gospel preached by the Apostles, that Paul exclaims in triumph and joy…

1Corinthians 15:50 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
51-54 “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
56-57 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 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 labor is not in vain in the Lord.

What is your hope for life after death? Does it align with the clear teaching of scripture?

Please take the time to explore the Bible for yourself, and discover the hope God has for all those that believe in his Son.

Here is a chart we use in Thailand to help explain this important Original Gospel teaching…