Could you keep a cure for AIDS quiet? We're eager to hear news about prolonging this life! Whether it's a new vaccine or the recent study that claimed coffee might have some benefit, we're anxious to hear it. But in comparison to eternity, this life is but a vapor! There's only one cure for certain and eternal death!

Could Paul have brought up the gospel at this stage of this letter because it is the cure for much needed spirituality?

Some translations use the idea of reminder. The Greek word refers to a declaration - making it known. These words leave no doubt about Paul's gospel (message)!

A. Paul Preached- Paul's message was based on revelation from God, Eph. 3:3-5.

There is more than one gospel in the New Testament! There's a difference between God's gospel to Paul and the gospel of the kingdom in Matthew 4:23 or gospel of the circumcision in Gal. 2:7.

B. Corinthian Received, Acts 18:1-17 - that's history! It might seem odd that Paul would have to remind them of the gospel they received, but evidently Satan had infiltrated and caused some to doubt the validity of the gospel of the grace of God.

C. Corinthian Standing - synonymous with spiritual position. Our standing before God never changes! Every believer is complete in Christ, Col. 2:10-14. He lacks nothing, nor can he detract or add to God's provision!

D. Saved. The present tense shows God was working in them! Every believer is saved for eternity with present effects!

E. Hold or Vain. To hold means to hold in faith and the alternative (which is vain) is to believe something else. The standard for the salvation message for today was given through Paul.

The specifics of the gospel were given by direct revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ, Gal. 1:11-12. It wasn't from man in any way! He wasn't even taught the message, it was revealed. Contrast that to how others such as the 12 received their message…

A. Christ Died for our Sins according to the Scriptures Carefully examine the Scriptures outside Paul's epistles where the way to eternal life is noted and you will not find this message.

It fit's the prophecies such as Ps. 22 or Isa. 53, or the words of Christ himself in Matt. 26 but none of them tells us to simply trust the finished work of Christ for our salvation. None of them tell us that Christ's death paid the penalty for sins. In fact, when the Jews asked what they must do on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:37, Peter told them to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins, v. 38. There was nothing in his message about believing that Christ's death was the only sufficient sacrifice for sins. But as we turn to Rom. 3-4 we find the law's works can't save but that faith alone saves! In fact, you will find the word repent is conspicuously absent from the salvation message in Paul's epistles. The emphasis is on faith and faith alone! When we rightly divide, II Tim. 2:15, we will proclaim the gospel revealed through Paul.

B. Christ was Buried - It proved His death, thus the sufficiency of it.

C. Christ Rose Again the Third Day according to the Scriptures - Our Savior lives, therefore He is a life giver!

A. Security - Guaranteed by the Holy Spirit Eph. 1:13-14. What can separate us from God's love, Rom. 8:28-39? Nothing! Believers are / never will be under condemnation, Rom. 8:1. We're just tapping the surface with these three thoughts, in "Bible Truth", Baker lists 33 proofs of our security in Christ!

B. Saints - and chosen, predestined, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, Eph. 1:1-7. Saints is just representative of who we are in Christ! We could list another 30 things that identify us once we believe this glorious gospel of grace. We just need to take God at His word and recognize that the gospel give sure and certain results.

The call for spirituality begins with the gospel!

Do you believe Christ died for your sins?

Grace to you!