I Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
When we understand that Christ died for our sins on the cross 2000 years ago doesn’t that mean that we only have to understand how to be saved?
When we understand that we are saved by believing the gospel of the grace of God + nothing else, then doesn’t that help us understand how simple it is to be saved eternally?
What will we do? Will we put our faith and trust in what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross? Will we believe the gospel and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior in order to be saved?
In I Corinthians 15:14 Paul tells us that if Christ is not risen, then our faith is in vain. In I Corinthians 15:17 Paul tells us that if Christ is not risen, then we are still in our sins. Do we believe that Christ arose from the grave on the third day? For those of us who believe the gospel, we believe that Jesus Christ arose on the third day.
If “believing in vain” only meant not believing in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, then salvation would be so simple. However, “believing in vain” is not just exclusive as to not believing in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Believers are not easily tempted to deny Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. Are there other ways that we deny the gospel? Do we believe that there is something that we must do other than believe in the finished cross work of Jesus Christ?
1 We must repent in order to be saved?
2 We must be water baptized in order to be saved?
3 We must say a prayer in order to be saved?
4 We must confess our sins to God in order to be saved?
5 We can lose our salvation once we are saved?
6 We must worship God in order to be saved?
7 We must tithe in order to be saved?
8 We must join a church in order to be saved?
9 We must do good works in order to be saved?
If we believe that we must do anything other than believe the gospel in order to be saved or believe that we can lose our salvation once we are saved – then do we really believe that we are saved by our belief of the gospel?
Or, have we just believed in vain?