Of First Importance

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4).

Paul told the Corinthians that he had and was presently preaching the gospel to them (v. 1). The reason why it was important is because the gospel brings salvation (v. 2). It is “the power of God for salvation” (Rom. 1:16). In the preaching of the gospel, that which is “of first importance” is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

This is not to say that nothing else is important. We must obey the commands revealed in the gospel (Mt. 28:20). We are to follow the pattern revealed in the New Testament (2 Tim. 1:13). But the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is the foundation of the gospel message.

We have the opportunity to be “reconciled to God through the death of His Son” (Rom. 5:10). After being reconciled, we have the hope of being “united with Him...in the likeness of His resurrection” (Rom. 6:5). Salvation would not be possible without the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

We are to remember the death of Christ weekly as we partake of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-26). But given the importance of this, we should remember it more than just one day a week. Let us think of these things often as we strive to serve the Lord.