Why Nothing Matters More Than 1 Corinthians 15:3–4

 

There is one truth in all of Scripture that stands above every other truth when it comes to salvation.

 

Not church membership.
Not obedience to religious systems.
Not moral reform.
Not tradition.

 

The apostle Paul, writing under divine inspiration, identifies it plainly:

 

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
(1 Corinthians 15:3–4)

 

Paul calls this message “first of all.”

 

The Greek word is prōtos.

 

It means:

• first in order
• first in rank
• first in importance

 

This is not one truth among many.

 

This is the truth.

 

The Gospel Is the Foundation of Salvation

 

Paul begins this chapter by reminding believers of the gospel he had already preached to them:

 

“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved…”
(1 Corinthians 15:1–2)

 

This statement leaves no ambiguity.

Salvation is not achieved through effort, performance, or religious activity.

 

It is received through believing (faith-alone) the gospel.

And Paul defines that gospel precisely.

 

Not symbolically.

Not figuratively.

 

But historically and literally:

 

• Christ died (shed His blood) for our sins
• He was buried
• He rose again the third day

 

These three events form the complete, finished, and sufficient basis of salvation.

Nothing can be added to them.

Nothing needs to be added to them.

 

“I Delivered to You What I Also Received”

 

Paul makes an extraordinary claim:

 

“I delivered to you first of all that which I also received…”
(1 Corinthians 15:3)

 

He did not invent this message.

He received it.

 

And he explains exactly how he received it:

 

“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
(Galatians 1:11–12)

 

This gospel was revealed directly to Paul only by the risen, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ.

It was not inherited through human tradition.

It was not passed down through Peter and the apostles.

It was revealed from heaven itself.

 

Paul, by Holy Spirit inspiration, refers to this gospel as “my gospel” multiple times throughout his letters.

 

“In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” – Romans 2:16

 

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began…” – Romans 16:25

 

Resurrection According to “Paul’s Gospel”

 

“Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:” – 2 Timothy 2:8

 

To the Corinthians, Paul makes another extraordinary claim— proclaims to be the masterbuilder who lays the foundation of the grace of God upon which other men build.

 

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.” – 1 Corinthians 3:10

 

Why the Death, Burial, and Resurrection Matter

 

Each component of the gospel is essential.

 

Christ Died for Our Sins

 

This was substitution.

 

He died in our place.

 

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
(Romans 5:8)

 

The penalty for sin was fully satisfied.

 

He Was Buried

 

His burial confirms His death was real.

 

He did not faint.
He did not merely appear to die.

He died completely.

 

This verifies the completeness of His sacrifice.

 

He Rose Again the Third Day

 

The resurrection is the proof of victory.

 

“Who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.”
(Romans 4:25)

 

His resurrection confirms that sin was defeated, death was conquered, and justification was secured.

 

Why Paul Calls This “Of First Importance”

 

Because without this gospel, there is no salvation.

 

Paul states plainly:

 

“…by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.”
(1 Corinthians 15:2)

 

This means salvation rests entirely on this message.

 

Not partially.

Entirely.

 

If this gospel is misunderstood, altered, or replaced, then the foundation itself is lost.

And if the foundation is lost, nothing else matters.

 

Doctrine cannot save.

Religious effort cannot save.

Only the gospel saves.

 

The Gospel Removes All Human Merit

 

Scripture makes this unmistakably clear:

 

“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”
(Romans 4:5)

 

Salvation is not achieved through human effort.

It is received by faith in Christ’s finished work.

 

This is grace.

Grace leaves no room for human pride.

Grace declares that Christ did everything necessary.

 

Why This Truth Has Always Been Opposed

 

Grace removes human contribution.

It removes human merit.

It removes human boasting.

And human nature resists that.

 

Many accept that Christ is necessary—but struggle to accept that He is sufficient.

 

Yet Scripture declares:

 

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
(Ephesians 2:8–9)

 

‘knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.’

Galatians 2:16

 

The gospel leaves nothing for man to complete.

Christ completed it all.

 

The Gospel Is the Line That Determines Eternal Destiny

 

This is why Paul calls it prōtos.

First in importance.

Because eternity itself rests upon it.

 

Every believer stands on this foundation.

Every believer is saved by this gospel.

Every believer is secure because of this finished work.

 

Final Summary

 

The gospel declared in 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 is not merely important.

It is of first importance.

 

Christ died for our sins.

He was buried.

He rose again the third day.

 

This is the gospel that saves.

It is complete.

It is sufficient.

 

And it is the foundation upon which everything else stands.

Nothing else matters if this is not understood and believed.

 

Because this gospel alone is the power of God unto salvation.

 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Romans 1:16