CHRIST'S BURIAL
"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 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 15:1-4

Devotion 6 of 14

MAKING THE GOSPEL KNOWN TO BELIEVERS
  Believers need to hear the Gospel proclaimed; it needs to again be "made known" unto them. The reason for this is obvious; the Gospel of Christ "is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes" (Rom 1:16). It does not cease to be the power once it has been acknowledged! The thought that "preaching" is only for sinners is absurd! Paul remained "ready to preach the Gospel" to "those beloved of God, called to be saints," in Rome (Rom 1:7,15). The Epistles contain a clear proclamation of the Gospel (Rom 1; 5; 8; 1 Cor 1; 2 Cor 5; Gal 1; 3; Eph 1;2;3; Phil 2; Col 1;2; 1 Thess 4;5; 2 Thess 2; 1 Tim 1; 2 Tim 1; Tit 2; Heb; James 2; 1 Pet 1; 2;3; 2 Pet 1; 3; 1 John 1; 3;5; Jude; Rev 1; etc.). Those commissioned by Jesus to "make disciples," never moved the people beyond the need for the Gospel of Christ.

Standing in the Gospel
  The Gospel must be retained in the heart in order to exercise its powerful influence. If men merely adopt a position on the Gospel, allowing it to be distant from their affection, they will not realize its power. Knowing this, the Apostle reminded the Corinthians their stability was possible only in the Gospel; i.e., "wherein ye stand." 

  My exposure to a great number of churches confirms the existence of a remarkable ignorance of the Gospel of Christ. It is no wonder that a wide range of difficulties plagues the average church. From wayward young people to marital infidelity, we are living in the wake of a departure from Gospel preaching. God is to be praised that there are exceptions to this rule. Those exceptions are the result of a return to the Gospel of Christ!

  To "stand" is to remain faithful under Satanic assault. It is to be unmoved in our
commitment to the Chief Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. The Gospel of Christ  enables us to do this because it flows from the heart of God, and is invested with His power.

THE FACT
  It behooves us to consider the declaration of Christ's burial. It is a neglected facet of the powerful Gospel of Christ. "And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures"  (1 Cor 15:4).

  The Jews rejected Jesus as a nation. However, His death occasioned the surfacing of thoughtful men who were attracted to Him in spite of their nation's unbelief. One of those men was Joseph of Arimathaea. "And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counselor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea,
a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went  into Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.  And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid" (Luke 23:50-53; Matt 27:61-66; Mark 15:46; John 19:41). This account is found in all four of the Gospels, and is part of the Gospel itself. This is the ONLY mentioning of this good man, and it is part of the Gospel of Christ! His exclusive association with Jesus is related to His burial.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I know the Gospel of Christ remains Your power to accomplish salvation in those who believe. Cross my path with godly men who preach the Gospel. In Jesus' name, give me grace to ponder the powerful message, and dwell long upon it.

-- TOMORROW: APOSTOLIC DOCTRINE --