Start Here: The Good News

By Gary Boyd

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 (KJV)
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how 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."

🧠 Have You Forgotten What Matters Most?

Have you ever forgotten something you thought you'd always remember? Maybe a password, an anniversary, or the way back to a familiar place? It's surprising how even important things can quietly fade from our minds. The same thing can happen in our walk with God.

What if the most important truth you’ve ever heard has started to slip into the background? What if the gospel—the message that once stirred your heart—has become something you assume instead of something you cling to? In a noisy and distracted world, Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15 call us to come back to what really matters.

❤️ Why This Matters to You

Whether you’ve followed Jesus for years or you're still figuring out what you believe, the gospel matters. It’s not just about getting into heaven. It's the core of your identity, your hope, and your future. When the gospel isn't clear in your thinking or central in your heart, life can feel shaky. You may find yourself uncertain or leaning on things that won't hold you up.

This passage invites us to return to the one truth that doesn't change and to make sure our lives are really grounded in it.

🏛️ What Was Happening in Corinth?

The church in Corinth had a lot of issues. There were arguments, moral problems, confusion about spiritual gifts, and disorder in worship. But when Paul gets to chapter 15, he brings up something even more serious. Some of them were starting to question whether there would be a resurrection. That kind of doubt cut straight to the heart of their faith.

Paul doesn't try to win them over with debate or philosophy. He simply brings them back to the gospel—the message they heard at the beginning. The message that still saves and still holds.

✝️ Three Ways We Must Respond to the Gospel

📥 1. The Gospel Must Be Received

Paul says, "I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received."

The gospel isn’t something we figure out on our own. It’s a message that’s declared to us. And it doesn’t change our lives until we personally receive it by faith. Hearing it isn’t enough. We have to say yes to it.

👉 Try This: Write out your story this week. When did you receive the gospel? What changed after that? If you aren’t sure you ever really have, talk to someone you trust today about what it means to follow Jesus.

🪢 2. The Gospel Must Be Held Firmly

Paul reminds them, "By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you."

It’s not just about how we start. Real faith sticks. We don’t graduate from the gospel. We live in it. We keep holding on to it when life gets hard, when doubts creep in, and when everything else feels uncertain. Paul also warns that it’s possible to believe in vain—to have a surface-level belief that doesn’t last.

👉 Try This: Memorize 1 Corinthians 15:1–2. Take 15 minutes to reflect: What would change in your life if you stopped holding tightly to the gospel?

📖 3. The Gospel Must Be Believed as Scriptural Truth

"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures... he was buried... and he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."

Paul points straight to Scripture. The gospel isn’t based on opinions or feelings. It’s built on prophecy that was fulfilled and on real events that happened. We don’t follow a myth. We follow a living Savior who actually conquered death.

👉 Try This: Read Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, and Luke 24 over the next few days. Look for every reference to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Let the truth of Scripture take root in your heart.

🌟 What a Gospel-Centered Life Looks Like

There is a quiet strength in someone whose life is built on the gospel. They're not weighed down by guilt from the past because they know Christ died for their sins. They’re not anxious about today because their life is anchored in something solid. And they don’t fear the future because they know Jesus rose again and holds their eternity.

You can hear it in their words. You can see it in their peace. You can feel it in the way they handle storms. That kind of life doesn’t come from trying harder or knowing more. It comes from holding on to the one message that never changes and never fails.

🙌 A Personal Invitation

Maybe you've heard the gospel before, but you've never truly received it. You've been around church, maybe even agreed with what you heard, but you've never trusted Christ for yourself.

Today, that can change. Jesus died for your sins. He was buried. He rose again. And He is inviting you to turn from your sin and trust Him completely.

You don't have to wait. You don't have to clean yourself up first. You can respond in faith right now and receive the full and free salvation that only Jesus gives.

Start here. Start now. Start with the good news. 🙏

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