1 Corinthians 15:2

by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which. preached unto you, except ye believed in vain.

'by which also ye are saved' -The gospel is our link with the salvation obtained by Christ. (Romans 1:16; Romans 10:11; 1 Peter 1:23; Acts 11:14 'and he shall speak words to you by which you will be saved..')

Point to Note:

Our salvation depends upon hearing and believing what God wants us to embrace. (Mark 16:15; Acts 16:32) Therefore, if any salvation is possible for anyone, the New Testament which contains the gospel message, must have remained in an uncorrupted form. Anyone that denies the accuracy of the Bible, needs to realize that such. claim, if it were true, would mean that we are all cut off from any hope of salvation.

'if ye hold fast' -Salvation, while it is unearned, is conditional. 'provided you adhere to my statement of it.' (Mof)

'the word which. preached unto you' -

Point to Note:

'In. world which rightly stresses ethical commitment and response there is the temptation to play down doctrinal truth as though it were important but, in the final analysis, not fundamentally important. Paul here speaks of salvation IF the truths he preached were held on to..If Paul speaks the truth, systematic doctrine REALLY DOES MATTER. If we don't like that we'll have to take it up with God.' [Note:. McGuiggan pp. 188-189]

Believing the wrong thing, can condemn our souls too. (2 John 1:9; 2 Timothy 2:17; 1 Timothy 1:19)

'except ye believed in vain' -'unless you believed in vain' (NASV) 'Offers the possibility of that happening otherwise the statement couldn't be made.' (McGuiggan p. 189)

'in vain' -'heedlessly, at random, without serious apprehension, without realizing the facts involved' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 919) This may also be anticipating 1 Corinthians 1:17. 'if their current position as to "no resurrection" is correct, then Christ did not rise, which in turn means that they had indeed believed in vain. If they are right, everything is. lie, and they cease to exist as believers altogether.' (Fee p. 721)

-'In vain' can also mean "without result". If they depart from the truth of the gospel, then their becoming. Christian has been "in vain", i.e. inferring that such. departure would lead to. lost condition.