1 Corinthians 15:3

For. delivered unto you first of all that which also. received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

'For' -Paul now explains in more detail, the gospel that he preached.

'I delivered unto you' -as. faithful steward. (1 Corinthians 4:1)

'first of all' -'as of first importance' (NASV); 'Not in time, but to importance.' (Robertson p. 186) 'First and foremost' (NEB). These following facts are of first importance, for the whole of Christianity rests upon them.

'that which also. received' -by direct revelation. (1 Corinthians 11:23; 1 Corinthians 14:37; Galatians 1:11) 'And hence no device or invention of my own.' (McGarvey p. 146)

'that Christ died' -that's. fact. Even secular sources admit that Jesus of Nazareth lived and was crucified. That's plain historical fact.

'for our sins' -'is the explanation of the fact. It wasn't just. martyr's death. It wasn't just another death among the countless deaths. It was. death on account of and on behalf of sins and the sinner. He didn't die for sin in the abstract, but for "our" sins.' (McGuiggan p. 189) (John 1:29; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 John 3:5; 1 Peter 2:24)

Points to Note:

1. One cannot preach Christ crucified, without at the same time, calling man. sinner. Which means that preaching Christ crucified is going to involve showing people the eternal consequences of their sins, i.e. hell.

2. This truth emphasizes that. "moral bond" exists between every person and Christ. All, regardless of time and culture (seeing that everyone sins- Romans 3:23), are morally obligated to obey Christ. Hence Christ is the only Savior for the whole human race. (John 14:6; John 3:16 'God so loved the world..')

3. Disbelief and rejection in Christ can never be whitewashed or excused. It is an act of ingratitude and selfishness. It can never be explained away as merely an intellectual problem. (John 3:18)

'according to the scriptures' -as Jesus Himself pointed out. (Matthew 26:54; Luke 24:25-27; 44-47). See also, such O.T. Chapter s as Isaiah 2:1 and Psalms 22:1.

Point to Note:

The O.T. didn't predict that the Messiah would be. conquering earthly king (the Premillennial viewpoint). Rather, the Scriptures taught that the Messiah would sacrifice Himself for the sins of the world. (1 Peter 1:10)