The Cross & Nothing Else
The Crucifixion of Christ
Painting by Eugene Delacroix 1845
The Four Essentials Of the Gospel
In 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-9 Paul summarises the essentials of
the Good News of Jesus Christ. These are:
• Christ was CRUCIFIED FOR OUR SINS, as Scriptures prophesied
• Christ DIED & WAS BURIED
• Christ was RAISED TO LIFE ON THE THIRD DAY,
as the Scriptures & Christ himself had prophesied
• He APPEARED TO NUMEROUS WITNESSES whose lives were
changed for ever & who went on to change the world
These four short statements form the basis of our faith as Christians.
Four Fundamental Facts
• JESUS' DEATH ON THE CROSS WAS GOD'S PLAN - it had been prophesied
in Scripture. Peter made this clear in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost
as we see in ACTS 2:1-41, especially verse 43.
• JESUS DIED & WAS BURIED - he really was dead; he did not swoon,
just appear to be dead or was substituted at the last moment
• JESUS WAS RAISED TO LIFE FROM THE DEAD as God had promised in
Scripture ACTS 2:24-32; ISAIAH 53:9-12; HOSEA 6:2
• JESUS WAS SEEN BY WITNESSES AFTER HIS RESURRECTION most of whom
were still alive when Paul wrote the Letter to the Corinthians