Sermons on 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Interpretation:

Embracing the Transformative Power of the Gospel (Fellowship Baptist Church Drumheller) interprets 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 as Paul’s urgent call to return to the foundational, historical, and transformative reality of the gospel, especially in the face of confusion about the resurrection. The sermon uniquely uses the metaphor of the resurrection as a “sharp edge” or “pebble in your shoe”—something that cannot be ignored and continually provokes a response. It also draws a linguistic insight from the Greek, noting that Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb is described as a “virgin tomb,” paralleling the “virgin womb” of Jesus’ birth, highlighting the uniqueness of Christ’s entry and exit from the world. The preacher further distinguishes the gospel as not merely a past event but as a present and ongoing reality (“you are being saved”), emphasizing that Christians never “graduate” from the gospel. The analogy of subway stabilizers is used to illustrate how believers often reach for false sources of stability instead of the gospel, which alone provides true foundation and security.

Embracing Our Identity and Power in Christ (Radiance Church Sermons) offers a distinctive interpretation by connecting the three tenses of salvation in 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (“have been saved,” “are being saved,” “will be saved”) to the tripartite nature of human identity: spirit, soul, and body. The sermon uses the Greek term “pneuma” for spirit and “psychikos” for soul-led existence, explaining that salvation’s past, present, and future aspects correspond to the regeneration of the spirit, the ongoing transformation of the soul, and the future glorification of the body. The preacher employs the metaphor of looking in a mirror (from James 1) to illustrate how believers must continually return to the gospel to remember their true identity, rather than forgetting and living out of falsehood.

Living in the Upside-Down Kingdom of Christ (City Hill Church) interprets 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 as a call to return to the “basics” or “bedrock” of the faith—the historical death and resurrection of Jesus—as the only true foundation for Christian life. The sermon uses the metaphor of seeds and trees to illustrate the resurrection: just as a seed must die to become a tree, so must believers “die” to self and be “buried” in Christ to experience true life. The preacher also frames the gospel as the “upside-down kingdom,” where worldly values are inverted, and emphasizes that if the resurrection is not true, all Christian practice is “pathetic” and “worthless.”

Embracing the Core: The Power of the Gospel (South Side Baptist Church) interprets 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 as Paul’s effort to bring the Corinthians (and the church today) back to the basics of the faith, warning against overcomplicating Christianity with secondary issues. The sermon provides a detailed explanation of “believing in vain,” arguing that Paul is not warning about loss of salvation but about the futility of a faith that denies the resurrection. The preacher uses the phrase “the great switcheroo” to describe substitutionary atonement, making the gospel’s transactional nature vivid and memorable.

Paul's Gospel: Historical Truth and Transformative Grace (Ligonier Ministries) interprets 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 as Paul’s concise summary of the gospel, emphasizing its historical nature and the necessity of both proclamation and reception by faith. The sermon uniquely frames the gospel as the “center of time and space,” drawing on Paul’s “two ages” theology (this present age and the age to come) and situating the resurrection as the pivotal event in cosmic history. The preacher stresses that the gospel is not automatically saving; it must be received in faith, and that it is the “message by which you are being saved,” highlighting the ongoing, transformative aspect of salvation.

The Centrality of the Gospel and Resurrection (David Guzik) interprets 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 as a threefold call to the past, present, and future engagement with the gospel: the Corinthians received the gospel (past), are standing in it (present), and must hold fast to it (future). Guzik uniquely emphasizes the Greek meaning of "gospel" (euangelion) as simply "good news," and uses a vivid analogy from ancient chariot races to illustrate how the word was used in secular contexts before being adopted by Christians. He also draws a sharp distinction between the gospel as historical fact (Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection) and mere religious advice or platitudes, arguing that the gospel is not about self-improvement or moralism but about real events. Guzik further warns that "holding fast" implies active resistance against forces that would "snatch away" the gospel, such as deception, distraction, or pride, and uses the metaphor of belief "in vain" as a tragic epitaph for those who drift away. He also explores the idea that the resurrection is not an add-on but the "receipt" for the payment made at the cross, using the analogy of a transaction: the cross is the payment, the resurrection is the proof.

Embracing Our Call: The Power of Evangelism (Alistair Begg) interprets 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 as a call to a "life-transforming evidence" of the gospel, not just a superficial or casual response. Begg highlights the Greek terms for "evangelize" (euangelizomai) and "gospel" (euangelion), and stresses that the gospel must be "personally received" and "held firmly," or else belief is "in vain." He draws a distinction between a mere intellectual assent and a wholehearted, ongoing embrace of the gospel that results in a changed life.

The Divine Calling and Power of Preaching (Alistair Begg) offers a unique interpretive angle by focusing on the "melody line" of 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, likening the passage to the main theme in a piece of music that must not be lost among theological "tweeters and woofers." Begg argues that the foundation of Christian life and ministry is the gospel "upon which you have taken your stand," and that the entire chapter’s argument about resurrection is built on this foundational melody. This musical metaphor is distinctive among the sermons analyzed.

Perseverance in Faith: Sowing to the Spirit (Desiring God) interprets 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 as teaching that salvation is conditional upon perseverance—"if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain." The sermon draws out the reality of "vain" belief and the necessity of ongoing, steadfast faith, using the passage to support the doctrine that only those who persevere in faith will ultimately be saved, while also affirming that true believers will be sustained by God to the end.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Theological Themes:

Embracing the Transformative Power of the Gospel (Fellowship Baptist Church Drumheller) introduces the theme that the gospel is not just a past event but an ongoing, present, and future reality—salvation is something Christians “stand in” and are “being saved” by, not merely something they once received. The sermon also explores the danger of reducing the gospel to a transactional or merely past-tense event, and instead calls for a holistic embrace of the gospel as the center of Christian identity and daily living.

Embracing Our Identity and Power in Christ (Radiance Church Sermons) presents a nuanced theological theme by mapping the three tenses of salvation onto the tripartite human nature (spirit, soul, body), arguing that justification, sanctification, and glorification are not just theological abstractions but correspond to the actual transformation of the believer’s being. The sermon also highlights the battle between the spirit and the soul, emphasizing that sanctification is both a finished work and an ongoing process, and that the word of God is the instrument that divides soul and spirit, bringing transformation.

Living in the Upside-Down Kingdom of Christ (City Hill Church) develops the theme that the gospel is the “upside-down kingdom,” where true life comes through death, and that the resurrection is the only foundation for hope and meaning. The preacher insists that if the resurrection is not historically true, then all Christian practice is not just misguided but pitiable, and that the gospel demands a radically different (“upside-down”) way of living.

Embracing the Core: The Power of the Gospel (South Side Baptist Church) adds the theme that the gospel’s power is demonstrated not only in historical events but in the transformation of lives—especially the radical change in Paul from persecutor to apostle. The sermon also emphasizes the necessity of holding fast to the full gospel (including the resurrection) to avoid “believing in vain,” and that the gospel is the only true unifying center of the church.

Paul's Gospel: Historical Truth and Transformative Grace (Ligonier Ministries) introduces the theme of the “overlap of the ages,” explaining that believers live between the “present evil age” and the “age to come,” and that the resurrection is the hinge of history. The sermon also stresses that the gospel is not merely a set of doctrines but a historical proclamation that must be received by faith, and that Christian living is shaped by the tension of living “between the times.”

The Centrality of the Gospel and Resurrection (David Guzik) introduces the theme that the gospel is not advice or opinion but historical fact, and that the resurrection is essential as the "receipt" of the cross’s payment, not merely a comforting add-on. He also develops the idea that grace, while freely given, is not meant to replace human effort but to empower it, so that believers must "work hard" in partnership with God’s grace to avoid receiving it "in vain."

Embracing Our Call: The Power of Evangelism (Alistair Begg) adds the theme that the gospel must be "personally received" and "held firmly," and that evangelism is not about technique but about presenting Christ so that the Spirit can open blind eyes. He also notes that the gospel is for all nations and must be received individually, countering the notion of automatic or universal forgiveness.

The Divine Calling and Power of Preaching (Alistair Begg) introduces the theme of the "melody line"—that the core message of the gospel must remain central and clear, and that all theological detail must serve this main theme. He warns against losing the gospel’s centrality amid theological complexity.

Perseverance in Faith: Sowing to the Spirit (Desiring God) uniquely emphasizes the conditionality of salvation on perseverance, drawing out the "if" of 1 Corinthians 15:2 as a real warning. The sermon explores the tension between perseverance and assurance, arguing that only those who "hold fast" are truly saved, but that God’s faithfulness ensures the perseverance of the justified.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Embracing the Transformative Power of the Gospel (Fellowship Baptist Church Drumheller) provides several historical insights: it notes that the resurrection would have been as unbelievable to first-century people as to moderns, especially in a Greek dualistic context where bodily resurrection was considered repugnant. The sermon also explains the significance of Joseph of Arimathea’s “virgin tomb” in the Greek, and the cultural context of women’s testimony being considered invalid in first-century Palestine, making their role as first witnesses to the resurrection a mark of authenticity rather than fabrication.

Paul's Gospel: Historical Truth and Transformative Grace (Ligonier Ministries) offers extensive historical context, situating Paul’s writing of 1 Corinthians in the late 50s A.D. and explaining the broader Greco-Roman and Jewish expectations about resurrection and the “two ages.” The sermon details how the early church’s proclamation of the resurrection was rooted in Old Testament prophecy and how Paul’s gospel was shaped by both Jewish and Greco-Roman worldviews, emphasizing the cosmic significance of Christ’s resurrection as the “center of time and space.”

Embracing the Core: The Power of the Gospel (South Side Baptist Church) provides historical context by noting that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians before most of the New Testament was written, so his references to “the Scriptures” primarily mean the Old Testament. The sermon also highlights the early date of the letter (around 55 A.D.), the presence of living eyewitnesses, and the cultural significance of James (the brother of Jesus) coming to faith, given that Jesus’ family initially did not believe in him.

The Centrality of the Gospel and Resurrection (David Guzik) provides detailed historical context about the meaning of "gospel" (euangelion) in the Greco-Roman world, explaining that it was used for any good news, not just religious news, and illustrates this with the example of chariot races. He also gives a graphic historical account of Roman crucifixion, explaining its public, excruciating, and humiliating nature, and notes that in the first-century context, everyone would have understood the horror of crucifixion without needing explanation. Additionally, Guzik explains why Paul does not mention the women as witnesses to the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, noting that in both Greek and Jewish culture, women’s testimony was not accepted in court, though God himself honored women as the first witnesses.

The Divine Calling and Power of Preaching (Alistair Begg) briefly references the cultural context of preaching in the early church, noting that the apostles functioned as "heralds" (kerux), a role understood in the ancient world as a public proclaimer of important news, not a debater or entertainer.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Cross-References in the Bible:

Embracing the Transformative Power of the Gospel (Fellowship Baptist Church Drumheller) references Romans 7 to illustrate the ongoing struggle with sin and the need for daily reliance on the gospel, and Romans 5:6 to explain the abundance of grace in the face of sin. The sermon also alludes to 1 Corinthians 13 (the primacy of love) and 1 Corinthians 14 (spiritual gifts), situating 1 Corinthians 15 within the broader argument of the letter.

Embracing Our Identity and Power in Christ (Radiance Church Sermons) draws on Ephesians 2:5,8 (“by grace you have been saved”), Romans 5:9 (“we will be saved from the wrath of God”), 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (sanctification of spirit, soul, and body), 1 Corinthians 1:2 (sanctified in Christ), Ephesians 1:4 (chosen to be holy and blameless), Hebrews 10:10 (sanctified through Christ’s offering), Philippians 1:6 (God will complete the work he began), 1 Thessalonians 4:2-3 (sanctification as God’s will), 2 Corinthians 3:18 (being transformed into Christ’s image), Galatians 5:16 (walk by the Spirit), Romans 7 (the struggle with sin), Romans 8 (life in the Spirit), Romans 8:23 (redemption of our bodies), John 14:6 (Jesus as the way, truth, and life), James 1:22-25 (doers of the word and the mirror analogy), and Hebrews 4:12 (the word dividing soul and spirit). Each reference is used to support the sermon’s argument about the ongoing, holistic transformation of the believer.

Living in the Upside-Down Kingdom of Christ (City Hill Church) references 1 Corinthians 13 and 14 to situate chapter 15 within the flow of the letter, and draws on Old Testament imagery of “first fruits” and agricultural metaphors to explain the resurrection. The sermon also alludes to passages about the “age to come” and the defeat of death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

Embracing the Core: The Power of the Gospel (South Side Baptist Church) references Isaiah 53:5-6,9 (the suffering servant and burial), Psalm 16:10 (the resurrection), Acts (Peter and Paul’s preaching), and the Gospels’ accounts of the resurrection and the transformation of the disciples. The sermon also references the conversion of Paul in Acts 7-9 and the role of James and Jude as Jesus’ brothers.

Paul's Gospel: Historical Truth and Transformative Grace (Ligonier Ministries) references Romans 1:15 (Paul’s eagerness to preach the gospel), Galatians 4 (the fullness of time), Ephesians 1:9-10,21 (the “two ages”), Colossians 1:13 (transfer to the kingdom of the Son), 2 Corinthians 5:17 (new creation), Titus 2 (grace training us in this present age), and Romans 8 (the overlap of the ages and the hope of resurrection). The sermon uses these references to frame the gospel as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and the inauguration of the new age.

The Centrality of the Gospel and Resurrection (David Guzik) references Galatians 1 to contrast the Corinthians’ steadfastness with the Galatians’ quick departure from the gospel. He also cites Isaiah 53 to explain the substitutionary nature of Christ’s death, and John 21 to discuss Peter’s restoration. Guzik further references Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20 regarding resurrection appearances, and 2 Corinthians 6:1 to reinforce the warning against receiving God’s grace in vain.

Embracing Our Call: The Power of Evangelism (Alistair Begg) cross-references Luke 8, Acts 8, Matthew 4 and 9, Mark 1, 13, and 16, 2 Corinthians 4 and 9, John 14, Romans 16, 1 Corinthians 2, and Galatians 1:9 to build a comprehensive biblical theology of the gospel and evangelism, showing that the gospel is the message of the kingdom, of God, of Christ, for all nations, and must be personally received. He uses 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 to illustrate the necessity of holding fast to the gospel for salvation.

Perseverance in Faith: Sowing to the Spirit (Desiring God) references Luke 8:15 (parable of the soils), Colossians 1, Hebrews 3:6 and 10:35-39, and Romans 8:30 to show the biblical pattern of perseverance, and uses 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 as a key text for the necessity of holding fast to the gospel. The sermon also references Jesus’ teaching that "the one who endures to the end will be saved" and the parable of the soils to illustrate the reality of false or temporary faith.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Christian References outside the Bible:

Embracing the Transformative Power of the Gospel (Fellowship Baptist Church Drumheller) explicitly references Timothy Keller, quoting his argument that the resurrection is the “hard edge” of Christianity and that if Jesus did not rise, nothing else he said matters. The sermon also cites William Lane Craig’s four historical facts about the resurrection (burial, empty tomb, post-resurrection appearances, and the reaction of the disciples), and mentions C.S. Lewis’s journey to faith, noting that the New Testament’s unvarnished portrayal of its leaders contributed to Lewis’s belief in its authenticity. Additionally, R.C. Sproul is quoted on the security of salvation (“you’re not saved because of how tightly you hold to Jesus, but because of how tightly Jesus holds to you”), and Martin Luther is referenced regarding the “alien righteousness” of the gospel.

Embracing Our Identity and Power in Christ (Radiance Church Sermons) references Dutch Sheets’ book “Becoming Who You Are,” summarizing Sheets’ argument that the spirit is immediately conformed to Christ at salvation, while the soul undergoes a process of transformation.

The Centrality of the Gospel and Resurrection (David Guzik) explicitly references Charles Spurgeon, quoting him on the factual basis of Christianity ("our religion is not based upon opinions but upon facts") and on the historical evidence for the resurrection ("this historical fact is attested by more witnesses than almost any other fact that stands on record in history whether sacred or secular"). Guzik also cites Martin Luther, quoting him on the centrality of the resurrection doctrine: "everything depends on our retaining a firm hold on this Doctrine in particular for if this one totters and no longer counts all the others will lose their value and validity."

The Divine Calling and Power of Preaching (Alistair Begg) references Martin Lloyd-Jones, J.I. Packer, and Donald Guthrie as influential theologians and teachers who shaped his own understanding of biblical interpretation and preaching, though not specifically in relation to 1 Corinthians 15:1-2.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Embracing the Transformative Power of the Gospel (Fellowship Baptist Church Drumheller) uses several secular illustrations: the preacher references old Philadelphia cream cheese commercials to humorously depict popular misconceptions of the afterlife; an unnamed comedian’s bit about life as a treadmill, where people ignore death until they “fall off,” is used to illustrate cultural denial of mortality; and the preacher recounts a personal story from riding the New York City subway, where he and friends would try to balance without holding onto stabilizers, only to be thrown off balance by sudden stops—this is used as an analogy for how people reach for false sources of stability in life instead of the gospel.

Embracing the Core: The Power of the Gospel (South Side Baptist Church) shares the story of Dr. Rosalind Picard, an MIT professor who was once an atheist but became a Christian after reading the Bible and experiencing a personal transformation. Her journey from skepticism to faith is used as a modern example of the gospel’s power to change lives and to encourage honest inquiry among skeptics.

The Centrality of the Gospel and Resurrection (David Guzik) uses the analogy of ancient chariot races to explain the secular use of the word "gospel" (euangelion) in the Greco-Roman world, describing how someone might shout "Chariot number five is a winner—that’s gospel, baby!" to illustrate that the term simply meant "good news" before it was adopted by Christians. He also humorously references the "Star Trek" transporter as a speculative analogy for the mysterious transformation of Jesus’ resurrection body, suggesting that if someone had witnessed the resurrection inside the tomb, it might have looked like a "brilliant flash of light" and a "rematerialization" akin to the sci-fi show’s special effects. Guzik further uses the example of historical knowledge about Julius Caesar to argue for the reliability of the resurrection accounts, noting that we accept Caesar’s existence based on written eyewitness testimony, and that the resurrection is even better attested.

The Divine Calling and Power of Preaching (Alistair Begg) employs a detailed musical analogy, comparing the main theme of 1 Corinthians 15 to the "melody line" in a piece of music, and warns against getting lost in theological "tweeters and woofers" (audio jargon for high and low frequencies) instead of helping the congregation hear the main message. He also references the experience of listening to hi-fi audio equipment, where some focus on technical details while others just want to hear the tune, to illustrate the danger of missing the gospel’s central message amid theological complexity.