In 1 Corinthians 15 the Apostle Paul wrote: “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you . . . that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter …” (verses 1-5). Christ died and was raised. Why did Christ die and for whom? We have learned the answer to those questions and can recite them like catechism. But often the truth is obscured because of its familiarity.
Let’s look at this in perspective. The Christian message is a global message because Christ’s people are globally located. They are among every tongue, nation, tribe and people. Though we might find stronger pockets of God’s people in certain places from time to time, they are scattered across this planet. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son …” (John 3:16). With that statement, John was reminding us that the Gospel is universal.
Paul says that just as Jesus’ death had global ramifications so does His resurrection from the grave. Both the crucifixion and the resurrection are the highlights of Christ’s great redemptive drama enacted for our salvation. Both events remind us that Christianity is a missionary religion.
Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the world. He also came forth from the tomb to seal world