Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 Corinthians 15:3

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;" — 1 Corinthians 15:3 (ASV)

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; (1 Corinthians 15:3)

This is the solid basis of the gospel.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,

Notice that the preacher does not make the gospel. If he makes it, it is not worth your having. Originality in preaching, if it is originality in the statement of doctrine, is falsehood. We are not makers and inventors; we are repeaters, we tell the message we have received.

How that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

This then, is the gospel, that Jesus died for our sins, taking our sins upon himself. He bore the death penalty for us, according to the scriptures. There are plenty of scriptures, Old Testament scriptures, which teach this great truth by way of prophecy.

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

That is the first fundamental fact in the gospel system. Blessed is the man who believes it, and rests his soul upon it.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,

The preacher of Christ must not make new doctrines. He is not to be his own teacher; he is to receive the truth first, and then to deliver it. The Christian minister takes the lamp out of the hand of God and then passes it on to the hands of his people.

Do not think that any originality is needed in the pulpit. All that is required is that the herald should faithfully deliver his Master's message just as his Master gives it to him. I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,