Verse 13 - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Christ Died, Was Buried, and Rose Again

Our Scripture Memory Challenge has been leading us through the wonderful message of the gospel. We've learned that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23), that sin brings death but God offers eternal life (Romans 6:23), and that God demonstrated His love by sending Jesus to die for us (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).

This week, we come to the very heart of the gospel: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, ESV, excerpt)

Paul describes these truths as being of first importance. They are the foundation of the Christian faith and the good news of salvation.

What Happened?

First, Christ died for our sins. Jesus did not simply die as an example of love or sacrifice. He willingly took the punishment we deserved so that we could be forgiven and reconciled to God.

Because we have all sinned (Romans 3:23), each of us needs God's saving grace.  No one except Jesus Christ has ever met God's perfect standard, and no amount of good works can make us righteous enough to earn salvation on our own. We need a Savior, and God has provided one in Jesus Christ!

Jesus died for all our sins, past, present, and future. His sacrifice on the cross is sufficient to provide forgiveness for every sin, and God freely offers that forgiveness to everyone who comes to Christ in repentance and faith.

Second, He was buried. Jesus' burial is important because it confirms that He truly died. If Jesus had not actually died, He could not have risen from the dead. His sacrificial death and bodily resurrection are essential to the Christian faith.

The Gospels record that Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for Jesus' body. Pilate confirmed His death with a Roman centurion before releasing it. Joseph then buried Jesus in a tomb, and women who had followed Jesus saw where He was laid (Mark 15:43–47).

These accounts identify real people who witnessed His death and burial.

Third, He rose again on the third day! Jesus did not remain in the tomb. He rose bodily from the dead, just as He had foretold (Luke 9:22). His resurrection is not simply an inspiring ending to the story of His life. It is essential to the gospel itself.

Notice also that Paul says Christ died and rose again “in accordance with the Scriptures.”  These events were not accidents or unexpected turns in history. They were part of God's plan of redemption from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4–10; 1 Peter 1:20). Centuries before Jesus was born, Old Testament passages such as Isaiah 53 and Psalm 16:10 pointed forward to the suffering Messiah and His victory over death.

How Do We Know?

The testimony of the resurrection goes far beyond an empty tomb. Scripture records eyewitness accounts from those who saw the risen Jesus.

On the morning of the resurrection, women who followed Jesus discovered that His tomb was empty (Luke 24:1–3). Mary Magdalene later encountered the risen Jesus and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord (John 20:11–18).

Paul records that Jesus also appeared to Peter, the Twelve, more than five hundred people at one time, James (Jesus' brother), and eventually Paul himself. Many of these eyewitnesses were still alive when Paul wrote his letter (1 Corinthians 15:5–8).

These accounts give us important reasons to take the resurrection seriously.

The earliest Christians proclaimed that Jesus had truly died, had been buried, and had risen bodily from the dead. They believed this so strongly that they continued proclaiming the risen Christ despite persecution, and some even suffered martyrdom for their faith.

In addition to the biblical accounts, ancient non-Christian historians also wrote about Jesus. For example, the Roman historian Tacitus recorded that Christ was executed under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Emperor Tiberius (Annals 15.44). The Jewish historian Josephus also referred to Jesus and His death in his writings (Antiquities 18.63–64).

These historical writings are significant because they come from sources outside the Bible. While they do not independently establish that Jesus rose from the dead, they provide additional historical support for His existence and execution under Roman authority.

Why Does it Matter That Jesus Is Alive?

Think about this for a moment. What if Jesus had died on the cross but never risen from the dead?

Paul answers that question in 1 Corinthians 15:17. If Christ had not been raised, our faith would be useless, and we would still be in our sins.

But Christ has risen!

His resurrection changes everything!

Because Jesus lives, we can have confidence in the salvation He provides. His death paid the penalty for our sins, and His resurrection is inseparably connected to our justification before God (Romans 4:25).

Because Jesus lives, death does not have the final word. Paul calls Christ the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, assuring believers that they, too, will be raised (1 Corinthians 15:20–23). We have the promise of eternal life with Him!

And because Jesus lives, we have a Savior who is still at work on our behalf. Jesus is not simply someone who lived and died long ago. He is our living Savior, who intercedes for us before the Father (Hebrews 7:25). Through Him, we can have a personal relationship with God and the assurance of His presence in our lives.

Because He lives, our hope is not just for eternity. We have a living Savior to trust and follow today!

What Does the Gospel Mean for You?

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ call for a personal response. Knowing what Jesus did is important, but the gospel is not simply something we are called to know. It is something we are called to believe and receive.

And here's the wonderful news: God's invitation is open to you! You do not have to make yourself good enough to come to Christ. In fact, you cannot earn salvation through your own efforts. Salvation is God's gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9).

But how do we respond to that gift?

The Bible calls us to respond to Jesus through repentance and faith.

Repentance means recognizing our sin and turning toward God with a willingness to follow Him in obedience to His Word.

Faith means trusting in Jesus Christ, believing that He died for our sins and rose again, and relying on Him rather than our own goodness for salvation.

Here is an important truth. Don't miss it!

Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). No one else can save us, and nothing we do can take the place of what He accomplished through His death and resurrection.

Would you accept God's gift of salvation today? I pray that you will.

Turn to God, confess your sins to Him, ask for His forgiveness, and place your trust in Jesus Christ as your one and only Savior. Then, continue growing in your relationship with Him as you learn from His Word and seek to follow Him.

And if you already know Christ as your Savior, take time this week to thank Him for the cross, the empty tomb, and the living hope we have because He rose again.

As you memorize 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, remember that our hope rests not only in a Savior who died for us, but in a Savior who is alive!

He died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again. This is the good news of the gospel!