had crept in among these true children of God; and, in doing so, not
Holding fast the Gospel
Notes of a Sermon delivered in Bethesda Chapel, Bristol, March 1st, 1874.
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which, also ye have received and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain."—1 Cor. 15:1, 2
THOSE who are in any measure familiar with the first letter written by the Holy Ghost through the apostle Paul to the Church at Corinth, know that there were three especial reasons why the letter was written.
1. To answer certain questions; as for instance, how those should do who were unmarried, and those who had unbelieving partners.
2. To notice the flagrant wickedness and moral inconsistency which had crept in among these true children of God; and, in doing so, not only sharply to rebuke them on account of these things, but to direct them how to cleanse themselves of them.
3. But there was one other especial object which he had in writing this letter, viz., to take notice of grievous errors which had come in among them, and one of these we have especially noticed in this chapter, and that is, the denial of the resurrection.
The apostle brings before them how this touched the very foundation of their holy faith. If there was no resurrection, there were no glad tidings at all,—no truth in any of these things, if there were no resurrection. But he shows that there is a resurrection, and not only so, but dwells on the blessedness connected with it.