Third Sunday after Easter – Wednesday

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you.— 1 Corinthians 15:1.

Let me put you in mind, my dear Christian, of the Gospel which has been proclaimed to you in this book, the Holy Scriptures.  You have, by God’s grace alone, embraced this Gospel in true faith, and your faith firmly rests on it.  By this Gospel, just as it has been taught to you, you are saved, if, by God’s grace alone, you hold fast to it, unless you render your faith useless through subsequent unbelief.

Now, what is it that you have been taught?  First of all, that Christ died for our sins according to the prophecy of Holy Writ, and that He was buried; but that, furthermore, also according to the prophecy of Holy Writ, He rose again the third day.  You have also been told how He was seen alive by Mary Magdalene, by her companions, by Peter, by those two disciples going to Emmaus, by the whole company of disciples assembled in Jerusalem, by the seven apostles at the Sea of Gennesaret, by all the apostles and over 500 brethren with them on a mount in Galilee, and by the apostles in Jerusalem.  And, last of all, He was also seen alive by Paul, who for so long had been His enemy, and a persecutor of those who believed in Him.

These eye-witnesses have declared to us the above-mentioned Gospel, the glad tidings that Christ, true God and man, according to the prophecy of the Old Testament, died for our sins and was buried and triumphantly rose again the third day.  This is God’s Gospel which alone brings souls to Christ and saves them.  Continue to hold fast to this Gospel!  Let nothing turn you from it!

PRAYER – Lord God, heavenly Father, I thank Thee for Thy holy Gospel, that divine power to save, which tells me that Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, died also for my sins, but that, conquering sin, death, and the devil, and all that opposes me, He rose to show Himself as the one and the only true Redeemer.  Help me to continue to firmly believe these glad tidings and find abiding comfort in them, and die a blessed death “in the Lord” (Revelation 14:13).  Amen.

Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands,

for our offences given;

but now at God’s right hand He stands,

and brings us life from heaven.

Therefore, let us joyful be,

and sing to God right thankfully,

loud songs of hallelujah.

Hallelujah!

(Hymn 195, st. 1; TLH)