The Necessity of Christ’s Death

I sometimes wonder if we recognize all that comes to nothing if we get the gospel wrong. TAKE AWAY ONE ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF THE GOSPEL AND YOU FORFEIT EVERYTHING. This is a point that Paul emphasizes elsewhere in the New Testament. He takes the truth of the gospel and points out what happens if we deny even one essential element of it. You remember that he did this with the doctrine of resurrection. Will the dead be raised? There were professing believers denying the future resurrection of the dead. Paul points out the obvious relationship that doctrine has with the gospel. NAU 1 Corinthians 15:12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. NAS 1 Corinthians 15:29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? 30 Why are we also in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brethren, by the boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32