If you spend a few moments in a Christian Facebook group, you’ll find that one of the most frequently asked questions is “where do I start in the Bible?”. The most popular answer that I have seen is the Gospel of John. While there is no doubt that the Gospel of John is filled with wonderful treasures, I’d like to challenge that idea for two reasons:
1) The gospel of salvation is not in the book of John
2) The Gospel of John does not adequately help a new believer understand their faith
The place that I send a person that is reading the Bible for the first time is 1 Corinthians chapter 15 for the following reasons:
Salvation is found in verses 1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Proof of Christ’s resurrection is found in verses 5-8
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
The reason for our faith is found in verses 12-19
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
The Rapture was revealed in 51-54
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
If a person is not saved, then they are given the Gospel upfront (which is what we are called to share). If a person is curious why we believe what we do and why we have hope, this chapter answers those questions. If a person is wondering why there is a Rapture of the Church, this chapter answers that as well.
1 Corinthians chapter 15 is for both the unbeliever and the believer!