1 Corinthians 15:1-2 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.
I once knew a man who had been baptized five times. What amount of insecurity existed within this man that caused him to confess, repent and be baptized that many times? Paul in the beginning of this chapter of 1st Corinthians has proclaimed the gospel, proclaimed its receipt, and acknowledged that these believers stood on that sure foundation, Christ our Cornerstone.
For this man, perhaps “unless ye have believed in vain” was enough for him to be insecure in his salvation. Just what did he believe that bred insecurity? If this good intentioned Christian could fall into this cycle of insecurity, what prevents any of us from falling into the same trap?
1 Corinthians 15:3-5 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
Here are the rudimentary elements of salvation. Is this all you have to believe to be saved? Will God accept you into His rest in your belief in this alone?
What God will or will not accept is totally within the purview of God and I cannot speak for God. I can however speak to the issues of personal insecurity upon which this man suffered.
Key within those three passages about life, death and resurrection are these words which are vital to our understanding. Those words are “according to the scriptures”. Without a thorough investigation of the scriptures and all the truth revealed within them about your personal salvation you cannot have a secure belief.
“According to the Scriptures;”
“It is written.”
Irrefutable!