Thank God for Post-It Notes. 

No, seriously. 

Post-It Notes help us remember all kinds of valuable information- a to-do list, an email address, items to pick up at the store, etc. They are colorful reminders for things that are too important to forget. 

Paul, of course, didn’t have Post-Its when he wrote his letter to the Corinthians, but if he did, he would have told them to make one for 1 Corinthians, Chapter 15:1-8, highlighting this beautiful summary of the gospel.  

Simply put, these scriptures tell us that the gospel is the good news of what God has done to save sinful humanity through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Notice that Paul is “reminding” the Corinthians of the gospel’s core tenets. 

You may wonder:

Why in the world does a group of believers need a reminder (a.k.a. a Post-It Note) of the gospel? 

Because just like us, they forget. 

Not ‘forget’ as in they can’t remember who Jesus is and what He’s done. But bit by bit, they allowed the gospel to fade into the background, instead of keeping it front and center. 

Sound familiar?  

You see, it’s not enough to merely be able to recite the basic facts of the gospel. Paul wants us to realize it’s “of first importance” (verse 3).  

This means that there is nothing – our families, hobbies, careers, possessions, etc.- that is of greater importance. Sure, we have things to do, places to go, and people to see. But if our lives have been transformed by the gospel, then it should be central to our identity and activity.  

As Jesus-followers, the gospel is to reign preeminently above everything else in our lives. 

And guess what? 

We never outgrow our need for the gospel. 

Though we may have “received” the gospel in our past, we are called to keep “standing” on it in the present (verse 1).  You see, we need it just as much today as the hour we first believed.  

So, why is the gospel so important? Well, contrary to popular opinion, the gospel isn’t simply the elementary truths of the Christian faith, like “Christianity 101,” or just the means by which we escape hell and enter heaven.  

As C.J. Mahaney eloquently explains, “the gospel isn’t one class among many that you’ll attend during your life as a Christian – the gospel is the whole building that all the classes take place in! Rightly approached, all the topics you’ll study and focus on as a believer will be offered to you ‘within the walls’ of the glorious gospel.”  

The next time you’re about to jot something on a Post-It Note, may it prompt you to thank the Lord for the amazing, life-changing, grace-filled power of the gospel in your life.  

I can promise you this – it’s far more important than anything else you may have written on that little, semi-sticky slip of paper. 

Written by Jonathan Munson, Executive Director, RFTH