cepts. It is morals and philosophy
and religion all in one; but it is first of all a story of something
that took place in the world.

If that be so, there is a lesson for men whose work it is to preach
it. Let them never forget that their business is to insist upon the
truth of these great, supernatural, all-important, and fundamental
facts, the death and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. They must
evolve all the deep meanings that lie in them; and the deeper they
dig for their meanings the better. They must open out the endless
treasures of consolation and enforce the omnipotent motives of action
which are wrapped up in the facts; but howsoever far they may carry
their evolving and their application of them, they will neither be
faithful to their Lord nor true stewards of their message unless,
clear above all other aspects of their work, and underlying all other
forms of their ministry, there be the unfaltering
proclamation--'first of all,' midst of all, last of all--'how that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,' and 'that He
was raised again according to the Scriptures.'

Note, too, how this fundamental and original character of the gospel
which Paul preached, as a record of facts, makes short work of a
great deal that calls itself 'liberal Christianity' in these days. We
are told that it is quite possible to be a very good Christian man,
and reject the supernatural, and turn away with incredulity from the
story of the Resurrection. It may be so, but I confess that it
puzzles me to understand how, if the fundamental character of
Christian teaching be the proclamation of certain facts, a man who
does not believe those facts has the right to call himself a
Christian.

Note, further, how there is an element of explanation involved in the
proclamation of the facts which turns them into a gospel. Mark how
'that _Christ_ died,' not _Jesus_. It is a great truth, that the man,
our Brother, Jesus, passed through the common lot, but that is not
what Paul says here, though he often says it. What he says is that
'_Christ_ died.' Christ is the name of an office, into which is
condensed a whole system of truth, declaring that it is He who is the
Apex, the Seal, and ultimate Word of all divine revelation. It was
the _Christ_ who died; unless it was so, the death of Jesus is no
gospel.

'He died for our sins.' Now, if the Apostle had only said 'He died
for us,' that might conceivably have meant that, in a mul