I. "I declare unto you"
I.would recall to your remembrance "the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received." There is an affecting allusion here to past times. There is a touch of tenderness, as the Apostle delicately recalls his own early ministry among the Corinthians and their acceptance of it. There are occasions in Christian experience when such a retrospect may be most seasonable and profitable, when it may be useful to remind Christians of the sort of welcome they were accustomed to give the gospel in days gone by. Surely it is good for us, when our confidence and affection are beginning to fail, when we are tempted to throw the blame of the failure on the gospel as preached to us in the old fashion, and to fancy that it might tell on us more in a new dress, to go back to the old time, and recall our early reception of it in the days of our soul's spiritual birth, our life's morning march when our bosom was young.
II. "I declare unto you the gospel,... wherein ye stand" or have got a standing. It commanded your assent and consent once, your warm embrace and cordial acceptance. And well it might do so; you might well be willing to receive it as you did. For in it you have now got a position which you never otherwise could reach a position of secure, stable, settled righteousness and peace.
III. By the gospel also "ye are saved." This gospel is indeed the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes. All the elements of salvation are provided for us and secured to us in this gospel free forgiveness, complete acceptance in the sight of God, a sure standing in His favour, a new principle of holy loyalty. Surely, then, it is not a gospel to be lightly abandoned, or superseded, or changed!
R. S. Candlish, Life in a Risen Saviour,p. 2.
Reference: 1 Corinthians 15:1; 1 Corinthians 15:2. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. v., p. 31.