"Grace for the Undeserving (Which Means All of Us)"

Good news is hard to come by these days. Turn on the TV, and you’ll find headlines that make you want to dive under the covers. But the apostle Paul has some good news that never gets old. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Paul reminds us of the best news ever—the gospel of Jesus Christ. He takes us back to the core of our faith: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. That’s the foundation, the unshakable rock beneath our feet. It’s the heart, the core, the essence, and it’s all we need.

But here’s the twist—Paul, of all people, is the one reminding us of grace. You know Paul, right? The guy who spent his early career chasing down Christians like a bounty hunter? The one who probably had a "Wanted" poster hanging in the synagogues? And yet, God picked him to be the messenger of grace. Talk about an unlikely candidate!

It’s like Darth Vader switching sides and joining the Rebel Alliance. Or Loki putting down his tricks and deciding to fight for good. It’s unexpected. It’s unearned. It’s grace. And that’s where this story hits home—because if grace reached Paul, it can reach us, too.

The Gospel: Not Just a One-Time Deal

Paul starts this passage by saying, “I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand” (v. 1). Wait a minute. Why remind them? Didn’t they already know this?

Exactly. But that’s the thing about the gospel—it’s not just the entrance ticket to faith; it’s the whole show. It’s not a one-time shot; it’s our daily bread. It’s like your favourite song—no matter how many times you hear it, it still hits you right in the heart.

Paul is telling us that the gospel is something we need to remember daily. Because life will throw all sorts of lies our way: You’re not good enough. You’ve messed up too badly. You’ll never change. But the gospel tells the truth: Jesus is enough. His grace is bigger than your sin. His love is stronger than your failures.

And aren’t that news that we need to remember every day, and proclaim every day as well? Because if there is a message this world needs to hear, this is it.

Grace for the Least Likely

Paul then makes a shocking confession: “I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (v. 9).

If they gave out “Least Likely to Become a Christian” awards, Paul would have won in a landslide (I might have deserved one of those as well!). He wasn’t just avoiding Jesus—he was actively trying to stop Him. But then grace showed up.

Ever seen those before-and-after transformation pictures? The “before” might be a messy, cluttered garage, and the “after” looks like an IKEA showroom. Paul’s life was the ultimate “before and after” story. Before? A man fuelled by hate, determined to wipe out Christianity. After? A man who couldn’t stop talking about Jesus, even when it landed him in prison, in beatings, under the threat of death, and even facing it.

What changed? One encounter with the risen Christ. One moment of grace.

And that’s the beauty of the gospel—it doesn’t just save “good” people. It saves the worst of the worst. It saves the ones who don’t deserve it. Which, by the way, is all of us.

Grace in the Everyday

Paul’s story reminds us that God’s grace isn’t just for the big, dramatic moments. It’s for today. For the moments when we feel like we’ve blown it. For the days when we’re running on empty. For a single moment, for a day, for a season.

Ever had one of those days where you spill coffee on your shirt, lock your keys in the car, and send a text to the wrong person—all before 9 a.m.? That’s when we need grace. Not just on Sundays, not just when we first come to Christ, but every single day.

Paul says, “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect” (v. 10). In other words, grace changes things. It changed Paul from a persecutor to a preacher. It changed Peter from a coward to a rock. It changed you and me from lost to found. And grace is still at work. Still shaping us. Still carrying us forward.

A Challenge for the Week

Here’s your mission (should you choose to accept it):

Remind yourself of the gospel daily. Start your morning with a simple prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for Your grace. Thank You that I am loved, forgiven, and secure in You.

Extend grace to someone else. Someone’s going to cut you off in traffic. Someone’s going to test your patience. Instead of snapping, choose grace.

Live like someone who has been forgiven. Don’t walk around like grace is in short supply. Walk in the joy of the gospel!

Because if Paul can be transformed by grace, so can we. If Pablo can be transformed by grace, so can we. And that, my friends, is the best news ever. Grace and peace to us all!