Today we begin a new series of messages that will focus on what the Apostle Paul calls some matters “of first importance.” They are the cornerstone of our faith. Paul writes, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). The starting point for matters of first importance is the death of Jesus Christ. Four things stand out about his death.