“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Chapter 15 is all about the resurrection—the resurrection of the believer and the assurance of our resurrection, which is rooted in our Lord’s resurrection. Some of the people at Corinth did not believe there was any hope of a resurrection for themselves or others: “How say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?” (v. 12). Paul exposes the fallacy of their misconception, explaining that if there were no resurrection, then Christ Himself would not have risen—which they did believe:
"And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not." (1 Corinthians 15:14-15).
Not only is denying the resurrection of believers false, but if it were true, we would have no hope: “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” (v. 17). Paul then answers the question, What exactly is this resurrection of the believer? “But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?” (v. 35). He answers this in verses 35-57, beautifully summarizing in verses 52-54:
"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."
This opening paragraph is just an attempt to catch us up to the line of thinking that Paul, by the Holy Ghost, has been following.
Living in Light of the Resurrection
The verse I’ve shared today is the application of the truths in this chapter. What do we do with the truth of the resurrection while we wait for it? Is it just for that day, or does it have an effect on our daily Christian life? It has a tremendous impact and is undoubtedly for today. The word Therefore at the beginning of our verse means, “In light of this truth of the resurrection of Christ, His victory over death and sin, and its consequences in our lives, let us do the following.”
1. Be Steadfast
The first result of living in the light of the resurrection is steadfastness: “Be ye steadfast.” This word means settled, or seated. When we live in the hope we have—the victory we have over death through our Lord—we can settle down.
Life can feel so tumultuous. We often feel that our time on earth is short, and we must do everything we can before death closes the door on our aspirations. But Christian, look to the grave not as the end, but as the beginning! O death, where is thy sting? Death is just the beginning of eternity for us, and at the coming of the Lord, even our bodies will be raised incorruptible!
The hands that have drooped will never droop again.The eyes that have faded will see in full color the glory of the Lord.The ears that have grown quiet will hear the praises of the heavenly band.The arms will embrace the saints of old and the loved ones who have gone before.
So, settle down! Death is nothing to fear. And if we do not fear death, then what in the world do we have to fear? A hymn comes to mind this morning:
"There’s a deep settled peace in my soul,Waves of God’s holy love o’er me roll;Every day, every hour, I am kept by His pow’r,There’s a deep settled peace in my soul."
2. Be Unmoveable
Not only should we be settled, but we should also be unmoveable! This truth grounds the Christian on the unshakable bedrock of our faith—our risen Lord Jesus Christ! Let the storms roll in.Let the winds blow.Let the waters rise and wash away those on lesser foundations. But we who are built on this hope will stand unmoved! Unmoved by trials, unmoved by persecution, unmoved by poverty, even unmoved by the threat of death itself. Think of the many men—Paul included—who stood unmoved at the executioner’s block. The Romans threatened them with death, but death had already been defeated, so it could not move them.
Paul said something similar when the Ephesian elders warned him that going to Jerusalem would be a death sentence: “None of these things move me.” If you want to be unmoveable, then never move away from the truth of Jesus’ resurrection and its power in your life.
3. Abound in the Work of the Lord
Lastly, when we live in the light of the resurrection, we should abound in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor is not in vain. What joy and strength fill the Christian who labors for the rewards of the life to come rather than the fleeting glories of this present world!
Knowing that there is another life—a life that is eternal, where every labor will be rewarded by the faithful hand of our Lord—let us invest every hour in that life to come. Let us invest every day, every breath, every tear, every action, giving it all for that eternal life. Jesus tells us that even a glass of water given in His name will not be overlooked.
Not only is there life beyond the grave, but we can lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven that will never fade away! Oh, that we might forsake the moth-eaten treasures of this world and long for those that are eternal!
Conclusion
What a life we can enjoy here on earth while we wait for the fulfillment of the resurrection! It is such a wonderful truth—not only affecting us on the day it is fulfilled but also every day until that day comes. Live in the light of the resurrection and its victory over sin and death. Be steadfast. Be unmoveable. Abound in the work of the Lord.
Comments