Am I Standing Firm in the Gospel?
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 (NASB)
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
SUMMARY
Paul says to the Corinthian church that our physical body does not inherit the kingdom of God. Those who are dead will be changed into a new body, and believers who are alive will become imperishable when Jesus comes back. He proclaims the victory of resurrection over death which was caused by sin. God is praised for the victory, which was given through Jesus Christ. Paul exhorts the church of Corinth to stand firm and to always be abounding in the work of the Lord because her works are not in vain.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
In verse 58, Paul exhorts the church of Corinth, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” I meditated on this verse and the word “therefore” stood out to me. From today’s passage and throughout chapter 15, Paul explains why the church of Corinth has to be “steadfast, immovable…”. Paul explains the resurrection of Christ, the dead, and the body. Since some of the church of Corinth deny the resurrection (v. 12), Apostle Paul wanted to remind them of the death of Christ and His resurrection, the gospel. Paul wanted them to know the gospel “by which you are saved” (15:2a) and its power.
What is the gospel? Paul preaches the gospel, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (15:3b – 4). Because some of the church of Corinth did not understand or believe the resurrection, they were not united but divided (1:11). The lack of knowledge about the gospel distracted them into following worldly wisdom and boasting about the signs and wonders of spiritual gifts that they had. Now, after teaching the gospel and the mystery of the resurrection, Paul exhorts them to stand firm and not be moved but fully devote themselves to the work of the Lord.
If we do not know what the gospel is, our faith will be shaken by the things of the world. Without knowing the truth, we cannot run the race of faith. Our hope is not in worldly things, which are perishable, but in things that are imperishable and eternal. Therefore, we can bear suffering and overcome the fear of death which is defeated by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
APPLICATION
Paul’s exhortation challenges me and helps me to examine whether I am standing firm in the gospel. Do I believe and understand the death of Christ and His resurrection? Do I truly understand how the gospel relates to my present and future? In this time of the pandemic, chaos, lawlessness, riots and endless protests, I realize that we, not only the church of Corinth, need to stand firm in the truth, the Word of God and not be moved by the things in the world. How can I do that? “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) There is so much Korean news and breaking news on YouTube that tempts me to listen daily. I find myself wasting my time listening to them. Actually, as I was meditating on this passage, I had a desire to know more about Apostle Paul’s heart for the Cross, Christ and His resurrection. As we are coming to the end of this book, I will read the book of 1 Corinthians again. Also, I would like to teach and share the gospel with people who have never fully understood what the gospel is. Moreover, I will encourage the children of God to endure their suffering in this world with hope and victory until the day of His coming.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for saving us from our sin and giving us, your children, the victory over death through Christ Jesus who died for our sins and resurrected. Increase our faith to overcome the fear of death in any situation through Christ Jesus who has given us victory, eternal hope and life. Help me to be bold to share the gospel with my family, friends and others when there is an opportunity. Moreover, help me to stand firm in this chaotic world, be immovable, be faithful, and seek first the Kingdom of God. Praying in Jesus name. Amen.
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