Be Steadfast! – 1 Corinthians 15:58

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. 1Cor 15:58

Paul’s concluding exhortation to the Corinthians describes the faithfulness of those who believe in Jesus’s resurrection. It logically follows the marvelous truth that was expanded in the previous verses and summed up in v. 57: God has given us the victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus’s resurrection is the essential foundation to living by faith. Without it, all works are built on sand, unable to stand through the testing of faith and God’s judgment. But those who live with a deep conviction of Jesus’s resurrection live in the reality of Jesus’s lordship. They are the “beloved brethren,” loved by God the Father. Therefore, they are faithful, with a living hope that comes from Christ alone. (Phil 2:9-11)

If we are grounded on Jesus’s resurrection, how then should we demonstrate our faith?

Be steadfast.

You must be firm in our faith. Whereas immovability has to do with action and movement, steadfastness speaks more to what is inside- your heart. To be steadfast is to have peace in your heart, no matter what is happening around you. You have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore, trust in the Lord. He is the living God, who is always faithful. (Rom 5:1)

We often lose our peace when we can’t understand what is happening around us and why. We can remain steadfast through prayer. The Bible says-

…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7)

We pray because our God is the living God. He is our Lord, who can change all things, including our will to conform to His Will. As we have a biblical perception of God, our problems will pale before His sovereignty, power, and love. He will give us peace.

Be immovable.

We must stand strong and stay put in faith. Apostle Paul demonstrates it in 2 Cor 4:8-9-

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…

Christians will constantly be attacked by the world, Satan, and demons, who will always challenge us to go back to our old lives of sin and death. How can we stay immovable? It is only by remembering and seeing Jesus’s resurrection clearly in all circumstances. As we trust in Scripture, we will not be moved by the world’s philosophies and false gospels- though we may find ourselves standing alone in our confession that Jesus is the only way to be saved, we stand firm because the risen Lord is with us.

Always abound in the work of the Lord.

Every believer has their own duty from the Lord to practice and obey. Christians are laborers- we are alive to be sent and to do the work of God. We must not be lazy, seeking a life of leisure and worldly pleasures, which is a form of self-worship. Rather, we must be diligent in the work of the Lord.

What exactly is the work of the Lord? The work of God is to believe in Jesus Christ. (Jn 6:29) It is to grow in faith. As Jesus occupies your heart, our desire is to be more like Him and to tell others about Him. He is the object of our faith.

Evangelism and missions are also the work of the Lord. (Matt 28:18-20) Our readiness to go is not by our knowledge, it is by the power that Jesus gives. There is no greater news than the gospel. It has an everlasting effect of eternal joy and salvation. As we truly appreciate the gospel, we will not be able to remain quiet and idle. The news we have is overwhelmingly good- by it we have been saved.

You must know you will be rewarded.

Toil refers to labor that is marked with suffering, weariness, and utter exhaustion. To toil for the Lord is to risk your life because of Jesus’s resurrection. It is the test of true, saving faith. Toiling is a matter of life and death, but there is no cowardice in Christians because of the living Lord. Christians are able to face persecution and toil to the end because their toil is not in vain. When Jesus returns He will reward us based on what we have done. Only those who truly believe in Jesus’s resurrection will toil. They will be hated in this world because of their faith, but it will all be worth it when they will be rewarded in the Lord.

These are the four sign of faithfulness in those who trust and believe in Jesus’s resurrection. Let us examine yourselves and be assured that we are building our lives on Christ and His Word alone.