March 30, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1 Corinthians 15 – for Apr 1st’s Easter message on 1 Corinthians 7:14 in the 1st service

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is
not in vain.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

Stand Firm!

Imagine if you took these Words literally- that is without any thought to spiritual things, or the verses that proceed. Be a little confusing – for we are told to stand firm, not to let anyone move us and yet at the same time we are to give ourselves fully to work and labour. Pretty hard to do when you are determined not to move!

But let us look at these Words thru a spiritual lens, and we quickly see that verse 1 & 2 of this chapter explain that stand is what we do with the Gospel message - that is - stand means to stake your life on the Gospel, to change your life counting on the Gospel being true. Furthermore, that firm refers to our grip on the Word of the Gospel that was preached to us- which does not mean gripping your bible tightly, but rather refers to our grip on the message of the gospel with our mind, heart and soul. We loosen our grip by not reading the Word, by not believing the Word we read and by not putting the Word into action in our lives.

Paul is encouraging us to stand firm on the Gospel message, labouring and working for Christ as Christ works in us. The explanation of the encouragement and the encouragement itself are separated by 55 verses - and these 55 verses are all about the importance of believing in the resurrection of the dead. Not in believing about the great resurrection of all humans, wicked and holy, but in the resurrection of those who are united with Christ, when Christ returns.

Friend – on this Easter weekend, as we read the Words about the resurrection of Christ, as we sing songs about the resurrection of Christ, as we watch a drama about the resurrection of Christ- get ahold of them – grip these Words firmly in your mind, heart and soul and stand firm in your faith- don’t let anything move you from your belief in the Gospel.

Stand Firm!