1 Corinthians 15 (1)

Pray Psalm 125.1, 2.
Those who trust in the LORD
Are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the LORD surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.

Sing Psalm 125.1, 2.
(St. Gertrude: Onward, Christian Soldiers)
All who trust in Jesus, strong as Zion stand!
Naught shall ever move them from their promised land!
Like the hills surrounding safe Jerusalem,
Christ surrounds His Church and holds her in His mighty Hand!
Refrain, v. 1
All who trust in Jesus, strong as Zion stand!
Naught shall ever move them from their promised land!

Read and meditate on 1 Corinthians 15.1-8.

Preparation
1. What is the Gospel?

2.Who saw Jesus, raised from the dead?

Meditation
What could Paul mean by that expression, “believed in vain”? Where the Gospel is concerned, we either believe it or we don’t, right? And we know what the Gospel is: Jesus came among us as Immanuel, born of a virgin, to fulfill all the righteousness of God’s Law, break the power of the devil, bear our sins in His own body on the cross, and thus satisfy God’s wrath against His people. He rose again to new life, opening the way to eternal life for all who believe, and was seen by a substantial array of witnesses, including Paul himself.

This is the Good News Paul preached and taught in Corinth (vv. 1, 3). The Corinthians received this proclamation and were standing in it unto salvation.

If, that is, they “held fast” to the Good News (v. 2).

The New Testament acknowledges in various places the possibility of believing “in vain”, as Paul put it. Jesus sent away from Him certain who claimed to believe in Him and could produce many good works—good to them, at least (Matt. 7.21-23). The writer of Hebrews explained that some of his readers had only “tasted” the salvation of the Lord (Heb. 6.4) and were in danger of falling away because they did not hold fast to it. And in our text, Paul might be seen to have muddied the water of faith by that “if” clause—“if you hold fast”.

The meaning is clear. Not all who express faith in Jesus have truly believed. They believe who follow Jesus and His apostles. They truly believe who stand fast when push comes to shove in life and do not deny Jesus whether by words or deeds. They believe who hear the Word of Jesus and hasten to carry it out.

Merely to say one has “faith” in Jesus is not enough. For true faith—saving faith—brings both inward assurance and outward evidence of salvation (Heb. 11.1). “If” we truly believe, we will hold fast to and obey the Word of Jesus.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
It is true that we are saved by grace through faith, and we are not saved by anything that we have done—it is based only upon what we believe (Acts 16.31; Eph. 2.8).

That is how salvation begins. But it doesn’t end there. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2.10). If.

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7.21). If.

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
for I was hungry and you gave Me food;
I was thirsty and you gave Me drink;
I was a stranger and you took Me in;
I was naked and you clothed Me;
I was sick and you visited Me;
I was in prison and you came to Me” (Matt. 25.34-36). If.

You may choose to disagree, but those activities seem to involve more than a thought process or belief system—gave, took, clothed, visited, came—those are active verbs that involve love.
“LORD, I hope for Your salvation, and I do Your commandments” (Ps. 119.166). Active do.

“Depart from evil and do good; and dwell forevermore” (Ps. 37.27). Active do.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments” (Ps. 111.10). Active do.
“These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor;
give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; let none of you think evil in your heart against your
neighbor, and do not love a false oath…” (Zech. 8.16, 17). Active do.

As the people answered Joshua, “All that you command us we will do” (Josh. 1.16) so we answer to Paul, and to God, “Let it be as You have said, and let it be for the edification of the church” (Lk. 1.38; 1 Cor. 14.12). All that we actively do along with all that we sincerely believe is how we assuredly “hold fast” (I Cor. 15.2) to the Gospel that Jesus lived, died, and rose again to create. This is ours, if we simultaneously believe and do.

Jesus offers us much joy and encouragement, if.
“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (Jn. 13.17).

For reflection
1. We are not saved by good works, but we’re not saved without them. Explain.

2. What does it mean to have “believed in vain”?

3. Today, how will you show that your faith is not in vain?

The doctrine of Christ’s death and resurrection, is the foundation of Christianity. Remove this, and all our hopes for eternity sink at once. And it is by holding this truth firm, that Christians stand in the day of trial, and are kept faithful to God. We believe in vain, unless we keep in the faith of the gospel. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15.1-8

Pray Psalm 125.1, 4, 5.
Pray that God will envelop your church in peace, that all may speak His Word to one another in love and service for the building-up of the Body of Christ.

Sing Psalm 125.1, 4, 5.
(St. Gertrude: Onward, Christian Soldiers)
LORD, do good and care for those upright in heart.
Those who turn to evil shall from You depart.
Sinful men may increase on their way to hell!
Save Your people, let your peace abound in Israel!
Refrain, v. 1
All who trust in Jesus, strong as Zion stand!
Naught shall ever move them from their promised land!

T. M. and Susie Moore

The Church in Corinth was in need of revival. But there was much to be done before that would happen. The Church today is in need of revival, and the same is true for us. Our book, Revived!, can help us to discern our need for revival and lead us in getting there. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.