1 Corinthians 15: A Little, Big Word

carpecollum@gmail.com — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:55:34 GMT

The word "if" is pretty skinny. It has no fat letters. It's one letter away from being the shortest word possible. But "if" is a pretty big word.

"If" means there are conditions to a statement. I will give you $5 IF you wash my car. I do not intend to gift you $5. You must fulfill the condition before you receive the benefit.

1 Cor. 15:1-2 is a wonderful passage: "Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain."

Paul's points are simple.

1. He preached the gospel to the Corinthians
2. They received the gospel
3. The gospel makes them stand
4. The gospel saves them
5. IF they hold fast to the gospel

Those first four points are wonderful, aren't they? Receiving the gospel message is so powerful. Only when we stand firmly on the gospel (with our faith firmly planted in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of our our Lord) can we have the HOPE of eternal salvation. But IF we hold fast to the gospel, to the word preached by the apostles, we can have full assurance of that hope. The rest of the chapter confirms this. Christ really was raised from the dead - BELIEVE IT and hold fast to it. Then WE will be raised from the dead - BELIEVE IT and hold fast to it!

"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." (1 Cor. 15:58)

We will overcome IF we remain steadfast and HOLD to the word revealed!

May God help us to hold fast to the faith,
Nathan

Daily Bible Message

1 Corinthians 15: A Little, Big Word