Be stead fast and unmovable in the work of the Lord
Bishop Perry Newton
Stead fast: Fixed or unchanging; steady. 2. Firmly loyal or constant; unswerving. See Synonyms at faithful.
Inmovable: not able or intended to be moved; "the immovable hills". immovable, immoveable, stabile • immobile - not capable of movement or of being
The context which give rise to this theme: “Be steadfast unmovable in the work of the Lord” is centered around the conclusion which Paul the Apostle gave as he spoke concerning the hope of the Gospel. Paul notes that the message of the gospel is the means by which we are all saved. Paul states that he delivered to the people a gospel which he had received from Christ. The tente of the gospel are:
1. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures
2. That he was buried
3. That he rose again the third day
4. That he was seen of about five hundred brethren at once
5. He was seen of James then all of the apostles
6. He was seen by Paul himself )one born out of due time
Paul demonstrates his humility by stating that he is the least of the apostles; that he was not meet to be called and apostle and he cites as his reason: Because he persected the church of God.
Paul admitted that it was only by the grace of God that he was what he was and states that the grace which God had bestowed upon him was not in vain.
This is evidence by the fact that he labored more abundantly than all of the other apostles; and reiterates that his ability to do so was due to the grace of God
Paul began his apologetic s by asking the question how could they preached that Christ rose from the dead and denied the resurrection from the dead ( some people were saying that when you dead you done) He further reasoned that there were no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen then our preaching is in vain and our faith is also in vain, and all of us are found false witnesses, because we preach that God raised up Christ, whom he raised not up. And if he did not raise Christ up then the dead rise not. Moreover, if the dead rise not, then Christ is not risen and if Christ be not risen our faith is in vain and we are yet in our sins.
Additionally those who died in Christ have perished.
Paul noted that if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Paul speech turns from reasoning to reality. He state directly and emphatically, But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.
He uses the following logics:
1. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive
2. But every man in his own order:
a. Christ the firsts fruit
b. Then they that are Christ’ at his coming
3. Then when the end comes he shall deliver up the kingdom to God the Father after have put down all rule and all authority and power
4. Jesus must eking until he would have put all enemies under his feet
5. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (death is an enemy of God)
When all things would have been subdued, unto Christ, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto the father that God may be all in all (I am to ALL in ALL)
Paul reasons further: if the dead rise not, why stand we in Jeopardy every hour
He acknowledges that he die daily.
If the dead rise not we just as well eat and drink for tomorrow we die.
Be not deceived evil communications corrupt good manners.
Awake to righteousness and sin not
Paul addresses two other questions
1. How are the dead raised up?
2. And with what body do they come?
Paul answers: that which is planted does not live except it dies
Bare grain is planted , but God gives it a body as it pleases him and to every seed his own body.
All flesh is not the same flesh:
There is one kind of flesh of beast; another of fishes, and another of birds
There are also celestial bodies (heavenly; divine, spiritual
There are terrestrial bodies: (Terrestrial refers to things related to land or the planet Earth. There are four terrestrial planets in our Solar System: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
The glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another
One glory of the Sun; and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars. One star differenth from another star in glory. So also is the ressurrection of the dead.
It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption
It is sowed in dishonour, it is raised in glory
It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body.
The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last man Adam was made a quickening spirit.
The natural comes first; the spiritual afterwards
The first man was of the earth, earthy; the second man of the Lord from heaven.
As we have born the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Paul further argues the following points:
1. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God
2. Neither doth corruption inherit incorruption
He states: behold I shew you a mystery (I reveal something to you that was a mystery):
We shall not all sleep
We shall all be changed
In a moment in the twinkling of at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this mortal should have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting, O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
Paul tells them in view of the point put forth and the reasoning: be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the works of the Lord; For as much as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Points to ponder:
1. the resurrection is a historical fact
2. the resurection of Christ is at the center of the Christian Faith
Most greeks did not believe that peoples bodies would be resurrected after death. The greeks saw the after life as something that happened only to the soul. According to greek philosphers the soul was the real person imprisoned in a physical body and at death the soul was released. There was no immortality for the body but the soul entered an eternal state. Christianity by contrast affirms that the body and the soul will be unioted after the resurrection. The church at corinth was in the heart of Greek culture. Thus many believers had a difficult time believing in a bodily resurrection. Hence Paul wrote this part of the letter to clear up this confusion about the ressurection.
