1 Corinthians 15:1-3, 58; 16:13

• Read 1 Corinthians 15-16, and see if you can find how many times the words ‘stand’ or ‘stand firm’ occur. (Hint: Beginning and end of chapter 15, 16:13)

• What is Paul asking the Corinthians to ‘stand’ or ‘stand firm’ in (15:1)? Does this help us to understand 15:58 and 16:13?

Have you ever walked up Mt. Kosciuszko? I went there a few years ago, on my Year 11 school camp. We all rugged up in our new jackets and beanies, and set off walking up the mountain trail. I remember the wind was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. It was so so hard to stand firm! It wasn’t that the ground was shaky, the winds around us were just so strong. 

In 1 Corinthians 15-16, Paul uses similar imagery of “standing” firm, strong and immovable.  We see the word ‘stand’ repeated three  times!  I wonder if you were able to see what Paul was encouraging the Corinthian Christians to stand firm in?

“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you…” (15:1-2)

Paul is reminding the Corinthians of the gospel, the true news, that they are standing in: that “Christ died for our sins”, and was “raised on the third day” to life (15:3-4). He urges them to hold firmly (15:2) to this gospel news about Jesus, because it saves us! 

Have you taken your stand in the gospel?
Do you really, deep down believe that Jesus died on a cross, and rose to life after three days? It is so important to take your stand in the gospel.

Paul says if Jesus didn’t rise, then our faith and hope would be useless, because we wouldn’t have any hope after death. But Jesus has risen as King! He offers us eternal life, and Paul calls us to keep trusting in the gospel. 

What makes it hard to stand firm in the gospel?
Just as my friends and I found it hard to stand firm on Mt. Kosciuszko, it is hard to stand firm in the gospel. There are winds pushing us in all different directions. Paul tells the Corinthians to “be on your guard” (16:13), because it is hard to keep sticking with the truth about Jesus!

When I was going through the HSC, sometimes I felt like helping out at kids church was wasting time that I could have spent studying. And new challenges come up – when I’ve talked to students at uni about Jesus, many say that Christianity is outdated and wrong. You might feel embarrassed talking about Jesus around non-Christian friends, or you might find church with your family hard and just not enjoyable.

Whatever stage we’re in, standing firm in the gospel is hard!! That’s why for the rest of this week we’ll be thinking about reasons to stand firm, and next week we will tackle issues that can make standing firm hard.

So, why is it worth standing firm in the gospel?
So many voices around us make it hard to keep trusting in the gospel, and to keep on living for Jesus. But Jesus has risen as King of the world – this king and the truth about him are so worth trusting!  

Helping out at kids church helped me to keep prioritising Jesus over school. And sharing about Jesus – even when people don’t believe – pushes me to trust in the gospel even more. God gives us “victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (15:57). 

So as Paul told the Corinthians,

My dear sisters, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”

REFLECT

• When did you take your stand in the gospel?

• What makes it hard to stand firm in the gospel?

• Why is it worth standing firm in the gospel?

PRAY

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus did rise from the dead, defeating death. Thank You that He rose to life, and that means I will rise again too. Please help me to trust in Him, and keep standing firm in the gospel. Amen.