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1 Corinthians 15:1-2
As the Apostle Paul is giving guidance to the church at Corinth and addressing issues that they are experiencing, he changes gears and gives the reason why this guidance is so important as he declares to them in 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (NKJV), “1Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you – unless you believed in vain.” Paul was called by God to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9), and he reminds the congregation of the church at Corinth of this fact, and of when he preached to them, and they were saved by the grace of God. He reminds them that this is where they stand – in God’s grace to them through their salvation in Christ Jesus, “unless,” he states, “you believed in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). But his words, “if you hold fast that word that I preached to you” are so important in receiving the gospel message in one’s life. The (NIV) states this as, “if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.” The point is that simply hearing the gospel does us no good unless we apply it in our lives – we must hold fast to it!
This is a command to apply the message of the gospel in our lives.
We cannot claim to be a Christian simply because we know that God exists; James 2:19-20 declares, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” If one is sincerely saved, and not saved in vain, as Paul states, one’s life will have a visible change from living in the ways of the sinful nature to clearly seeking God’s will for their life. A sincere heart is the key to salvation in Christ Jesus (Acts 15:8-9; Colossians 3:15-17).
Dear LORD,
Give us pure, sincere hearts in our salvation, and fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that we may be the people You have called us to be – in Christ! In Jesus name I pray, amen.