1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
This is the final verse of the chapter, the topic of resurrection, and the main body of the letter. After this comes the closing items of the letter. “Therefore” applies Paul’s ideas, especially from vv. 50-56, to the Corinthians in the way of exhortation and encouragement. Knowing that death, the last enemy, has been defeated should give us hope. This knowledge and hope give us a strong motivation to stand firm. There are many ideas in the world, and many of these are wrong, ignorant, distortions of the truth, and even heresy. Knowing the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ will help us, like the Corinthians, to stand firm when so many other people are uncertain and fearful. “Nothing” should move us from this solid foundation of faith in the power of Jesus’ resurrection and the surety of our own victory over death because of what Jesus has done.
This hope should also motivate us to give ourselves completely to God’s work. When pressures and persecution come, the temptation is to take the easy way out. Knowing that not even death can separate us from God’s love in Christ can sustain us during these difficult times. “Labor” is hard work and may be costly to us personally. But when it is done “in the Lord,” it will be worth it in the end. To be done “in the Lord” means to be done through the resources of the Lord’s Spirit, in Jesus’ name, and to the glory of God the Father. This type of work is done in relationship, not from our own futile resources but in the obedience of faith.
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