AN END TIMES "STEADFASTNESS" IN JESUS

Sally Escol

Oct 5

In the world of uncertainties , anyone will look on to anything they taught could hold them steadfast in life. Knowing how humans are deceiving, to trust would be a total risk. So much of worldly spirits enticingly dragging anyone knowing not they are leading to destructions. All are wanting an admirably, purposeful, firm and unwavering status in life. Haven't you wonder what it would be like to have an steadfastness of spirit? A quality of life apostle Paul encouraged all to aim for ? How would you achieve this christian virtue which is needed in the subtleness of the end times? Are you aiming steadfastness in the Lord Jesus Christ?

"but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 ASV

(1 Corinthians 15:1-2) Preface to the proclamation of Paul's gospel in aiming for steadfastness.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain."

I. BELIEVE THE GOSPEL: JESUS

Steadfastness would only be attained when one has believed the foundation of it. Believing "the GOSPEL which I preached to you" as the apostle Paul stated. Here, he describes how the gospel can be of benefit to man. The gospel is only of benefit if it is RECEIVED , if one will STAND in it and HOLD FAST on it. The Corinthian Christians first RECEIVED the gospel. The message of the gospel must first be believed and embraced. As Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica. "For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe". (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

The Corinthian Christians also did STAND in the gospel. Despite all their problems with carnality, lack of understanding, strife, divisions, immorality, and weird spirituality, they still stood for the gospel. This is in contrast to the Galatian church, who was quickly being moved away to another gospel (Galatians 1:6). "By which you are also saved, if you HOLD FAST that word I preached to you". The Corinthian Christians had done well in that they received the gospel. They were doing well in that they did stand in the gospel. But they had to continue to do well, and hold fast the gospel Paul preached to them.

Every Christian must take seriously their responsibility to not only have a good PAST, and a good PRESENT, but to determine to have a great FUTURE with the Lord, also. "Hold fast" also implies there were some people or some things which might want to snatch the true gospel away from the Corinthian Christians. All the more, this is why they had to hold on! Unless you believed in vain: If the Corinthian Christians did not continue to hold fast, one day they might let go of the gospel. And if one lets go of the gospel, all their previous belief won't do them any good. It was as if they had believed in vain.

"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received"

II. STEADFASTNESS signifies Believing, Standing and Holding Fast to the CONTENT OF THE GOSPEL :

A. Christ died for your sin: The death of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, is the center of the gospel. Though the idea of glorying in the death of a Savior seems foolishness to the world, it is salvation to those who will believe. How did Jesus die? The Roman government executed Him by one of the most cruel and excruciating forms of capital punishment ever devised: crucifixion. "Although the Romans did not invent crucifixion, they perfected it as a form of torture and capital punishment that was designed to produce a slow death with maximum pain and suffering." (Edwards) Our sins were responsible for the death of Jesus. He did not die for a political cause, or as an enemy of the state, or for someone's envy. Jesus died for our sins.

He Himself did not become a sinner. Even the act of taking our sin was an act of holy, giving love for us - so that Jesus Himself did not become a sinner, even though He bore the full guilt of our sin. This is the gospel message! That Jesus took our punishment for sin on the cross, and remained a perfect Savior through the whole ordeal - proved by His resurrection. For this reason, He remained the Holy One (Acts 2:27, 2:31-32), even in His death.

B. He was buried: We don't often think of the burial of Jesus as part of the gospel, but it is. The burial of Jesus is important as proof positive that He really died, because you don't bury someone unless they are really dead, and Jesus' death was confirmed at the cross before He was taken down to be buried (John 19:31-37). Jesus' burial is also important because it fulfilled the Scriptures which declared, "And they made His grave with the wicked; but with the rich at His death" (Isaiah 53:9). Jesus was buried in the tomb of a rich man (Matthew 27:57-60). Jesus' burial is also important because it fulfilled the Scriptures.

C. He rose again: This truth is essential to the gospel. Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins and remove one's guilt. He rose again the third day: The fact that Jesus rose again the third day is part of the gospel. Jesus was a unique case. He did not or will not rise at some "general" resurrection of the dead. Instead He rose the third day after His death. This also demonstrates Jesus' credibility, because He proclaimed He would rise three days after His death (Matthew 16:21, 17:23, 20:19).

The word gospel means "good news." It describes the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. The best news ever is that we can be saved from the punishment we deserve from God because of what Jesus did for us. This should make us "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord"! We don't need to waver, we don't need to change direction, we don't need to fall, and we don't need to quit. "For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister" (Hebrews 6:10). The Lord will show His remembrance of our work and labor of love at the resurrection.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1Corinthians 15:58

Because we know death is defeated and we have an eternal, resurrected destiny with Jesus Christ, we should stand firm STAND FIRM AND UNSHAKABLE all the more for Him right now. Heeding to the end times be STEADFAST as you should work hard in everything now, working for the Lord, because RIGHT NOW COUNTS FOREVER! "Knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" . Even if your labor is vain to everyone else, and doesn't appreciate what you do for the Lord, "your labor is not in vain in the Lord". t doesn't matter if you get the praise or the encouragement; sometimes you will and sometimes you won't. But Jesus' RESURRECTION means that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. When the world is coming to its end , aim for a STEADFAST FAITH IN JESUS NOW!

"Fix your eyes unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."Hebrews 12:2 ASV

"You must not only work, but you must labour - put forth all your strength; and you must work and labour in the Lord - under his direction, and by his influence; for without him you can do nothing." (Clarke)

Isaiah 53:3-5 puts it powerfully: "He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."

Reference: David Guzik Bible Commentary. wwwChristianPhotoshops.com for the pictures.