Therefore

“Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58 CSB)

The word “therefore” means “because of this,” or “on the basis of what has been said.” So, what is Paul talking about here?

In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul laid out some extensive discussion about the resurrection of Jesus. He showed how essential the resurrection is. Without it, there is no faith. He pointed to the fact of the resurrection of Jesus, attested by hundreds of people, and he taught that Jesus is our guarantee of resurrection, and, thus, victory over death. He showed how we will receive a resurrection body that is far superior to the one we have now, and he emphasized our victory over death, provided to us by the resurrection of Jesus.

Some of the believers at Corinth had their faith devastated by false teachers who claimed that there is no resurrection or that it was already past. Those teachings gave their fear of death new life. Paul’s point, though, was that the resurrection is real, a guaranteed, take-to-the-bank reality, and that the resurrection of Jesus had ripped the fangs of death right out of its venomous mouth. It has no more sting.

THEREFORE, says Paul, we need to move forward in our faith, steadfast and immovable. We need to understand that the work we do in the Lord is in no way in vain, and we need to focus on abundance and excellence in our kingdom work. We aim for the best, we seek the best, and we give our best efforts for the Lord and for His work.

Father, We thank You for the reality of the resurrection, and the ability that this truth gives us to not allow concerns about death to derail us. Help us today to move forward in faith, steadfast and immovable. Amen.