THE GOSPEL OF THE RESURRECTION (1), Dr. Samuel Lee
LABOR IN THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN
Passage: 1_Corinthians 15:50~58  
Key verse: 58
50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood(A) cannot inherit the kingdom of God,(B) nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.(C) 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery:(D) We will not all sleep,(E) but we will all be changed(F)— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,(G) the dead(H) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable(I) must clothe itself with the imperishable,(J) and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[a](K)
56 The sting of death is sin,(M) and the power of sin is the law.(N) 57 But thanks be to God!(O) He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.(P)
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,(Q) because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.(R)
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 15:54 Isaiah 25:8
- 1 Corinthians 15:55 Hosea 13:14
Cross references
- 1 Corinthians 15:50 : Eph 6:12; Heb 2:14
- 1 Corinthians 15:50 : S Mt 25:34
- 1 Corinthians 15:50 : ver 42, 53, 54
- 1 Corinthians 15:51 : 1Co 13:2; 14:2
- 1 Corinthians 15:51 : S Mt 9:24
- 1 Corinthians 15:51 : 2Co 5:4; Php 3:21
- 1 Corinthians 15:52 : S Mt 24:31
- 1 Corinthians 15:52 : Jn 5:25
- 1 Corinthians 15:53 : ver 42, 50, 54
- 1 Corinthians 15:53 : 2Co 5:2, 4
- 1 Corinthians 15:54 : Isa 25:8; Heb 2:14; Rev 20:14
- 1 Corinthians 15:55 : Hos 13:14
- 1 Corinthians 15:56 : S Ro 5:12
- 1 Corinthians 15:56 : S Ro 4:15
- 1 Corinthians 15:57 : S 2Co 2:14
- 1 Corinthians 15:57 : Ro 8:37; Heb 2:14, 15
- 1 Corinthians 15:58 : 1Co 16:10
- 1 Corinthians 15:58 : Isa 65:23
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
Paul concludes this powerful chapter on the resurrection with a “therefore.” What, therefore, should we do? We should stand firm in the gospel and not be moved or shaken by doubts or enemies (1,58). We should always give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord. Why? Because labor in the Lord is never a useless waste.
“Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
--C.T.Studd (1860-1931)
Prayer: Father, thank you for the hope and promise we have in Jesus Christ our Lord. May our lives bring him glory, honor and praise. Amen.
One Word: Therefore, live and labor for Jesus