(1 Co) 15:34, 58 CJB “Come to your senses! Live righteously and stop sinning! There are some people who lack knowledge of God — I say this to your shame. So, my dear brothers, stand firm and immovable, always doing the Lord’s work as vigorously as you can, knowing that united with the Lord your efforts are not in vain.”
Because Jesus lives, we must live for Him! This is Paul’s conclusion after explaining the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promised resurrection of those who belong to Him.
Jesus was crucified for our sins. He died to pay the penalty for sin, and when He rose from the dead, He demonstrated His victory over death.
His resurrection guarantees that those who belong to Him will also be raised to everlasting life.
But men, that future hope demands a present response!
Paul commands us to come to our senses, live righteously, and stop sinning.
Jesus didn’t die for our sins so that we could continue living in them!
He died and rose again so that those who belong to Him would no longer live for themselves but for the One who died and was raised for them (2 Corinthians 5:15).
And what does living for Jesus look like?
Obeying the mission He gave us!
Stop Living in Sin and Start Living for God’s Mission
Sin is ignoring God, disobeying what God commands, and failing to do what God has commanded us to do.
Before coming to Christ, we lived for ourselves, pursuing our own desires, purposes, and priorities.
But Jesus died to save us from sin, and His resurrection assures us that we have new life in Him.
We are no longer to live under sin’s control. We are to live in obedience to Jesus Christ.
And what has Jesus commanded us to do?
Go and make disciples of all nations!
Just as Jesus came not to do His own will but the will of the Father who sent Him, we are now to do the work Jesus has given us.
That work is to proclaim Him so that others might also be saved, no longer living in sin but living for God.
Men, notice Paul’s rebuke:
“There are some people who lack knowledge of God — I say this to your shame.”
How many people around us lack knowledge of God while we remain occupied with our own interests?
How many people do we encounter every day who need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ?
We have been reconciled to God through Christ, and He has entrusted us with the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18–20).
We were saved from living for ourselves so that we might live for Christ and make Him known!
Always Doing the Lord’s Work
Paul concludes by commanding us to stand firm and immovable, “always doing the Lord’s work as vigorously as you can.”
Men, what work could be more important than proclaiming the One who has overcome sin and death so that others might also receive everlasting life?
Jesus commanded us to make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything He commanded.
We are to encourage one another toward love and good deeds, helping each other become more like Christ.
And what greater act of love can we demonstrate toward someone who doesn’t know Jesus than proclaiming the gospel through which that person may be reconciled to God?
This is our mission! This is our purpose! This is the work Jesus has commanded us to do!
God desires that people repent rather than perish (2 Peter 3:9). And He has entrusted His people with the responsibility of proclaiming the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.
What a privilege!
The risen Savior has commissioned those He saved to proclaim His salvation to the world.
Our Labor Is Not in Vain
And here’s Paul’s encouragement.
Because Jesus has risen from the dead, our efforts in serving Him are not in vain.
Not everyone we proclaim Christ to will believe. Not everyone we disciple will respond as we hope.
But we aren’t responsible for producing the fruit.
We are responsible for faithfully proclaiming Christ and making disciples. The results belong to God.
And because Jesus has overcome death, those who belong to Him can look forward to living forever with Him.
Our future is secure, our mission is clear, and our labor has eternal significance.
Run Today’s Play
Men, Jesus didn’t save us simply to keep us out of hell. He saved us to bring us into His family and give us a new purpose.
Are you living for that purpose?
Are you proclaiming Jesus Christ? Are you making disciples? Are you encouraging others to love and obey Him?
Or have your own purposes, provision, and priorities crowded out the very work Jesus commanded you to do?
Today, identify someone who needs to know Jesus.
Pray for that person. Reach out. Start a conversation. Share the gospel.
And identify someone you can disciple, helping him know God better so he can love and obey Him more.
Stop living for yourself. Start living for the mission Jesus gave you!
Because Jesus lives, we must live for Him.
Stand firm. Remain immovable. Proclaim Christ. Make disciples.
And know that your labor in the Lord is never in vain!
