Unshackled Faithfulness

​1 Corinthians 15:56-58 ~ “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
 
Dear Christian, do not tremble when you consider the door that lay before you—the passage that leads from this fallen world to our glorious home in the heavens. Do not, dear ones, fear death. Many are anxious when they consider it for it stands before us as the greatest mystery yet to be revealed. Hebrews 2:16 tells us that the fear of death holds a person in “lifelong slavery.” In truth, it is like a slavery, for the fear of death binds us away from what might be unshackled faithfulness to our LORD. We would risk all for our King, except that there is a danger associated with it.
 
As we consider our text today, let us first understand our greatest adversary. We read in the opening of today’s Scripture, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” Do you think that death is the great adversary? We read in Isaiah 25:8, “He will swallow up death forever; and the LORD GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.” Death has been vanquished in Christ! Yet the sting of death remains, for it is because of sin those who do not belong to Christ will be brought to a bitter and woeful end. It is not death but sin that is our foe. We read in 1 Peter 2:11, “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” If you are not one who goes to war against your own sinful nature, then be warned for it could be that you are still in your sins and not in Christ at all. The Christian is not one who does not sin, but one who hates his sin and takes even his thoughts captive to be obedient to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 10:5).
 
When our greatest adversary is conquered, let us then uphold a thankful attitude. We read in our text, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” If you have victory over sin, you have victory over death. Jesus our great Conquering Hero has paid the price for our redemption and all who belong to Him have their sins forgiven and remembered no more. Does this not illuminate our lives with an unwavering thankfulness to our LORD? Our victory is secured in the Lord Jesus Christ and let that truth raise your attitude to the heavens. Is there any other experience than that of being saved that can elevate your attitude to such heights of praise? So… Give thanks! We read in 2 Corinthians 4:14-15, “Knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.”
 
With such a view of our redemption, let us strive to be always faithful in our actions. As our text concludes for today, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” Because of the victory we have in Christ, let us stand rock solid in our faith and strive to abound in the work of the LORD. Our actions express our faith, and let our greatest actions be that of sacrificial love for the Lord Jesus Christ. There is not one act of faithful, loving obedience you give to Christ that is in vain. He sees the toil you’re under, knows the strain you face. He understands the dangers involved. We read in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Don’t hold back, beloved, for you have been set free from all fear. God has redeemed you in Christ and He will receive you in His glorious kingdom. We have but a moment here on earth, let us do all we can for the LORD.
 
This is the unshackled faithfulness of God’s people. The sting of death is gone. The law of God has been satisfied on your behalf in Christ. In the gratitude of your heart for all that He has done, walk through this world with an unwavering determination to fruitfully labor for the LORD.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

---