Unless You’ve Believed in Vain
This statement is one taken from 1 Corinthians 15:2
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (NKJV) 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.
To understand this statement we have to look at the entire chapter.
In verses 1-2 Paul gives us this statement as an overview, outlining his preaching of the gospel, their acceptance and the power of the gospel to save, but with a contingency clause, identified by his “if” statement.
In verses 3-4 Paul identifies exactly what the gospel is. He states that the gospel he preached was exactly what he had received and that was the fact that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures (or as prophesied in the OT).
In verses 5-8 he outlines the evidence to the truth of the gospel by identifying the countless number of eyewitnesses to the resurrection.
In verses 9-11 he goes into his unworthiness to have been called into such a fellowship.
Verses 12-57 are Paul’s defense of the truth of the resurrection. He defends this truth in several different ways but the defense is almost parenthetical to his initial statement in verses 1 & 2.
Verse 58 gives us the direction Paul is heading with his statement in verses 1 & 2.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NKJV) 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.
Notice the “therefore” followed by instructions.
If we summarize the chapter it reads as follows:
I am declaring to you the gospel, which you believe, which saves you, unless you have believed in vain. This gospel was witnessed by countless others and cannot be disputed. Therefore, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain.
Paul links the authenticity of their belief with their faithfulness in always abounding in the work of the Lord.
This is not a works based salvation. It is a salvation demonstrated by fruit, by external evidence supporting the inward claim.
James makes the clearest declaration of this in the second chapter of his epistle when he states:
James 2:14-17 (NKJV) 14 What [does it] profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what [does it] profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James declares that faith that doesn’t manifest itself in action is dead. We would say it’s nothing more than an intellectual belief.
The two words in question here are belief (pisteuō) and faith (pistis).
Faith is belief in action. If we truly believe something to be true, it moves us to act accordingly. In the case of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he’s saying your belief is not in vain if it moves you to always be abounding in the work of the Lord.
In the case of James he says that if we see a brother in need and have the ability to help but simply dismiss the opportunity by saying “I’ll pray for you”, that we don’t have faith (pistis), though we might have belief (pisteuō).
Our Lord Himself warned of this distinction when He said:
Matthew 7:21 (NKJV) “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who DOES the will of My Father in heaven.”
There are two ways to interpret this verse. One is that we must work in order to be saved. This causes theological conflicts in scripture resulting in a works based salvation in clear contradiction to the countless verses to the contrary. The second is that where there is true saving faith works will be present. This is the correct interpretation and fits perfectly in line with Jesus, James, Paul and the author of Hebrews.
In Hebrews 11, often called the “Hall of Faith”, it mentions many examples of biblical faith (pistis). Every single person listed as an example of faith demonstrated their faith with action.
Hebrews 11:7 (NKJV) By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, MOVED with godly fear, PREPARED an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Hebrews 11:8 (NKJV) By faith Abraham OBEYED when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And HE WENT OUT, not knowing where he was going.
Hebrews 11:17 (NKJV) By faith Abraham, when he was tested, OFFERED UP ISAAC, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten [son,]
Hebrews 11:24-29 (NKJV) 24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, REFUSED to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 CHOOSING RATHER TO SUFFER AFFLICTION with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27 By faith he FORSOOK Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he ENDURED as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he KEPT the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they PASSED through the Red Sea as by dry [land,] [whereas] the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
Over and over throughout scripture we see a pattern of belief (pisteuō), becoming faith (pistis), by the power of the Holy Spirit and manifesting itself in action.
You can have obedience without faith. That’s legalism. A systematic following of commands without any respect to the one giving them. We see this in the Pharisees. But such a thing says nothing as to the “why” of our actions.
But you can’t have faith without obedience. Because being obedient is how we demonstrate we truly know and trust God. Abraham demonstrated that he trusted that God was good and that He was faithful to His promises by leaving his home, by sacrificing Isaac,
Moses demonstrated that God was good and that His ways were better when he left Egypt and all its riches in favor of a hard life in the wilderness.
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) But without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him,] for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Our obedience demonstrates that we believe that He truly is God and thus knows all things and is capable of all things. It further demonstrates that we know that He is good, a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. This is faith, and is the consistent message throughout the Bible. Old and New Testament.
So Paul’s urging in 1 Corinthians is not ambiguous in any way. He is simply stating that based on the truth of the gospel let your belief become faith, trusting in God’s nature. For He will not let your labor be in vain.
Comentarios