1 Corinthians 15:58 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.

 

The word steadfast is defined by Vines as “seated…hence, “steadfast,” metaphorical of moral fixity, Settled.” The other word Paul uses is “immovable.” In this culture of flux and changes, there are some things that remain settled. In Col. 1:23, the apostle wrote, “if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” The word faith represents the embodiment of every spiritual truth given in God’s Book. It is these that give us hope of the gospel. We are to be settled and immovable when it comes to the faith. One see’s the idea of being settled when he reads Hebrews 3:14. “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end…” This passage stresses the consistent and fixed confidence that we are to have in Christ. There is no vacillation, in this confidence. It is maintained at the end to be just as strong as at the first. We are warned by the apostle Peter, “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:17. We must be on constant guard that we do not allow ourselves to be moved from our steadfastness. That is why as Christians we must dedicate ourselves to “grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord.”

 

There are things that are settled and in which we must remain steadfast.

1. The Faith – “continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast,” Colossians 1:23.
2. The Gospel – “and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard” Colossians 1:23.
3. The Word of God – Luke 6:47 “Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. If we have laid a good strong foundation (based on God’s Word) then we must remain steadfast on that foundation never wavering.”
4. The grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ – 2 Peter 3:17

 

We must always remember the downfall of Israel in Psalm 78:37, “For their heart was not steadfast with Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant.” Notice Paul’s admonition to abound in the work of the Lord. The earthly works we do may be important but they will not follow us into eternity.