2026 Easter (2), Your Labor In The Lord Is Not In Vain
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2026-04-05 15:01
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Your Labor In The Lord Is Not In Vain
1 Corinthians 15:35-58
Happy Easter! Today 2,000 years ago, Jesus died for our sins and after three days, he rose again from the dead. He has risen! And we will rise again too.
When Paul delivered Jesus’ resurrection, some Christians did not believe resurrection. They argued (35), “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” When a dead body is buried, it will be rotten and be eaten by maggots. “But you said, ‘it will rise again? Nonsense! What about those whose body are cremated or killed in explosion?’”
Verse 36 says, "How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies." Paul uses an analogy of seed-planting to teach the secret of resurrection. A seed must be planted. The seed dies but does not disappear. It is upgraded to a new existence.
Verse 37 says, "When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else." Suppose there are 6 kinds of seeds such as tulip, lily, daisy, daffodil, sunflower and rose. Outwardly they are little different from one another. But the bodies (flowers) that come from seeds have their unique and fascinating beauty beyond imagination into pretty tulip, pure lily, vibrant daisy, delicate daffodil, bright sunflower and fragrant rose. All of them came out of seeds-small, wrinkle and ugly. Paul likens man’s body to a seed that has been planted.
The body we have now is like a seed. Then, why do you laugh and cry by your bodies? “Look, my muscle mass. Look my car, house and career!” Some people in their fifties try hard to make their skin more elastic by making up or cosmetic surgery. We need to eat properly and exercise moderately for our bodies because our earthly bodies need them. However, do not spend or invest your effort on them too much. The eternal life is planted not in man’s body but soul. It is much more important to take care of our soul than body
Friends, we are just like seeds waiting for a new body. But if a seed remains as a seed without being planted and dying, it will never be transformed into a flower or fruit-bearing plant. Likewise, if you remain as just a natural body, you will never receive a new resurrected body in the kingdom of God.
What, then, will the resurrection body look like? Verses 42b-44 read, "The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body."
In these verses, we see the two living bodies—the present body and the resurrection body. The present body is perishable. Once, my hair was thick and I did not get up to use the bathroom at night. Nobody escapes aging, sickness and death. Our present body is in dishonour. A young man made a critical mistake. He was overwhelmed by guilt and shame. Another young man determined to quit drinking. But he drank again and again. We misuse and abuse our bodies to indulge in sinful pleasures or selfish gains. We lie and deceive. And our natural body is weak. Our bodies are prone to sickness and tiredness. In the resurrection, however, we will be raised imperishable, honourable, powerful and spiritual. We will never grow weary or weak. There will be no need to nap, no more sickness and anxiety from exams and future security and no more temptation, either. We will be raised in glory.
Look at verse 49. "And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven." Our DNA came from the earthly man, Adam. He disobeyed God. As his descendants, we have a disobedient nature. We know the consequences. (fear, shame, guilt, making excuses, blaming others, lust, jealousy, endless toil, violence, murder…) But when we believe in Jesus from heaven, we will bear the likeness of him. We will know righteousness, peace, joy, holiness, freedom on earth and be raised up in a glorious resurrection body. We shall be like him. Praise the Lord. Amen.
Look at verse 50. “I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” Here flesh and blood represent the natural body you and I have now. With natural body, we cannot enter the eternal kingdom of God. On earth whether this natural body is pretty or handsome or decorated with good careers or not, it does not really matter. They all are just flesh and blood.
King Solomon was intelligent and powerful in military, politics and economy. He tasted man’s three desires, ‘wealth, power and pleasures,” with the slogan, "Seize the present (Carpe Diem)." However, in his late age, he finally realized and lamented, “Meaningless, meaningless and utterly meaningless. Nothing is new under sun and everything is like pursuing wind.” After he died, his kingdom was divided into two and eventually destructed.
Young men, take care of your earthly bodies well. Study, work hard and prepare for your career with healthy, responsible and hard-working spirit. However, know that your earthy bodies are to be transformed into glorious heavenly bodies through Jesus. Life is not a war for life improvement. We are to live with resurrection faith in Jesus. This is victory and power.
Look at verses 51. "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.” This is mystery. People say there are seven mysteries in the world. But nothing gives freedom from the fear death and failure. Nothing gives us a new life, resurrection life. The real mystery is this, “In Jesus we will live forever with resurrected glorious body.” Most people are concerned about earthly life. But we just live on this earth temporarily and will go back to eternal dwelling in heaven when God calls us, via resurrection.
For a baby (fetus), its mother's womb is the whole world. Here is a conversation between a baby and mother. “Oh, honey, you are in mommy’s womb. Soon you will come out. Then you will see mommy and a new big and bright world.” Would the baby understand it? “Mommy, a big and bright world? How much bigger is that? 100 times, 1,000 times?” From a baby’s perspective, coming out of mommy’s womb into the world is like dying. As it suddenly passes through a dark tunnel and sees a bright light, it cries out of fear. However, it comes into a new world.
It is the same to us. Now we live on earth. We worship God enjoy our lives with God’s provisions and carry out the mission given to us from God. Then, one day, each of us will pass through the darkness for a moment. And we will see unimaginably bright and glorious light and meet the Lord Jesus face to face. That is resurrection in the kingdom of God.
Look at verse 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.” I was a freshman. It was April. One of my classmates died out of car accident. At the crematory, I saw his mom’s painful tears. It was so sad. Who can wipe away her tears? Death stings us. We groan with pain under the sting of death. When we sick, we are worried, “Am I dying?” When life is hard, we lose desire to live. The power of death is dragging young and old down to sorrow, despair, fear and depression, which no drugs can fix. Nobody in history has overcome the power of death. Buddha, Confucius, Socrates, Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, Napoleon and Mr. K, my neighbour knelt before death. Death is indeed most formidable, tenacious, vicious and malicious enemy to us. Don’t say about victory until you have won a victory over death.
By rising from the dead, Jesus, the Son of God defeated death. Jesus has won an eternal victory over death. And he gives us eternal victory over death, too. So we can shout like in verse 55, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where O death, is your sting?” This is freedom, power and courage.
Howard Hendricks, a professor at Dallas Seminary and an educator grew up in a harsh environment under a single mother. At the age of nine, he was evangelized by a Sunday school teacher named Walter and came to believe in Jesus. He said, “Mr. Walt is my mentor.” There were street bums of 13. Nine were illegitimate children and delinquents under ill circumstances. Still, under Walter’s prayer and teachings, eleven of them became pastors. Walt hadn't even graduated from elementary school. At that time, large churches poured vast amounts of manpower and money into Sunday schools, but the results were small. Yet, an unqualified man saved many young people wandering in the streets. How? He received sohship from God. Romans 8:15 says. “You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” By believing in Jesus who rose again from the dead, Mr. Walt had confidence, “I am a child of God.” Then, he lived like a child of God. When God, his Father said, "Go find your lost sibling," he went out to find the lost. He possessed the spirit God. This is the spirit of resurrection.
Those who have the spirit of sonship do not live by their own strength. As children rely on their fathers, we live by our heavenly Father’s strength and provision. When we have resurrection faith, we do not compete in this jungle like world to gain some more perishable things. We are not jealous of those who seem to have more. Instead, we live to fulfill the will of God relying on His supply and protection. This is a new life with resurrection faith in Jesus.
Do you want victory? Is it about having a higher position or a higher income or more comfortable life? No. True victory is in Jesus who rose again from the dead. Resurrection of Jesus is victory.
Verse 56 says, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” Now it is clear. Victory is the victory from death, sin and the law, these three unceasingly are stinging us, accusing us and condemning us. When we are sick, death stings us, “Hey, you will die.” Sin tempts us, attracts us, lures us and finally knocks us down. And the law condemns us, “you, loser. You are dirty, filthy, ugly and hopeless.” Can you win even one of them by your strength? Can you?
Verse 57 says, “He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Don’t try to force a victory. Victory comes to us from God through Jesus Christ.
Korea suffered under Japanese colonial rule for 35 years before being liberated in 1945. It wasn't by Koreans’ military resistance. It was because Japan surrendered to the Allies. That was how Korea received victory. It is the same with us. Spiritual warfare took place somewhere we did not knew. There on the cross, Jesus took all of our sins and died. And he smashed Satan’s head by rising again from the dead. Victory was won by Jesus. Now, when we believe in him, he gives us victory over sin, death and law.
Does everything go well according to your will in your study, career preparation, health, marriage and future? We receive one by one from the Lord when we believe in Jesus. Why do you keep worrying, anxious and restless? It is because you think you have to win by yourself. Receive victory from the Lord by believing in Jesus.
Your goal determines victory. Check your life goal and your goal must be clear, God’ kingdom and His will in Jesus. If your goal is your flesh and blood, though you may gain it, you are already defeated because flesh and blood are perishable. Victory comes only when your goal is God’s kingdom and His will. Our battle is not for life quality improvement through money or a comfortable life. It is God’s kingdom, His will and His work.
There are people whose goals are twisted. Imagine a robber threatens you with a knife. “Will you give up the money or your life?” Of course, you should give up the money. I saw a young man saying, “I would rather die if I do not marry her.” I was speechless. Someone said, “I would die if I should give up my career.” If your goal is like that, you have been already defeated and lost.
I thank God for several young men in our church who set their life goal in God’s kingdom and holy mission believing in Jesus, the Lord of resurrection. They have already won a victory. And the Lord will bless them with heavenly power and provision. Now, how should we live with the victory given by Jesus?
First, give thanks.
Believe that God gives you good things. Mountain goats live on cliffs. My head is spinning just looking at it. But to them, that is the safest place. “Lord, why are you leading me to that cliff?” It is because that is the safest place to you. This is what God’s protection is like. You don’t understand, do you? But that is the way to survive and be fruitful. Therefore, give thanks to God who has given you victory on earth and eternally. While many have gone out to play golf, give thanks to God for your coming to worship today. Give thanks to God for the fact that you breathe. Give thanks to God by the facts that some are praying for you and taking care of you. Give thanks to God for providing for you what is needed.
Second, stand firm, let nothing move you.
You have received victory. Therefore, do not turn your heads here and there. Do not see people chasing fun, money and glittering things of the world. And do not evaluate your lives on this earth as success and failure. There is no failure to us in Jesus. It is okay to fail, it is okay to fall. It is okay to die. For God will restore us again with the spirit of resurrection.
Third, do the work of the Lord always.
Paul said, “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Friends, do you labor for the Lord? Then, your labor is not in vain. Your worship, prayer and devotion to invite your friends and neighbours are not in vain. Brothers, the investment on things of the earth is uncertain. But your labor and investment for heaven is guaranteed with the glory and reward. Wealth and fame will disappear like wind, but your tears and sweat for the gospel of Jesus will be remembered forever. Amen!
1 Corinthians 15:35-58
Happy Easter! Today 2,000 years ago, Jesus died for our sins and after three days, he rose again from the dead. He has risen! And we will rise again too.
When Paul delivered Jesus’ resurrection, some Christians did not believe resurrection. They argued (35), “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” When a dead body is buried, it will be rotten and be eaten by maggots. “But you said, ‘it will rise again? Nonsense! What about those whose body are cremated or killed in explosion?’”
Verse 36 says, "How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies." Paul uses an analogy of seed-planting to teach the secret of resurrection. A seed must be planted. The seed dies but does not disappear. It is upgraded to a new existence.
Verse 37 says, "When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else." Suppose there are 6 kinds of seeds such as tulip, lily, daisy, daffodil, sunflower and rose. Outwardly they are little different from one another. But the bodies (flowers) that come from seeds have their unique and fascinating beauty beyond imagination into pretty tulip, pure lily, vibrant daisy, delicate daffodil, bright sunflower and fragrant rose. All of them came out of seeds-small, wrinkle and ugly. Paul likens man’s body to a seed that has been planted.
The body we have now is like a seed. Then, why do you laugh and cry by your bodies? “Look, my muscle mass. Look my car, house and career!” Some people in their fifties try hard to make their skin more elastic by making up or cosmetic surgery. We need to eat properly and exercise moderately for our bodies because our earthly bodies need them. However, do not spend or invest your effort on them too much. The eternal life is planted not in man’s body but soul. It is much more important to take care of our soul than body
Friends, we are just like seeds waiting for a new body. But if a seed remains as a seed without being planted and dying, it will never be transformed into a flower or fruit-bearing plant. Likewise, if you remain as just a natural body, you will never receive a new resurrected body in the kingdom of God.
What, then, will the resurrection body look like? Verses 42b-44 read, "The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body."
In these verses, we see the two living bodies—the present body and the resurrection body. The present body is perishable. Once, my hair was thick and I did not get up to use the bathroom at night. Nobody escapes aging, sickness and death. Our present body is in dishonour. A young man made a critical mistake. He was overwhelmed by guilt and shame. Another young man determined to quit drinking. But he drank again and again. We misuse and abuse our bodies to indulge in sinful pleasures or selfish gains. We lie and deceive. And our natural body is weak. Our bodies are prone to sickness and tiredness. In the resurrection, however, we will be raised imperishable, honourable, powerful and spiritual. We will never grow weary or weak. There will be no need to nap, no more sickness and anxiety from exams and future security and no more temptation, either. We will be raised in glory.
Look at verse 49. "And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven." Our DNA came from the earthly man, Adam. He disobeyed God. As his descendants, we have a disobedient nature. We know the consequences. (fear, shame, guilt, making excuses, blaming others, lust, jealousy, endless toil, violence, murder…) But when we believe in Jesus from heaven, we will bear the likeness of him. We will know righteousness, peace, joy, holiness, freedom on earth and be raised up in a glorious resurrection body. We shall be like him. Praise the Lord. Amen.
Look at verse 50. “I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” Here flesh and blood represent the natural body you and I have now. With natural body, we cannot enter the eternal kingdom of God. On earth whether this natural body is pretty or handsome or decorated with good careers or not, it does not really matter. They all are just flesh and blood.
King Solomon was intelligent and powerful in military, politics and economy. He tasted man’s three desires, ‘wealth, power and pleasures,” with the slogan, "Seize the present (Carpe Diem)." However, in his late age, he finally realized and lamented, “Meaningless, meaningless and utterly meaningless. Nothing is new under sun and everything is like pursuing wind.” After he died, his kingdom was divided into two and eventually destructed.
Young men, take care of your earthly bodies well. Study, work hard and prepare for your career with healthy, responsible and hard-working spirit. However, know that your earthy bodies are to be transformed into glorious heavenly bodies through Jesus. Life is not a war for life improvement. We are to live with resurrection faith in Jesus. This is victory and power.
Look at verses 51. "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.” This is mystery. People say there are seven mysteries in the world. But nothing gives freedom from the fear death and failure. Nothing gives us a new life, resurrection life. The real mystery is this, “In Jesus we will live forever with resurrected glorious body.” Most people are concerned about earthly life. But we just live on this earth temporarily and will go back to eternal dwelling in heaven when God calls us, via resurrection.
For a baby (fetus), its mother's womb is the whole world. Here is a conversation between a baby and mother. “Oh, honey, you are in mommy’s womb. Soon you will come out. Then you will see mommy and a new big and bright world.” Would the baby understand it? “Mommy, a big and bright world? How much bigger is that? 100 times, 1,000 times?” From a baby’s perspective, coming out of mommy’s womb into the world is like dying. As it suddenly passes through a dark tunnel and sees a bright light, it cries out of fear. However, it comes into a new world.
It is the same to us. Now we live on earth. We worship God enjoy our lives with God’s provisions and carry out the mission given to us from God. Then, one day, each of us will pass through the darkness for a moment. And we will see unimaginably bright and glorious light and meet the Lord Jesus face to face. That is resurrection in the kingdom of God.
Look at verse 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.” I was a freshman. It was April. One of my classmates died out of car accident. At the crematory, I saw his mom’s painful tears. It was so sad. Who can wipe away her tears? Death stings us. We groan with pain under the sting of death. When we sick, we are worried, “Am I dying?” When life is hard, we lose desire to live. The power of death is dragging young and old down to sorrow, despair, fear and depression, which no drugs can fix. Nobody in history has overcome the power of death. Buddha, Confucius, Socrates, Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, Napoleon and Mr. K, my neighbour knelt before death. Death is indeed most formidable, tenacious, vicious and malicious enemy to us. Don’t say about victory until you have won a victory over death.
By rising from the dead, Jesus, the Son of God defeated death. Jesus has won an eternal victory over death. And he gives us eternal victory over death, too. So we can shout like in verse 55, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where O death, is your sting?” This is freedom, power and courage.
Howard Hendricks, a professor at Dallas Seminary and an educator grew up in a harsh environment under a single mother. At the age of nine, he was evangelized by a Sunday school teacher named Walter and came to believe in Jesus. He said, “Mr. Walt is my mentor.” There were street bums of 13. Nine were illegitimate children and delinquents under ill circumstances. Still, under Walter’s prayer and teachings, eleven of them became pastors. Walt hadn't even graduated from elementary school. At that time, large churches poured vast amounts of manpower and money into Sunday schools, but the results were small. Yet, an unqualified man saved many young people wandering in the streets. How? He received sohship from God. Romans 8:15 says. “You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” By believing in Jesus who rose again from the dead, Mr. Walt had confidence, “I am a child of God.” Then, he lived like a child of God. When God, his Father said, "Go find your lost sibling," he went out to find the lost. He possessed the spirit God. This is the spirit of resurrection.
Those who have the spirit of sonship do not live by their own strength. As children rely on their fathers, we live by our heavenly Father’s strength and provision. When we have resurrection faith, we do not compete in this jungle like world to gain some more perishable things. We are not jealous of those who seem to have more. Instead, we live to fulfill the will of God relying on His supply and protection. This is a new life with resurrection faith in Jesus.
Do you want victory? Is it about having a higher position or a higher income or more comfortable life? No. True victory is in Jesus who rose again from the dead. Resurrection of Jesus is victory.
Verse 56 says, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” Now it is clear. Victory is the victory from death, sin and the law, these three unceasingly are stinging us, accusing us and condemning us. When we are sick, death stings us, “Hey, you will die.” Sin tempts us, attracts us, lures us and finally knocks us down. And the law condemns us, “you, loser. You are dirty, filthy, ugly and hopeless.” Can you win even one of them by your strength? Can you?
Verse 57 says, “He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Don’t try to force a victory. Victory comes to us from God through Jesus Christ.
Korea suffered under Japanese colonial rule for 35 years before being liberated in 1945. It wasn't by Koreans’ military resistance. It was because Japan surrendered to the Allies. That was how Korea received victory. It is the same with us. Spiritual warfare took place somewhere we did not knew. There on the cross, Jesus took all of our sins and died. And he smashed Satan’s head by rising again from the dead. Victory was won by Jesus. Now, when we believe in him, he gives us victory over sin, death and law.
Does everything go well according to your will in your study, career preparation, health, marriage and future? We receive one by one from the Lord when we believe in Jesus. Why do you keep worrying, anxious and restless? It is because you think you have to win by yourself. Receive victory from the Lord by believing in Jesus.
Your goal determines victory. Check your life goal and your goal must be clear, God’ kingdom and His will in Jesus. If your goal is your flesh and blood, though you may gain it, you are already defeated because flesh and blood are perishable. Victory comes only when your goal is God’s kingdom and His will. Our battle is not for life quality improvement through money or a comfortable life. It is God’s kingdom, His will and His work.
There are people whose goals are twisted. Imagine a robber threatens you with a knife. “Will you give up the money or your life?” Of course, you should give up the money. I saw a young man saying, “I would rather die if I do not marry her.” I was speechless. Someone said, “I would die if I should give up my career.” If your goal is like that, you have been already defeated and lost.
I thank God for several young men in our church who set their life goal in God’s kingdom and holy mission believing in Jesus, the Lord of resurrection. They have already won a victory. And the Lord will bless them with heavenly power and provision. Now, how should we live with the victory given by Jesus?
First, give thanks.
Believe that God gives you good things. Mountain goats live on cliffs. My head is spinning just looking at it. But to them, that is the safest place. “Lord, why are you leading me to that cliff?” It is because that is the safest place to you. This is what God’s protection is like. You don’t understand, do you? But that is the way to survive and be fruitful. Therefore, give thanks to God who has given you victory on earth and eternally. While many have gone out to play golf, give thanks to God for your coming to worship today. Give thanks to God for the fact that you breathe. Give thanks to God by the facts that some are praying for you and taking care of you. Give thanks to God for providing for you what is needed.
Second, stand firm, let nothing move you.
You have received victory. Therefore, do not turn your heads here and there. Do not see people chasing fun, money and glittering things of the world. And do not evaluate your lives on this earth as success and failure. There is no failure to us in Jesus. It is okay to fail, it is okay to fall. It is okay to die. For God will restore us again with the spirit of resurrection.
Third, do the work of the Lord always.
Paul said, “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Friends, do you labor for the Lord? Then, your labor is not in vain. Your worship, prayer and devotion to invite your friends and neighbours are not in vain. Brothers, the investment on things of the earth is uncertain. But your labor and investment for heaven is guaranteed with the glory and reward. Wealth and fame will disappear like wind, but your tears and sweat for the gospel of Jesus will be remembered forever. Amen!