An If/Then Proposition

This sermon from Refuge Church explores 1 Corinthians 15, focusing on the foundational truth of the gospel: Christ's death, burial, and resurrection as the objective historical basis for salvation. The pastor emphasizes that the Christian life is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of grace, where believers are both called to persevere in faith and assured of God's sustaining power. He addresses the tension between the warning that salvation requires ongoing faith ('if you hold fast... unless you believed in vain') and the promise that God will preserve His people. Using Scripture, he argues that true faith is not mere lip service but a living, active trust that endures through sin and struggle. The sermon comforts believers who feel burdened by their failures, reminding them that God disciplines His children not to reject them, but to draw them closer—calling them 'brothers' even in their brokenness. Ultimately, the message is one of hope: the gospel is both a call to holy living and a promise of divine perseverance, with God faithfully keeping those He has called from beginning to end.