Paul is telling us here that our belief is done in vain unless we hold firmly to God’s Word. But what does that mean? Let’s look at the phrase “in vain.” Some other meanings for this phrase include: without result, success, or effort—inconsiderably, without purpose, without just cause. Paul is warning us here that those who don’t hold firmly to His Word will find that their belief in the gospel is not enough to produce results. Our belief in the gospel lacks purpose if it is just that—a belief. Paul urges the Corinthians to hold firmly to that which he passed on, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4a, NIV).”