![]() ![]() For our purposes, we will be focusing on verses 1-3 and answer the statement about why everything is nothing without love. ![]() There is a total continuity between the love that is expressed here and forever in heaven and its the only gift mentioned that never ends. Finally, in verses 8-13, he states that love is eternal. In verses 4-7, Paul is illustrating the shape of love, what it is and isn’t, and the difference between authentic love and selfish love. Without love as the motive for our eloquence, knowledge, faith, and sacrifice, we are nothing. In verses 1-3, Paul is expressing that love is imperative and superior to all other gifts. ![]() 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three but the greatest of these is love. Now I know in part then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.ġ2 For now, we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. As for prophecies, they will pass away as for tongues, they will cease as for knowledge, it will pass away. It does not insist on its own way it is not irritable or resentful 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.ħ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love is patient and kind love does not envy or boast it is not arrogant 5 or rude. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.ģ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ![]() Let’s read what Paul wrote through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 13, starting with verse 1. I believe this is why Paul wrote one of the most poetic messages of the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 13: to remind the Corinthians that no matter what spiritual gifts they possessed, whether it’s eloquence, knowledge, faith, or sacrifice, its nothing without love. They are having inner conflicts, disputes, sexual immorality, and yet are arguing over which of the spiritual gifts are superior. Now, he sees the folly of the Corinthian believers. He may have been smart, passionate, and religious, but he knew that all of these gifts profited him nothing without love. When writing to the Corinthian church, Paul knew what others used to remember him by before his conversion. Jesus said that all the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments. The two greatest commandments in Scripture are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves. So, When you die, what would you want people to remember you by? Would it be your intelligence? Humor? Athletic ability? Trustworthiness? All of these are good things, but I believe the most important character anyone can be remembered for is their love. Solomon said in Ecclesiastes that it is better to go to a house of mourning than a house of feasting since death is the destiny of everyone. It is a sober reality that plagues the human heart and often people don’t want to discuss this reality. It is certain that all of us will die someday. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |