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1Corinthians 131Corinthians 13

Party loyalty (Chs. 1-4)Party loyalty (Chs. 1-4)Selfish immoral behavior (Chs 5-7)Selfish immoral behavior (Chs 5-7)Strong not deferring to the weak (Chs. Strong not deferring to the weak (Chs. 8-10)8-10)Prideful competition & the Spiritual Prideful competition & the Spiritual Gifts (Chs 12-14)Gifts (Chs 12-14)

It is helpful when studying this chapter It is helpful when studying this chapter to reflect on the dynamics that to reflect on the dynamics that

characterized the Corinthian Church:characterized the Corinthian Church:

SO, WE ARE NOT SO, WE ARE NOT SURPRISED THAT PAUL SURPRISED THAT PAUL

WROTE ABOUT LOVEWROTE ABOUT LOVE• Ch 13 -- The SUPERB nature of LOVE. Ch 13 -- The SUPERB nature of LOVE.

– The miraculous was partial, temporary.The miraculous was partial, temporary.– When the complete or “When the complete or “perfect” perfect” arrives, the partial arrives, the partial

will cease.will cease.– Much like when a child learns to walk it no longer Much like when a child learns to walk it no longer

needs a baby walker.needs a baby walker.

““The greatest is LOVE…”The greatest is LOVE…”

Breaking The Chapter DownBreaking The Chapter Down• THE GREATEST GIFT IS "LOVE" (13:1-13)THE GREATEST GIFT IS "LOVE" (13:1-13)

– LOVE IS DEFINED, IT NEVER FAILS (1-8)LOVE IS DEFINED, IT NEVER FAILS (1-8)– SPIRITUAL GIFTS WILL CEASE (9-12).SPIRITUAL GIFTS WILL CEASE (9-12).– LOVE WILL ABIDE FOREVER (13)LOVE WILL ABIDE FOREVER (13)

1Corinthians 13:1-31Corinthians 13:1-3THE GREATNESS OF LOVETHE GREATNESS OF LOVE

• 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

• 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and under-stand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

• 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

PAUL IS TELLING US HOW FATAL IT IS TO ACT PAUL IS TELLING US HOW FATAL IT IS TO ACT OR DO ANYTHING WITHOUT LOVE! (VS. 1-3)OR DO ANYTHING WITHOUT LOVE! (VS. 1-3)

• The Corinthians (LIKE MANY PEOPLE TODAY) thought The Corinthians (LIKE MANY PEOPLE TODAY) thought "speaking "speaking in tongues" in tongues" was the greatest of all the Spiritual Gifts...was the greatest of all the Spiritual Gifts...

• But there were 9 equally valid gifts listed in But there were 9 equally valid gifts listed in 1COR. 12:8-111COR. 12:8-11..– Notice Paul’s reference to Notice Paul’s reference to the tongues of men the tongues of men and and the tongues the tongues

of angelsof angels..– ““Tongues of men"Tongues of men" refers to actual human languages ( refers to actual human languages (ACTS 2:1-ACTS 2:1-

44) (i.e., ) (i.e., "glossa""glossa"))– "Tongues of angels""Tongues of angels" could refer to could refer to 2COR 12:42COR 12:4 where Paul heard where Paul heard

“utterances in heaven“utterances in heaven.” [Otherwise I have no idea!].” [Otherwise I have no idea!]

At the close of At the close of 1COR 121COR 12 as Paul is talking about as Paul is talking aboutSpiritual Gifts, he concludes: Spiritual Gifts, he concludes: “And yet show I unto “And yet show I unto you A MORE EXCELLENT WAY.”you A MORE EXCELLENT WAY.”• This was his lead-in to This was his lead-in to 1COR. 131COR. 13 = his discussion = his discussion

on the importance of love.on the importance of love.• Paul will exalt the Paul will exalt the gift of Prophecygift of Prophecy over over TonguesTongues, ,

but even it means nothing if not done in LOVE. but even it means nothing if not done in LOVE. • Same goes for Knowledge, Faith and ALL the Same goes for Knowledge, Faith and ALL the

others! WITHOUT others! WITHOUT “AGAPE” “AGAPE” ((LOVELOVE) WE ) WE ACCOMPLISH NOTHING!ACCOMPLISH NOTHING!

• Paul's Point: Paul's Point: "If I speak in tongues which you "If I speak in tongues which you think is so great, and do it without LOVE, IT think is so great, and do it without LOVE, IT MEANS NOTHING!" MEANS NOTHING!"

““Agape” is God-like LOVEAgape” is God-like LOVE• This supreme love finds its

reward in knowing god loves us & in turn loving god back!

• When we LOVE God back and "keep His Commands," it’s not such a restricting way to live!

• Work that is done because we LOVE God and what is RIGHT has a certain kind of "GLORY""GLORY" about it! TO LOVE WHAT IS RIGHT!TO LOVE WHAT IS RIGHT!

JAMES 1:27JAMES 1:27

1Corinthians1CorinthiansTHE BEHAVIOR OF LOVETHE BEHAVIOR OF LOVE

• 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant is not arrogant

• 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; irritable or resentful;

• 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. truth.

• 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.things, endures all things.

THE BEHAVIOR OF LOVETHE BEHAVIOR OF LOVE• ““LOVE IS NOT SOMETHING YOU FEEL....IT IS LOVE IS NOT SOMETHING YOU FEEL....IT IS

SOMETHING YOU DO!”SOMETHING YOU DO!”

JOHN 13:34-35

"LOVE SACRIFICES ALL THINGS "LOVE SACRIFICES ALL THINGS TO BLESS THE THING IT LOVES"TO BLESS THE THING IT LOVES"

• Horace Wood wrote: Horace Wood wrote: "Before Christ came into my "Before Christ came into my life I used people and loved things. After life I used people and loved things. After accepting Christ I used things and loved people.“accepting Christ I used things and loved people.“

• Someone has written: Someone has written: "Every vice is a perverted "Every vice is a perverted virtue. Lust is perverted love. Lust is love virtue. Lust is perverted love. Lust is love fastened on the forbidden object. Love fixed on fastened on the forbidden object. Love fixed on the right object makes man a saint. Love fixed on the right object makes man a saint. Love fixed on the wrong object makes man a sinner." the wrong object makes man a sinner."

"Master, which is the greatest commandment"Master, which is the greatest commandmentof the Law?" of the Law?" Matt. 22:37-40Matt. 22:37-40

• Loving God & Loving Each Other are Loving God & Loving Each Other are inseparable! inseparable! 1JOHN 4:16-211JOHN 4:16-21

• The Bible teaches that you cannot LOVE God The Bible teaches that you cannot LOVE God without LOVING His Creatures.... Mankind!without LOVING His Creatures.... Mankind!

LUKE 15:11-32LUKE 15:11-32 The Prodigal SonThe Prodigal Son

The Elder SonThe Elder SonTHE FATHER WENT OUT TO THE THE FATHER WENT OUT TO THE

ELDER BROTHER AS HE HAD RUN TO ELDER BROTHER AS HE HAD RUN TO MET THE PRODIGAL COMING MET THE PRODIGAL COMING

HOME....HE LOVED THEM BOTH!HOME....HE LOVED THEM BOTH!

THE POSITIVE EXCELLENCE THE POSITIVE EXCELLENCE OF LOVE...ITS BEHAVIOROF LOVE...ITS BEHAVIOR

• LOVE FORBEARS.LOVE FORBEARS.• LOVE IS KIND.LOVE IS KIND.• LOVE IS GENEROUS.LOVE IS GENEROUS.• LOVE IS MODEST.LOVE IS MODEST.• LOVE IS UNSELFISH.LOVE IS UNSELFISH.• LOVE IS CHARITABLE.LOVE IS CHARITABLE.• LOVE REJOICES.LOVE REJOICES.• LOVE IS TRUTHFUL.LOVE IS TRUTHFUL.• LOVE IS HOPEFUL.LOVE IS HOPEFUL.

1Corinthians1CorinthiansTHE IMMORTALITY OF LOVETHE IMMORTALITY OF LOVE

• 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. for knowledge, it will pass away.

• 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, • 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will

pass away. pass away.

BOTTOM LINE —BOTTOM LINE —• The Corinthian Church must stop its The Corinthian Church must stop its

senseless arguing over tongues, prophecies, senseless arguing over tongues, prophecies, and special knowledge... because none of and special knowledge... because none of these have any meaning without LOVE!these have any meaning without LOVE!– prophecies will failprophecies will fail

– tongues will ceasetongues will cease

– knowledge will vanish knowledge will vanish

1Corinthians 13:11-131Corinthians 13:11-13 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

FAITH,FAITH, HOPEHOPE & & LOVELOVEFAITHFAITH BINDS US TO GOD. BINDS US TO GOD.HOPE HOPE BINDS US TO HEAVEN.BINDS US TO HEAVEN.LOVELOVE MAKES US LIKE GOD & FIT FOR HEAVEN! MAKES US LIKE GOD & FIT FOR HEAVEN!

1Corinthians 13