LOVE NEVER FAILS

I Corinthians 13:1-13 CHARITY  (Wrote this one for Daddy, he loved it!)

In I Corinthians 12 Apostle Paul was teaching on spiritual gifts.  The very last verse I Corinthians 12:13, says “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”

What is a more excellent way?  CHARITY (LOVE)

Charity means “brotherly love, affection, good will, love feast, love”.

A. The Supremacy of Love

1. (1-2) Love is superior to spiritual gifts in and of themselves.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

a. The Corinthians had a fascination with spiritual gifts, particularly the gift of tongues. Paul reminds them even the gift of tongues is meaningless without love. Without love, a person may speak with the gift of tongues, but it is as meaningless as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. It is nothing but empty noise.

  

b. Tongues of men and of angels: The ancient Greek word translated tongues has the simple idea of "languages" in some places (Acts 2:11 and Revelation 5:9). This has led some to say the gift of tongues is simply the ability to communicate the gospel in other languages, or it is the capability of learning languages quickly. But the way tongues is used here shows it can, and usually does, refer to a supernatural language by which a believer communicates to God. There is no other way to understand the reference to tongues of . . . angels.

  

c. Prophecy, knowledge, and faith to do miracles are likewise irrelevant apart from love. The Corinthian Christians missed the motive and the goal of the gifts, making them their own goal. Paul draws the attention back to love.

2. (3) The most dramatic denials of self are, in the same way, profitless without love. 

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

a. Bestow all my goods to feed the poor: This is what Jesus told the rich young ruler to do (Matthew 16:19-23), and he refused. But even if the rich young ruler had done what Jesus said, yet had not love, it would have been of no profit.

b. Though I give my body to be burned: Even if I lay my life down in dramatic martyrdom, apart from love, it is of no profit.

  

c. Each thing described in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 is a good thing. Tongues are good, prophecy and knowledge and faith are good, sacrifice is good. But love is so valuable, so important, that apart from it, every other good thing is useless. Sometimes we make the great mistake of letting go of what is best for something else that is good, but not the best.

B. (4-7) The Description of Love

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

"Lest the Corinthians should say to the apostle, What is this love you speak of? Or how shall we know if we have it? The apostle here gives thirteen notes of a charitable person."

      

1.  Two things love is: longsuffering (patient) and kind.

Love suffers long and is kind.

a. At the beginning, we see love is described by action words, not by lofty concepts. Paul is not writing about how love feels, he is writing about how it can be seen in action. True love is always demonstrated by action.

b. Love suffers long: Love is patient; love will endure a long time. It is the heart shown in God when it is said of the Lord, The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). If God's love is in us, we will show longsuffering to those who annoy us and hurt us.

  

c. Love is kind: When we have and show God's love, it will be seen in simple acts of kindness. A wonderful measure of kindness is to see how children receive us. Children won't receive from or respond to unkind people.

2. Eight things love is not: not envious, not proud, not arrogant, not rude, not cliquish, not touchy, not suspicious, not happy with evil.

Love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.

a. Love does not envy: Envy is one of the least productive and most damaging of all sins. It accomplishes nothing, except to hurt. Love keeps its distance from envy, and does not resent it when someone else is promoted or blessed.

·      Is envy a small sin? Envy murdered Abel (Genesis 4:3-8). Envy enslaved Joseph (Genesis 37:11, 28). Envy put Jesus on the cross: For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy (Matthew 27:18).

b. Love does not parade itself: Love in action can work anonymously. It does not have to have the limelight or the attention to do a good job, or to be satisfied with the result. Love gives because it loves to give, not out of the sense of praise it can have from showing itself off.

c. Love . . . is not puffed up: To be puffed up is to be arrogant and self-focused. It speaks of someone who has a "big head." Love doesn't get its head swelled; it focuses on the needs of others.

d. Love . . . does not behave rudely: Where there is love, there will be kindness and good manners.

e. Love . . . does not seek its own: Paul communicates the same idea in Romans 12:10: in honor giving preference to one another. Also, Philippians 2:4 carries the same thought: Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. This is being like Jesus in a most basic way, being an others-centered person instead of a self-centered person.

f. Love . . . is not provoked: We all find it easy to be provoked or to become irritated with those who are just plain annoying. But it is a sin to be provoked, and it isn't love.

g. Love . . . thinks no evil: Literally this means "love does not store up the memory of any wrong it has received." Love will put away the hurts of the past instead of clinging to them.

h. Love . . . does not rejoice in iniquity: It is willing to want the best for others, and refuses to color things against others. Instead, love rejoices in the truth. Love can always stand with and on truth, because love is pure and good like truth.

3.  Four more things love is: strong, believing, hopeful, and enduring.

Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

a. All things: We might have hoped Paul would have chosen any phrase but this! All things covers everything! We can all bear some things, we can all believe some things, we can all hope some things, and we can all endure some things. But God calls us farther and deeper into love for Him, for one another, and for a perishing world.

b. Love . . . bears all things: The word for bears can also be translated covers. Either way, Paul brings an important truth along with 1 Peter 4:8: And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."

c. Love . . . believes all things: We never believe a lie, but we never believe evil unless the facts demand it. We choose to believe the best of others. 

d. Love . . . hopes all things: Love has confidence in the future, not pessimism. When hurt, it does not say, "It will be this way forever, and even get worse." It hopes for the best, and it hopes in God.

e. Love . . . endures all things: Most of us can bear all things, and believe all things, and hope all things, but only for a while! The greatness of love is it keeps on bearing, believing, and hoping. It doesn't give up. It destroys enemies by turning them into friends.

4. The best way to understand each of these is to see them in the life of Jesus. We could replace the word love with the name Jesus and the description would make perfect sense. We can easily say, Jesus suffers long and is kind; Jesus does not envy . . . and make it through the whole chapter.

a. We can measure our spiritual maturity by seeing how it sounds when we put our name in place of the word love. Does it sound totally ridiculous or just a "little" far-fetched?

b. There is a reason why Paul put this chapter in the midst of his discussion of spiritual gifts. Paul wants the Corinthian Christians to remember that giftedness is not the measure of maturity, the display of love is.

C. (8-10) The Permanence of Love

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

1.  Love will outlive all the gifts.

a. Love never fails: Paul addresses the over-emphasis the Corinthian Christians had on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He shows they should emphasize love more than the gifts, because the gifts are temporary "containers" of God's work; love is the work itself.

b. Therefore, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are appropriate for the present time, but they are not permanent. They are imperfect gifts for an imperfect time.

c. That which is perfect: Paul says when that which is perfect has come, then the gifts will be "discontinued." But what is that which is perfect? Though some that believe the miraculous gifts ceased with the apostles say it refers to the completion of the New Testament, they are wrong. Virtually all commentators agree that which is perfect is fulfilled when we are in the eternal presence of the Perfect One, when we are with the Lord forever, either through the return of Christ or graduation to the eternal.

  

d. In his use of will fail and will cease and will vanish away, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, is not trying to say that prophecies, tongues, and knowledge have different fates. He is simply writing well, saying the same thing in three different ways. They will end, but love never fails.

e. What we know in part or prophecy in part is when that which is perfect is come or fulfilled will be done away with… that which we know in part, we will know fully.

2. (11-12) Illustrations of the temporary nature of the gifts and the permanence of love.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

a. When I was a child: Childish things are appropriate for children, and the gifts are appropriate for our present time. But the gifts of the Holy Spirit will not be appropriate forever.

v Paul is not trying to say that if we are spiritually mature, we will not need spiritual gifts. But he does say that if we are spiritually mature, we will not over-emphasize spiritual gifts, especially at the expense of love.

b. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face: When we can fully see Jesus (not as in a poorly reflected image), the need for the gifts will have vanished, and so the gifts will pass away. The gifts of the Holy Spirit will be overshadowed by the immediate presence of Jesus. When the sun rises, we turn off the lesser lights.

c. Face to face: Paul uses this term to describe complete, unhindered fellowship with God. 1 John 3:2 tells us when we get to heaven, we shall see Him as He is. There will be no more barriers to our relationship with God.

d. For now we see in a mirror: This speaks again to the perfect fellowship with God we will have one day. Today, when we look in a good mirror, the image is clear. But in the ancient world, mirrors were made out of polished metal, and the image was always unclear and somewhat distorted. We see Jesus now only in a dim, unclear way, but one day we will see Him with perfect clarity. We will know just as I also am known.

e. God knows everything about me; this is how I also am known. But in heaven, I will know God as perfectly as I can; I will know just as I also am known. It doesn't mean I will be all knowing as God is, but it means I will know Him as perfectly as I can.

d. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are necessary and appropriate for this present age, when we are not yet fully mature, and we only know in part. There will come a day when the gifts are unnecessary, but that day has not come yet.

v Clearly, the time of fulfillment Paul refers to with then face to face and then I shall know just as I also am known speaks of being in the glory of heaven with Jesus. Certainly, that is the that which is perfect spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13:10 as well. According to the context, it can't be anything else.

3. (13) A summary of love's permanence: love abides forever.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

a. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three: The three great pursuits of the Christian life are not "miracles, power, and gifts"; they are faith, hope, and love. Though the gifts are precious, and given by the Holy Spirit today, they were never meant to be the focus or goal of our Christian lives. Instead, we pursue faith, hope, and love.

v What is your Christian life focused on? What do you really want more of? It should all come back to faith, hope, and love. If it doesn't, we need to receive God's sense of priorities, and put our focus where it belongs.

b. Because faith, hope, and love are so important, we should expect to see them emphasized throughout the New Testament. And we do:

·      Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father. (1 Thessalonians 1:3)

§  But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

§  For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (Galatians 5:5-6)

§  Who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart. (1 Peter 1:21-22)

§  Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel. (Colossians 1:4-5)

§  For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:12-13)

c. But the greatest of these is love: Love is greatest because it will continue, even grow, in the eternal state. When we are in heaven, faith and hope will have fulfilled their purpose. We won't need faith when we see God face to face. We won't need to hope in the coming of Jesus once He comes. But we will always love the Lord and each other, and grow in that love through eternity.

d. Love is also the greatest because it is an attribute of God (1 John 4:8), and faith and hope are not part of God's character and personality. God does not have faith in the way we have faith, because He never has to "trust" outside of Himself. God does not have hope the way we have hope, because He knows all things and is in complete control. But God is love, and will always be love.

e. Fortunately, we don't need to choose between faith, hope, and love. Paul isn't trying to make us choose, but he wants to emphasize the point to the Corinthian Christians: without love as the motive and goal, the gifts are meaningless distractions. If you lose love, you lose everything.

kimlovesjesus@icloud.com

HOMESICK

In John 14:2-3 Jesus said, In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would not have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

My citizenship is in heaven. This world is no longer my home. I am just a pilgrim passing through this land called earth. My true citizenship, my true home is in heaven, and from it I await my Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform my lowly body to be like His glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21).

Yes! My Lord Jesus Christ, is already there preparing a place for me (John 14:2-3). I long for my heavenly home. I can just imagine the joyous reunion that awaits me there!

So now I desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one, where God is not ashamed to be called my God, for He has prepared for me a city (Hebrews 11:16).

The closer I get to God in His word the more sick I become with longing and cry out in my pain, “if you find my Beloved, please tell Him I am sick of love” (Song of Solomon 5:8).

For in this body I groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with my house which is from heaven (2 Corinthians 5:2).

All of creation groans and travails in pain together with me.  I groan within myself, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of my body (Romans 8:21-23).

For now I am torn between the two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better, but for now it is better that I stay for my family to try and win them to Jesus (Philippians 1:23-24).

Until then God, You are my God and I will look for You. My soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You as if I am in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You. Yes, I will bless You while I live, I will lift up my hands in Your Name (Psalms 63:1-4).

My soul yearns for You in the night and early in the morning will my spirit seek You (Isaiah 26:9).

Whom do I have in heaven but You? I desire You more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart, He is mine forever! (Psalms 73:25-26).

I long for God, my soul thirst for God, the living God! When can I go and stand before Him? (Psalms 42:1-2).

Yes! The Lord is continually with me, He holds me by my right hand. He shall guide me with His counsel, and afterwards He will receive me to glory (Psalms 73:23-24).

And now until then to God and my Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen!

SCRIPTURES ABOUT SIN

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest (recognized), which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you in times past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Works of the Flesh:

·       Adultery – contact or lustful imaginings with another person’s wife or husband.

·    Fornication - sexual immorality, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, incest, and to be given to idolatry.

·       Uncleanness - the impurity of lustful living, morally or spiritually impure.

·     Lasciviousness – unbridled lust, excess, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, pornographic, vulgar.

·   Idolatry – the worship of physical things as a god, or an immoderate attachment or devotion to something.

·       Witchcraft – sorcery, magic, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it.

·       Hatred – a very strong feeling of dislike, hostility, enmity.

·       Variance – contention, strife, wrangling, debate.

·       Emulations – jealousy, indignation, envious and contentious rivalry.

·       Wrath – fierceness, indignation, passion, anger boiling up and soon subsiding again.

·       Strife – contention, debate, arguing, to stir up, to provoke.

·       Seditions – division, dissension, uprising, controversy.

·       Heresies - an opinion, doctrine, or practice contrary to the truth.

·       Envyings –  envy, jealousy, painful feeling of resentment.

·       Murders – with intent to slaughter, to slay, or to kill another.

·       Drunkenness - intoxication, the condition of being drunk.

·       Revellings – rioting, as if letting loose.

(When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear.)

1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin…

James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his (God’s) seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (Meaning when we are born again we will not be able to willfully sin, the Spirit of God will quicken us when we are about to sin.)

1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest (recognized), and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God… (righteousness – doing that which is right in the eyes of God)

Again… 1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin…

(In other words every act of wrong-doing is sin)

Colossians 3:5-6 Mortify (put to death) therefore your members (what belongs to your human nature) which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.

Colossians 3:8-9 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another…

·       Wrath – fierceness, indignation, passion, anger boiling up and soon subsiding again.

·       Malice – ill will, desire to injure, or cause harm to another person.

·       Blasphemy – the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of respect or reverence for God.

·       Filthy Communication – vile conversation, foul speaking, low and obscene speech.

·       Lie – to utter an untruth or attempt to deceive, to speak deliberate falsehoods.

Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Proverbs 21:4 And high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

Proverbs 24:9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine… the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Psalms 69:5 O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

Psalms 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Job 13:23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

Psalms 38:18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

Psalms 25:18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

Psalms 41:4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me; heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

Ps 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

  

Ps 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.

Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sin.

1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Acts 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.                         (Remission - forgiveness or pardon from sin.)

Micah 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Romans 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.  (Impute - count, make an account of.)

Psalms 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.  (Transgressions - sin, rebellion, trespass.)

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,…

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Proverbs 14:9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

Psalms 19:13  Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. (Presumptuous - taking liberties.)

Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. (the apostles’ doctrine)

Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Hebrews 10:16-17 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

These are just a few…. there are many, many, more.

* Scriptures taken from the King James Version Bible.