Posted by Robert Richardson in The Excellent way of Love 1 Corinthians 13
Intro: The Love of God
I try and think of the love of God prior to receiving Christ, and it is difficult for me. I was blind and truly had not experienced His Love. In fact I remember when I came into our men’s home: It was just a couple of days after Christmas 1992. Just being there such a short time when New Years Eve rolled around I spent it with one of the leaders of the home and his family. The men in the home talked to each other about the love of God, now I’m at this families house and that evening they’re sitting around a camp fire playing a guitar singing Jesus Songs and talking about the Love of God. That night I was very cynical all I thought was “What is all this love stuff, fake I’m sure, this is just not reality”
About 2 weeks later, in a service at church, I heard the Gospel like I never heard it before. I knew what a wretch I was. My entire life had been full of sin and rebellion against this God I had been hearing about. That day for the first time in my life I had experienced the Love of God. He expressed His Love toward me a sinful man, by the death of His Son Jesus Christ.
I am now able to understand the thoughts of a wonderful woman who is now with the Lord. In her Bible that she left here she wrote, that “Jesus Christ is the love of God wrapped in Human flesh.” That friends, is an example of the wisdom of not only knowing but experiencing personally the Love of God in Christ.
That is what I would like to see happen in this study, through the power of the Word of God. That you would know and experience the Love of God greater and deeper than ever before.
1. So we’ll begin here, His Love, His nature
What are some things we hear about the Love of God?
We know from scripture that God’s love is essential to His nature. That means it’s not just part of God, or simply something God does. But it is “Who” He is. Love is of God’s Holy Character, it’s a holy Love, God is Love.
1 John 4:7-9
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. [1]
This is truly one of the great portions of scripture that reveal to us the nature of His Love, and the impact it has on His people
So let’s look at portions of this scripture.
Love is of God…
John is, out of experience, teaching us on the command to love. Let us love one another. So John knows something about this love, of which, we are supposed to love. We can infer that this love isn’t the kind of love by which the world loves,
How does the world love?
The worlds love is always distorted with some level of selfishness and merit seeking.
But this love, John is talking about, is of God. It comes from no other source in the universe. It is a unique love, in fact a love which does not make sense to the world.
“Agape and agapeo: a. Used to describe the attitude of God toward his Son (Jn. 17:26), the human race generally (Jn. 3:16, Rom. 5:8) To such as believe on the Lord Jesus Christ particularly (Jn. 14:21). b. To convey His will to His Children concerning their attitude toward one another (Jn. 13:34). And toward all men (2 Thess. 3:12, 1 Cor. 16:14) c. To express the essential nature of God (1 Jn. 4:8).
Love can best be known only from the actions it prompts. God’s love is seen in the Gift of His Son.
But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in it’s objects. It was an exercise of the divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself.”
(Vines Expository Dictionary)
Has the love of God always been in Him?
God is Love…
Since that is the declaration of Scripture, that Love is in fact God’s nature, that fact has never changed, and will not ever change, because the nature of God is eternal.
How do you think the Love of God was expressed before creation?
It was expressed in the unity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
4. Perichoresis: This term refers to the mutual indwelling in love of the divine persons, perhaps reflected most strikingly in Jesus’ statement ‘I in the Father and the Father in me,’ or again, ‘A’ll that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. (Calvin)
In fact the Love of God revealed to believers in scripture, the love of God you and I experience, is not for our purpose alone. We are actually beneficiaries of the love the Father has for the Son. Not only beneficiaries, He does love us directly as His Children, if we’re in Christ. But we are given to the Son. What a beautiful thought and indeed reality, to be the gift of the Father to His beloved Son.
This Love is expressed by Christ in His prayer to the Father, in the Gospel of John Chapter 17. The entire Chapter is a revelation of their relationship as Father and Son. But the end of the prayer is our immediate focus.
John 17:24-26
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
In the memoirs of McCheyanne, He writes in regards to this topic, He asks,
But where does this love fall?
On Jesus Christ. Twice God spake from heaven, and said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” God perfectly loves His own Son. He sees infinite beauty in His person. God sees Himself manifested. He is infinitely pleased with His finished work. The infinite heart of the infinite God flows out in love towards our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Love that the Father has toward His Son is a perfect love. The Father is also pleased with all His Son has done. The love of Jesus Christ toward His Father as also clearly seen by His obedience to The Father as He fulfilled His ministry on this earth. Everything He did was to accomplish His Father’s will. Obedience was the ultimate expression of infinite Love toward His Father.
God’s love toward us is also a perfect Love. We’ll look at some more details of God’s perfect love toward us next time. But listen His perfect love was shown to us in Jesus Christ. Because, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
2. The Love of God toward us.
Now we will examine, recognize and experience God’s Love for us. There is nothing more crucial at this point in history, than for us to talk about and look to The Love of God toward us.
Let me ask you this question, what is the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Think about it!
Now let’s look to a powerful revelation of The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Paul writes to the Romans about the results of being justified by faith in Christ. The result is peace with God, as well as, the producing of Character. Then he clearly restates the content of the Gospel again, which we’ll call; The Love of God toward us.
Romans 5:6-11 (ESV)
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— [8] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. [10] For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. [11] More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
How do these verses emphasize the Love God has for us?
What hope could there possibly be for the pain being experienced by tragedy in this world?
You and I know there is an answer to the cry being lifted up from our nation. We know that this is a sinful world. Indeed we were of it. But hope was revealed to us. We turned from our sinful lifestyles and turned to the only One who could save us, Jesus Christ. Now we have that same message by which we must respond to the cry of this lost and dying world. That is that all people everywhere young and old, must turn from this wicked world, and flee to Christ. He is the hope of salvation. He is the only hope for this generation.
We can rejoice in that hope if we are in Him, if we place our faith in Him. Continuing to be grateful for what He’s done for us.
Paul says we can rejoice in suffering. The reason is because of the result of that suffering, a hope that does not disappoint.
Rejoice because while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
Rejoice because we have been justified by His blood, saved from God’s wrath through Him. We can rejoice because what we have in the Gospel is the love of God shown toward us. We were enemies of God, we hated Him, did everything we could to avoid, run from, mock and blaspheme His holy Name, His holy Character. So everyone of us are deserving eternal punishment.
How could a Holy God Love such creatures?
Henry Scougal
“NOTHING is more powerful to engage our affection than to find that we are beloved. Expressions of kindness are always pleasing and acceptable unto us, though the person should be otherwise mean and contemptible: but, to have the love of One who is altogether lovely, to know that the glorious Majesty of heaven hath any regard unto us, how must this astonish and delight us, how must it overcome our Spirits and melt our hearts, and put our whole soul into a flame!”
But instead, we have reason to rejoice, because it is true we were enemies, and God did reconcile us through the Death of His Son Jesus Christ. But it doesn’t end there, as if that’s not good enough. So we are able now to have a relationship with God. And add to that, because we’ve been reconciled we are also saved by His life. That perfect life He lived when He walked this earth. And the power of His resurrected life.
1. The love here spoken of is not our love to God, but His love to us; for it is called perfect love. All that is ours is imperfect. When we have done all, we must say, “We are unprofitable servants.” Sin mingles with all we think and do. It were no comfort to tell us, that if we would love God perfectly, it would cast out fear; for how can we work that love into our souls? It is the Father’s love to us that casteth out fear. He is the Perfect One. All His works are perfect. He can do nothing but what is perfect. His knowledge is perfect knowledge; His wrath is perfect wrath; His love is perfect love. It is this perfect love which casteth out fear. Just as the sunbeams cast out darkness wherever they fall, so does this love cast out fear. (Andrew Bonar)
We see here what a great love that comes from above. The way He has shown us His love makes it so blatantly clear that there was nothing we could do to gain it ourselves. We may also be able to apply it this way, God, when there was no reason to love us, chose to allow His Son to die, so we could be made lovable.
We can know that we are His, because He has poured His love into us. The Holy Spirit is our down payment, the seal of our redemption by Christ. He’s shown us He loves us by the death of His Son. That Love secured in us by His Spirit.
(Henry Scougal)
“I remember one of the poets hath an ingenious fancy to express the passion wherewith he found himself overcome after long resistance; that the God of love had shot all his golden arrows at him, but could not pierce his heart, till at length he put himself into the bow, and darted himself straight into his breast!”
1 Cor. 13:1-13 (ESV)
Intro: You must be born again to Love
John 17:3 (ESV)
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Romans 5:1-5 (ESV)
Galatians 5:22-23
1 Cor. 8:1-3 (ESV)
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. [2] If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. [3] But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
Matthew 7:13-23
Love is essential to the new nature of the regenerate person as it is produced by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore the First point in this 13th chapter is;
I. Lifeless Actions of a fallen nature 1-3
A. Unregenerate in the Church
[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.
1. Wheat and weeds Matt 13:24-30
2. Worthless cursed and burned Heb. 6:1-8
3. Good for nothing Matt 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
B. One sign that matters
[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.
1. Love one for another John 13:34-35 (ESV)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. [35] By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
2. Love one another 1 John 3:11-15
For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. [12] We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. [13] Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. [14] We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. [15] Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
3. Love one another 1 John 4:7-12
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. [8] Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. [9] In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. [10] In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [12] No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
C. What does it matter if you gain the world?
[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.
1. The Philanthropist
2. The Martyr
3. The Cause
II. Living Reflections of God’s Character 4-7
[4] Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [5] or rude. 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. [7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Intro: Romans 8:29 (ESV)
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Two substances revealed in this passage; pure silver and dross
A. Reflecting Love in Patience and Kindness 4a
Reflect 1. Patience
Biblical patience for us starts with God. God is love!
Patience toward us 2 Peter 3
Biblical revelation; God is slow to anger
Patient toward others
Practically;
Reflect 2. Kindness
God is kind – Seen in Providence; The rain falls on the just and the unjust
Romans 2:4-5 (ESV)
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? [5] But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Kindness toward each other – Nice? Christ-like!
(out of patience and kindness, products of reflecting Christ’s character of love)
B. Reflecting Love is not Envious or Boastful 4b
DROSS 1. Envy
Our sin of covetousness reveals 2 things about us in
a. we resent others for what has they have
b. we resent God for what we have
The cure: Ps. 73:12-28
Dross 2. Boastful
King Nebuchadnezzar’s Boast Dan. 4:28-30
James 4:13-16 (ESV)
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— [14] yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. [15] Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” [16] As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
God has his way of humbling the proud Dan, 4:31-33
Proper response to God Dan. 4:34-37
C. Reflecting Love is not Arrogant of Rude 4c-5a
DROSS 1. Arrogant
The Peacock ,The Turkey
1 Cor. 8:1-3 (ESV)
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. [2] If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. [3] But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
“Knowledge without love breeds arrogance”
“By Contrast the mark of authentic love is humility”
Humility before God
Think for a minute how some of the most godly figures in scripture saw themselves in light of the Glory of God.
Isaiah 6
Job
WE would look at Job and his life and judge him as a righteous man.
But God is able to judge the heart.
Those of you who who’ve read Job, what is Job’s problem. What does God reveal about Job through his afflictions.
Job was a proud and arrogant man.
Job 40:1-5 (ESV)
And the Lord said to Job:
[2] “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
[3] Then Job answered the Lord and said:
[4] “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?
I lay my hand on my mouth.
[5] I have spoken once, and I will not answer;
twice, but I will proceed no further.”
As God reveals Himself to Job, Job literally sees Himself in a new light and He absolutely abhors Himself.
Job 42:1-6 (ESV)
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
[2] “I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
[3] ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
[4] ‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
[5] I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
[6] therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”
Oh how different is this than what we see all around us in a culture that is seduced by narcissism.
Why is this so rare.
“There is no fear of god before there eyes”
Romans 12:1-10 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
[3] For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. [4] For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, [5] so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. [6] Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; [7] if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; [8] the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
[9] Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. [10] Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Dross 2. Rude
Examples of rudeness
Bad habits
Inconsiderate
Boisterous, loud, obnoxious
Interrupting
Culturally careless, willingly ignorant
Therefore Love is courteous in a given culture while being distinct from it.
All things to all people
1 Cor. 9:19-23 (ESV)
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. [20] To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. [21] To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. [22] To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. [23] I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Though when we conduct ourselves, we conduct ourselves as ambassadors of the King of the universe.
1 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV)
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. [9] Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
Intro: Dross and pure silver
1 Cor. 13:4-7 (ESV)
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [5] or rude. 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. [7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
D. Reflecting Love does not insist on its own way 5
Notice the clarity in contrast between the Title of this portion of our study of Chapter 13, which I pulled from the end of chapter 12, the excellent way of Love.
The excellent way of Love is pure silver. Jesus Christ the most famous silversmith in the universe looks down in His cauldron and sees His own reflection as the product Love radiates back to Him. Oh the excellent way of love!
Contrasted with the dross that is not Love, but rather the impurities, the scum that rises to the surface as the purifying element of heat forces it to the surface to be removed and discarded as waste.
All the envy, boasting, arrogance, rudeness, that have been brought to the surface so far in our study needs to be scooped of the top and discarded, so that Love can shine through patience and kindness as reflections of the face of Jesus Christ.
Oh He is so pleased to see His Fathers will being carried out through the process of sanctification. As the process heats up, the reflection grow a bit dim, as through a glass dimly. Now the impure insistence on your own way surfaces. Filth that is pushed up from the very roots of your fallen nature finally brought to the surface to be properly removed and discarded.
The emphasis on your own pleasure, your own profit, your own honor, your own praise that obscures love and therefore the ability to reflect the face of Christ are recognized and removed.
Love is not selfish, love does not have selfish motives. I will not be able to look at you and discern your motives. But I’m not looking at you to see my reflection. Jesus Christ is looking at you to see His reflection! My desire is to look at you and see the reflection of Christ’s Character reflected.
When you put off selfishness, Love bursts through and radiates and affects those around you in such away that they know you have been with Him. There is no hiding it, because His glory cannot be subdued when His work in the lives of His people is so evident.
Now I’ve outlined verse 5 this way because irritability and resentfulness are emotional symptoms of selfish motives.
Think about it for a minute. I’m sure I’m not the only one here that becomes easily irritated.
1. Irritable
When you are irritated, coming out of your skin, what is the reason? Why?
Well being consumed with ourselves and the way we like things to be, our concern for others is only experienced in irritated discomfort.
It’s because things aren’t the way I like things to be and I’m gonna make you feel my frustration, in my silence, short anger tainted responses, furrowed brow, or withhold something that will give you comfort, satisfaction or peace.
Why should you experience comfort satisfaction and peace if I’m frustrated. No! As much as it is in my power, I’m not gonna let that happen. You know where I’m coming right?
Sadly, you’ve seen more than enough of it in me. Irritability is dross. When we are irritable there is no brilliance of reflection that Christ observes, but a dim figure through a cloud of selfishness.
It’s got to be removed to reflect The Character of Our Glorious Savior.
Here is a great opportunity to explain the importance of removing dross when it surfaces.
When irritability remains in our selfish heart it will devastate our lives. Think about the damage we do to ourselves when irritability is not discarded as soon as it is revealed to us.
What happens when you are terribly irritated by someone close enough to you that it really matters?
It will devastatingly produce resentment. And if I can describe it as a heavier more dense substance than mere irritation.
2. Resentful
To be resentful is the ultimate expression of selfishness. Think about it, a willingness to destroy your own life, in hopes that your self inflicted pain and suffering will inflict pain and suffering on the one you resent.
We are selfish people. Yes believers are selfish people! Being Born again, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, Judicially made right before a Holy God, the process of sanctification underway from that point until we are Glorified.
Sanctification is the Divine Silver Smith Jesus Christ turning up the heat by the revelation of God’s word, bringing the impurities to the surface to be removed. Selfishness infused in our fallen nature tainting every aspect of our being, little by little begin loosen from the pure image of Christ being produced in us. Irritation finally surfaces. It Builds and builds at the surface, if it remains it will turn to resentment, a heavier substance that will sink back into the pure silver and again taint it with impurities that will take twice as much heat to break up that they might be brought to the surface again and removed, but not without severity.
Know this for sure, Jesus Christ’s reflection is clearly seen in the life of the believer as He sees the purity of His Love produced in that believer. Be sure He will go to whatever extent is necessary through the process of sanctification to remove the dross that clouds His reflection even if He must heat the cauldron twice as Hot, because Love that reflects Christ is not selfish, Love is not irritable Love is not resentful.
Intro: Uncovering Truth
1 Cor. 13:4-7 (ESV)
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [5] or rude. 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. [7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
To the believer; who has within Him the Image of Christ.
“Christ in you the Hope of Glory” As we’ve been saying Jesus Christ’s reflection can only be seen in pure silver.
The problem we experience individually and as a body is we have impurities that cover, cloud, blemish that reflection. The silver that is our life is dull and drab because it is dirty. The Goal is pure undefiled precious metal without blemish.
The means to that goal is sanctification “Fire and Iron”
The dross thus far that the Holy Spirit has made us aware of is;
Love is Not;
*Envy
*Boastful
*Arrogance
*Rudeness
*Selfishness
*Irritable
*Resentful
And for today’s message it does not rejoice in *wrong doing
All of this being separated from purity
But notice what is, when these impurities are removed;
Love is;
*Patient
*Kind
And for our study today
*Rejoices in truth
*Bears all things
*Believes all things
*Hopes all things
*Endures all things
So as wickedness is scorched from us, no matter how painful it must be, the final product is pure divinely refined silver. Silver in which the Divine Refiner, when His work of stirring, heating, scooping away the dross can move in close and see His glorious face reflecting back at Him. What He sees is Love, pure and undefiled.
We’re getting there friends! We’re not their yet. But that’s His goal in us. I have faith that every day it is becoming your goal as well.
Let’s deal with these next two verses as close as we can.
Love;
[6] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. [7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
E. Reflecting Love, not in wrong doing, but in truth 6
1. Wrong Doing
Because of the context of this passage, here what Love is not, or what love does not do, we could appropriately in application look out in our world and our culture and determine that what the world is lacking is Love.
What our culture describes as love, in antithesis the Bible declares that is exactly what Love is not.
It may even be old fashion to use this example, because in our day people just “hook up”. But hey for illustration sake, A man and a woman become serious in their relationship, so they take it to the next level. “Let’s move in together, make sure the goods are really what they seem to be!” If they are, “hey this is a progression of love.”
That’s not Love it’s fornication.
Hey, hey, I thought we were talking about the church,
If you are a professing Christian and this describes your relationship. Your running around thinking your in love, don’t expect us to rejoice with you, because that is not love, It’s fornication and we will not rejoice in wrong doing.
Where do your affections lie?
If they are not consumed with Jesus Christ than it’s not Love, your affections are misplaced that is wrong.
And of course I could list all manner of wickedness, you could examine yourselves and display a personal list before God.
But take this point your entire list exists because of misplaced affections. We do not love Christ as we ought, that is the problem.
2. Truth
When we remove those elements that our impure, what we are uncovering is truth, truth about the Character of God, truth about Jesus Christ. Truth about ourselves and the clarity in which we reflect Him
When we can see truth our response toward God and His people becomes more and more accurate and appropriate. Our affection will be more and more satisfied in Him.
F. Reflecting Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things 7
1. Bears
The burdens of fellow Christians
2. Believes
All truth – don’t jump to conclusions
3. Hopes
Love has a view to the future
Gill
All things that are to be hoped for; hopes for the accomplishment of all the promises of God; hopes for the enjoyment of him in his house and ordinances; hopes for things that are not seen, that are future, difficult, though possible to be enjoyed: hopes for heaven and eternal happiness, for more grace here and glory hereafter; hopes the best of all men, of all professors of religion, even of wicked men, that they may be better and brought to repentance, and of fallen professors, who declare their repentance, and make their acknowledgments; he hopes well of them, that they are sincere, and all is right and will appear so:
4. Endures
all things;
that are disagreeable to the flesh; all afflictions, tribulations, temptations, persecutions, and death itself, for the elect’s sake, for the sake of the Gospel, and especially for the sake of Christ Jesus. Gill
Hebrews 12:1-29 (ESV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
[3] Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. [4] In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. [5] And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
[6] For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
[7] It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? [8] If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. [9] Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? [10] For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. [11] For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
[12] Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, [13] and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. [14] Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. [15] See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; [16] that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. [17] For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
[18] For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest [19] and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. [20] For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” [21] Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” [22] But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, [23] and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, [24] and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
[25] See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. [26] At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” [27] This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. [28] Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, [29] for our God is a consuming fire.
Conc. Malachi 3:1-3 (ESV)
“Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
[2] But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.
[3] He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.
Intro: Read 1Cor 13
1. So we’ll begin here, His Love, His nature
2. The Love of God toward us.
I. Lifeless Actions of a fallen nature 1-3
II. Living Reflections of God’s Character 4-7
III. Love produces life everlasting 8-12
[8] Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. [9] For we know in part and we prophesy in part, [10] but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. [11] When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. [12] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
A. Where there is love 8
[8] Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
There is so much fleeting in this world. So much that will pass away.
We place great value in things that will be burned up. We place value in such things as if the will last for ever. Oh have we misunderstood the nature and value of things.
Usually it is petty things we waste our affections on, treasures that in light of eternity we will reflect on as dung. Your so called precious possessions.
Where there is love, there is one thing we are to see as exceedingly valuable, that one thing is Life
John 11:25 (ESV)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
John 14:6 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 17:3 (ESV)
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Maybe this is your struggle, your fight is in the question, where is the Love. I hear about it, I know about it, but I don’t think I partake in it.
Do you not know, it is Jesus Christ Who is exceedingly valuable.
John 6:48-51 (ESV)
I am the bread of life. [49] Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. [50] This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. [51] I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Jesus Christ must be your sufficient sustenance, you must eat His Flesh and Drink His Blood then you will recognize yourself as small Him as great His love to be everlasting.
He is more valuable than even the most precious gifts.
B. Gifts useful yet temporal 8-9
[8] Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. [9] For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
The quote from Jesus in John 6 reveals that even this precious gift of manna in the wilderness was but a symbol to a greater reality. The manna ceased, the lives of those who ate it ceased. But the One to which that symbol pointed is from everlasting to everlasting.
So it is with these magnificent spiritual gifts. Useful in this temporal context for the exaltation of Jesus Christ in the building up of His Body being practiced with the greatest of zeal and wisdom, are just that, temporal.
Prophesy, tongues and knowledge will achieve their purpose here, but do not have the ability to reveal Him fully. There will be a time when they will be unnecessary. Just as Old Covenant Symbols are not only unnecessary but even a hindrances to our knowledge of Christ as He is revealed in the New Covenant. It is why the reinstitution of the sacrificial system would be blasphemous today. They were shadows of Christ. We have Christ, it would be an offence to return to shadows.
So it will be with such gifts, as useful as they are here, they will be unnecessary when the perfect comes.
C. The perfect Son 10
[10] but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
Jesus Christ is perfect in every way. It is the will of God that we be transformed, into the image of Christ. It is the end of this process of maturing. We will never be all knowing. We will always be Human. But to mature to the likeness of Christ will be for us perfection. It is to be glorified. But the Goal of glorification is not wrapped up in us, it is wrapped up in Christ. When we are glorified, He is satisfied.
But for us maturity is a process
D. Maturity into eternity 11
[11] When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
E. The immediate effects of the beatific vision 12
[12] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
IV. The Only Kind of Love; Excellent!
[13] So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Concl. Now we are supposed to go into Chapter 14 knowing chapter 13.
[1]The New King James Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1998, c1982.
[2]The New King James Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1998, c1982.