Love is the Greatest
God's grace and blessings be yours this day.
The text we have before us today are the concluding words of one of the most well-known chapters of the Bible. As I stated when we began this chapter, first Corinthians 13 is often used for everything from weddings and anniversaries, to funerals because of its focus on love. But as we have seen already, Paul's actual focus in this chapter is one of Christian maturity and the necessity of faith which connects us to God and through that relationship we have a fuller understanding of love.
Paul's words today stand in stark contrast to earlier words he spoke to the church at Corinth. In chapter three he had this to say, And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to consume it. But even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like ordinary people? (1 Cor 3:1-3) In this text Paul is addressing the fact that the Christians in Corinth have not matured in their faith as they should have which is the result of all the conflict which is present in the church. Paul now speaks in our text today of the maturity that faith brings and the ultimate superiority of love.
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 put aside childish things. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:11-13
Paul's point is that when he was a child, or new to the faith, he thought and reasoned as a child. But when he became a man all such ways of thinking and acting were set aside. All the way through this letter to this point we have seen Paul addressing the fact that the Christians in Corinth have not been living their lives as those who are spiritually mature, but living a very self-centered and selfish life.
As a way of encouraging his readers Paul focuses their attention on their future as the children of God. When he says For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known he is drawing attention to the fact that our Christian life is lived with assurance for the future. We do not have all the answers today, we don't even know the right questions to ask at times. This is why living by faith is so crucial for our Christian lives. In this we are not talking about saving faith, which is holding on to Jesus as Savior. We are talking about the faith which guides our lives, leading us into the future even when we are uncertain as to what that future will be. In this context faith is used in a synonymous way with trust. We trust God even if we don't have all the answers because we know He does. We trust God even if we don't know which direction to go, because He does know which direction we need to go and He is guiding us. Paul's assurance to us as the day is coming when all the questions will be answered, and we will live in the fullness of knowledge and understanding even as we dwell in the presence of God.
Paul's concluding phrase or statement helps us to understand what he has been trying to tell us. There are three things which abide in our lives, faith, hope, and love. Paul says it this way, Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.
What is faith? Faith is the gift worked by the Holy Spirit by which we hold on to Jesus as Savior. Having faith is trusting in God to lead and guide us into an uncertain future and to do so with confidence. Faith is the connection from spirit to Spirit by which we are nurtured, led, and guided in our Christian life. Without faith there is no relationship with God.
What is hope? Hope is not wishful thinking for the Christian. It is not that we hope the sun will shine tomorrow or that rain may come. For the Christian, hope is an assurance for the future based upon the promises of God which have found their fulfillment for us in Christ. We do not hope we will go to heaven! Our hope or our confidence is in the fact that we will go to heaven because of Jesus. Hope is a sure and certain confidence for the future based upon the promises of God fulfilled in Jesus.
And what is love? The love Paul speaks of, which has its origins in the heart of God, does contain a component of emotion but it is also a choice and a divine action. God loves us and His love moved Him to act on our behalf. His love moved Him to place our needs ahead of His own and to sacrifice what was best for Him to do what was best for us. What is love? Love is Jesus hanging on a cross bearing the sins of the world. Love is the blood of Christ washing us clean. Love is Jesus standing victorious over death itself and sharing that victory with us. Love is the Father welcoming His wayward children home and celebrating us every step of the way.
How is it that Paul can say that love is greater than faith or hope? It is really very simple. In this life we need faith which clings to Jesus and trusts God day by day. In this life we need hope as we face the struggles and trials in the brokenness of this world. We need the assurance of a future day where the promises of God are fulfilled for us. We also dwell securely knowing that God loves us. But the day will come when faith gives way to sight, and all hopes are realized.
When we stand in the presence of God, we will not need faith nor will we need hope, but love will be ever present. This is how Paul can say that love is the greatest because while we need faith, hope, and love today, only love will exist forever.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Russ
The text we have before us today are the concluding words of one of the most well-known chapters of the Bible. As I stated when we began this chapter, first Corinthians 13 is often used for everything from weddings and anniversaries, to funerals because of its focus on love. But as we have seen already, Paul's actual focus in this chapter is one of Christian maturity and the necessity of faith which connects us to God and through that relationship we have a fuller understanding of love.
Paul's words today stand in stark contrast to earlier words he spoke to the church at Corinth. In chapter three he had this to say, And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to consume it. But even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like ordinary people? (1 Cor 3:1-3) In this text Paul is addressing the fact that the Christians in Corinth have not matured in their faith as they should have which is the result of all the conflict which is present in the church. Paul now speaks in our text today of the maturity that faith brings and the ultimate superiority of love.
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 put aside childish things. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:11-13
Paul's point is that when he was a child, or new to the faith, he thought and reasoned as a child. But when he became a man all such ways of thinking and acting were set aside. All the way through this letter to this point we have seen Paul addressing the fact that the Christians in Corinth have not been living their lives as those who are spiritually mature, but living a very self-centered and selfish life.
As a way of encouraging his readers Paul focuses their attention on their future as the children of God. When he says For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known he is drawing attention to the fact that our Christian life is lived with assurance for the future. We do not have all the answers today, we don't even know the right questions to ask at times. This is why living by faith is so crucial for our Christian lives. In this we are not talking about saving faith, which is holding on to Jesus as Savior. We are talking about the faith which guides our lives, leading us into the future even when we are uncertain as to what that future will be. In this context faith is used in a synonymous way with trust. We trust God even if we don't have all the answers because we know He does. We trust God even if we don't know which direction to go, because He does know which direction we need to go and He is guiding us. Paul's assurance to us as the day is coming when all the questions will be answered, and we will live in the fullness of knowledge and understanding even as we dwell in the presence of God.
Paul's concluding phrase or statement helps us to understand what he has been trying to tell us. There are three things which abide in our lives, faith, hope, and love. Paul says it this way, Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.
What is faith? Faith is the gift worked by the Holy Spirit by which we hold on to Jesus as Savior. Having faith is trusting in God to lead and guide us into an uncertain future and to do so with confidence. Faith is the connection from spirit to Spirit by which we are nurtured, led, and guided in our Christian life. Without faith there is no relationship with God.
What is hope? Hope is not wishful thinking for the Christian. It is not that we hope the sun will shine tomorrow or that rain may come. For the Christian, hope is an assurance for the future based upon the promises of God which have found their fulfillment for us in Christ. We do not hope we will go to heaven! Our hope or our confidence is in the fact that we will go to heaven because of Jesus. Hope is a sure and certain confidence for the future based upon the promises of God fulfilled in Jesus.
And what is love? The love Paul speaks of, which has its origins in the heart of God, does contain a component of emotion but it is also a choice and a divine action. God loves us and His love moved Him to act on our behalf. His love moved Him to place our needs ahead of His own and to sacrifice what was best for Him to do what was best for us. What is love? Love is Jesus hanging on a cross bearing the sins of the world. Love is the blood of Christ washing us clean. Love is Jesus standing victorious over death itself and sharing that victory with us. Love is the Father welcoming His wayward children home and celebrating us every step of the way.
How is it that Paul can say that love is greater than faith or hope? It is really very simple. In this life we need faith which clings to Jesus and trusts God day by day. In this life we need hope as we face the struggles and trials in the brokenness of this world. We need the assurance of a future day where the promises of God are fulfilled for us. We also dwell securely knowing that God loves us. But the day will come when faith gives way to sight, and all hopes are realized.
When we stand in the presence of God, we will not need faith nor will we need hope, but love will be ever present. This is how Paul can say that love is the greatest because while we need faith, hope, and love today, only love will exist forever.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Russ
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