The Foundation of Love

Intro

This morning we are going to begin a series entitled Reconstructing Faith. In this first message I want to share with you about the foundation of love.

When building anything a properly constructed foundation is key to the stability and integrity of what is being built. This understanding of natural construction reveals spiritual truth. 1 Corinthians 3:9-11.

Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 3:9-11 the apostle Paul says, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

The foundation of the Christian life is Jesus Christ.

What do we understand about Jesus?

He is the word made flesh. John 1:4.

He is Immanuel God with us. John 1:23.

He is the visible image of the invisible God. Colossians 1:15.

What is foretold through types and shadows in the Old Testament is revealed in Christ. Colossians 1:26-29 speaks of the mystery of the ages. That Mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory. That through belief in Christ you can receive salvation, become justified, and through the inner working of the Holy Spirit become Sanctified.

Colossians 1:26-29 “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”

My desire is to also present you perfect in Christ Jesus. That when the Lord appears you will have confidence of the salvation of your souls as a spotless bride.

There is a bombardment from satan of doubt, wickedness, and unbelief against humanity. It is accompanied by a persistent effort to redefine what God has previously defined. This is nothing new, but if we are naive to it we may become prey to it.

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Submit:

The cultural drift that we are experiencing was prophesied a long time ago. 1 Timothy 4:1-2. Romans 1:19-32.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,”

What we see now happening in our culture is nothing more than Romans 1:19-32.

As people reject the truth which is God’s word they give heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. To give heed means to give consideration or attention to. When a person rejects the truth they open their hearts to deception. James 3:14-15.

James 3:14-15 reveals that there is a wisdom that does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. This wisdom brings confusion and every evil work.

To properly construct the foundation of our faith we must begin with the foundational element of truth. Without the truth of God’s word there will be no structural integrity, and what is built will crumble.

With this understanding I want to look a the foundational element of love. To construct or reconstruct faith will require love.

Love is the principal element by which all things work. 1 Corinthians 13.

Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 13. (*read entire chapter)

The first principle I want you to see from 1 Cor. 13 is this:

1) It is possible to learn the functions and practices of Christianity and miss the mark.

1 Cor. 13:1-3 speaks of tongues, prophecy, benevolence, and extreme sacrifice. Each of these functions and practices have great potential to build up and encourage others, but if they are void of love it not only profits you nothing, but those who hear you.

Listen again to these verses but from the Amplified bible.

1 Cor. 13:1-3 (AMPC)

“1 If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

2 And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).

3 Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.

The expression of the gifts are intended to function and flow through Love. If we are void of love we will miss the mark and walk in deception.

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Apply:

2) The definition of love is not subjective to culture. If we understand that God is love, then it is His definition that we must use. Let me make this clear. God does not have love HE IS LOVE. Therefore, when we read 1 Cor. 13:4-8 we must realize he is giving a description of an emotion, but of Himself.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (AMPC)

4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].

Love is not tolerance. Nor is it blind acceptance. 1 John 2:15-17.

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

The construction of faith begins with the Love of God. The ability to walk in love is the measuring line of maturity for the one who is in Christ. 1 John 2:3-6. 1 John 4:8.

1 John 2:3-6 “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

Why is this? 1 John 4:8 “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Walking in love means we are walking in God.

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Closing:

3) The Development of Love. 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 (AMPC)

Love is not automatic in our lives. We are born with a sin nature that is selfish. Understand this, the wickedness of the last days is rooted in self. This is why we must be born again of the Spirit. 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”

The sin nature of man is revealed in this passage. Our lives apart from love become extremely wicked. To counter this we must develop in the love of God.

1 Corinthians 13:11,13 (AMPC)

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside. (this reference speaks of immaturity)

We must mature in love by renewing our minds with the word of God Romans 12:1-2, and then put it into practice. When we do this we develop in love.

1 John 5:3-4 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

13 And so faith, hope, love abide [faith—conviction and belief respecting man’s relation to God and divine things; hope—joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love—true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Today, love is the essential element of our faith. It’s establishment in your life will bring surety of a strong foundation.

Let’s Pray!

That God would reveal in area of our life that we are not walking in love.

That the Holy Spirit would help us to change.

Salvation.