We Serve Out of Love/Love's Supremacy (2)

Introduction

Pre-Introduction

Acknowledge special music

Main-Introduction

ATTENTION GRABBER

A Story About Faith – The Blind Kind

I really enjoy using my iPad. I use it all the time when preaching. Let’s suppose this morning that I really wanted a brand new iPad with all the latest innovations and upgrades. And what if I wished as hard as I could that a brand new iPad would magically appear at my doorstep? After wishing it, I came home fully expecting to use my new iPad. So much so that I drove all the way to Lynchburg to Best Buy to pick up a cool case for it. Would that not be an example of blind faith? Wishing for a new iPad isn’t going to get me one even if I believe so deeply that I purchase a case of it. It just isn’t going to happen.

Or let’s say that I entered a contest on the Internet to win a brand new iPad. I am hoping with great anticipation that I going to win that iPad. But I have no assurance I will win, right? Again, that is nothing more than blind faith. Blind faith is just a like blowing out your birthday candles and making a wish. Or chucking a coin into a fountain or a wishing well. You’ve got nothing.

Another Story About Faith – The Evidence Kind

But now on the other hand, imagine I went online and bought myself an iPad! Later, I receive the confirmation e-mail saying “thanks for your purchase.” Eventually, I get an e-mail from UPS saying my package is scheduled to be delivered the very next day. The next day, I receive another e-mail saying it’s on the truck to my house. I receive the tracking number and track this thing at work until it’s scanned as delivered. Maybe my wife is home and I get a text from her saying, “Your iPad is here.”

Now as I leave the office, if I want to pick up a cool case or something, I have a pretty good idea—a hope that isn’t based on some fairy tale—that I will be using my new iPad around dinner time.

I know this, even though I am not actually looking at my new iPad just yet.

This kind of faith is Biblical faith. There is evidence, that leads to knowledge, that  gives me an assurance of things I can’t see.

So “blind faith” is like chucking a coin into fountain. But biblical faith is more like tracking a package.

Taken from an illustration given by Mikel Del Rosario, M.A., Th.M. (2023) A Story About Faith - How to Illustrate Biblical Faith - Dr. Mikel Del Rosario | Apologetics Guy℠. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://apologeticsguy.com/2012/05/story-about-faith-illustration/

NEED

This is the type faith that must be seen in each of us as believers. We have all the evidence of God as well as the knowledge from His Word which should place great assurance in us that He is and that He rewards those seek Him. Now, not only are we to be people of faith, we must also exhibit hope and love as well.

THEME

Every true believer’s life must be characterized by Biblical faith, hope, and love. We are to demonstrate practical confidence in the testimony of God through obedience which is Biblical faith. We live each day anticipating the blessings God promised us now and in the future, which is Biblical hope. Furthermore, we demonstrate our love for God and others through our purposeful commitment to sacrificial actions by giving our life for theirs. Of these three, Biblical love is the greatest for the simple reason that God is love. Biblical love demonstrates that God truly resides within us. As He is love, so we are love.

Biblical love is the most significant element of a true believer in Christ!

PURPOSE

This morning, our aim is to see how each critical element given our text is vitally important to us as believers. However, in the end, we will discover the supremacy of Biblical love.

Sub-Introduction

Last Sunday, we spent our time considering the importance of Biblical faith. In our text, 1 Corinthians 13:13, we are given three essential elements of a believer’s life. They are faith, hope, and love. And, as our text notes, the greatest of these is love. That is at truth will we will explore in more detail soon. However, for now, lets begin be recapping last week’s message and the focus on the second of the three elements.

The Holy Spirit wraps up this great chapter on Biblical love by bringing it full circle. In doing so, we learn that their are

Three Characteristics that Exemplify a True Believer

1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV 1900

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

Understanding Biblical Faith

Biblical Faith Defined - Demonstrative and useful confidence in the testimony of God, which results in obedient actions.

Validate

Our text gives us three characteristics that play a prominent role in each believer’s life. As noted, faith is one of these. If you do a comprehensive study on faith (something we don’t have time for, such as study today), you will discover Scripture’s understanding of faith. Many of us often think of faith as simply believing. However, faith is so much more than that in God’s Word. The aspect of believing is definitely a large part of faith. However, faith takes us beyond just belief in something. Biblical faith is not only a belief, but also a confidence in the testimony of God. Then, based on that belief and confidence, outward and proper actions are taken in obedience to God’s Word. Thus, there are three components to Biblical faith. They are belief, confidence, and action.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Note two of the three components are listed in this great verse about Biblical faith. There is belief – “...must believe that he is...” There is also confidence – “...must believe...he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” As you read the rest of that chapter, you find many people who exhibited Biblical faith. They obeyed His commands.

Explain

As I already mentioned, in Hebrews 11, we are provided a long list of people who demonstrated Biblical faith. As we expand this out a bit, we see this in action throughout the Word of God. Again, remember it is one of three characteristics of a faithful follower of Christ.

Let’s just take one example and note how they demonstrated Biblical faith. I will use the example of Abraham since we know that he was a man of great faith. In particular, I point your attention to the moment in Abraham’s life when God instructed Abraham to sacrifice his son’s life.

Genesis 22

Tell the story and point out Abraham’s belief, confidence, and the resulting acts of obedience.

Apply

Living the Christian life begins with faith.

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

However, even after salvation, living the Christian continues in faith.

James 2:17–18 KJV 1900

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

HEAD – What should I know about God and my relationship with Him?

Every promise of God is faithful. He has never failed a single promise that He has made to men. Consequently, we must believe that what He has said He will do. Concerning salvation, every aspect of it is true. We are sinners. We are entirely unable to achieve the necessary righteousness to attain Heaven. God knows this. He loves us even when we are in our sin. He provided His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as our Savior. Through His death, burial, and resurrection, you can be spiritually alive, restored to righteousness, and given the wonderful gift of eternal life. All is completed by God’s grace. The only thing you must do is BELIEVE (have faith). Additionally, after salvation, we, as believers, continue to live by faith, trusting each of God’s promises, such as He is with us always, He is interceding for us, and He is working together all things in our life for our good. These promises, plus many more, are things we must continue to believe (have faith).

HEART – What am I to feel? Happy, sad, guilty, thankful?

Faith sets the sinner free from the bondage of sin. When you, as a sinner, place your faith in Christ’s blessed work at His death, burial, and resurrection, you are released from the bondage of sin. No longer will you fill bound by sin. Instead, you will feel like a vast spiritual burden has been lifted. You can then live with confidence, knowing that you are no longer condemned to live out eternity in the awful existence of Hell. No, now you are a child of God, joint-heir with the Lord Himself, and enjoy the presence of God’s Spirit in your life. Salvation brings rejoicing.

As a believer, when I continue to live a life of obedience believing the promises of God, I no longer live in fear. Instead, I am able to live a live of peace, joy, longsuffering, love, and much more. It is what makes me stand out and be different from those who do not know Christ.

HANDS – What am I to do?

Unbelievers need to accept by faith all that God has already done for them. The complete package of eternal life is yours if you will receive it.

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Believers commit to simply believing in His promises and living His way. Each day is to be a day of walking by faith resting upon the promises of God. Thus, whenever the storms come or the sun is shining, we have unshakable confidence that He is in control and will always do what is best for us.

Understanding Biblical Hope

Biblical Hope Defined - Continued expectation that we will enjoy God’s blessings upon our lives as He promised both now and in the future.

Validate

The second of the three characteristics of a true believer is hope.

You may recall my illustration of faith. It was the illustration of my desire for a new iPad. In that illustration I demonstrated the difference between blind faith (simply wishing for something to happen) versus Biblical faith (not seeing what I desired, but having solid proof that it has arrived at my doorstep). In the same way, we are not live blindly wishing that God’s promises will come to fruition. No, instead, we are live with confidence that His promises are true and, in doing so, we act with confidence.

That same illustration can be used to demonstrate Biblical hope. Remember, in the illustration, I order the iPad. It is something that I greatly desired. I now have a great expectation that Amazon is going to fill my order by packaging and shipping my iPad. As I wait, my heart is filled with joy, happiness, and anticipation. My hope of having a new iPad grows each time I receive a new notification such as “Your new iPad has been shipped,” “Here is the tracking information for your iPad,” and “Your iPad has been delivered.” Now, remember, I still haven’t seen the new iPad, but each notification increases my expectation that soon I am going to enjoy the full blessings the iPad has to offer. It is the same with Biblical hope to a much fuller and greater degree.

Faith and hope may go hand in hand, but they accomplish different things. Biblical faith results in acts of obedience. Whereas, Biblical hope results in continued obedience. By definition, Biblical hope is a favorable and confident expectation. Biblical hope anticipates the joy and blessing that can be experienced as we, by faith, continue to obey the Lord. The foundation of our hope is always based on Christ Jesus, the “hope of glory.”

Colossians 1:27–28 KJV 1900

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Thus, Biblical hope is continually fixed upon God and the fact that He has promised many blessings for those who follow Him.

Explain

Again, we turn to the Abraham as our example. Abraham not only exhibited great faith, but he also expected to see and enjoy the great blessing of God in his life. He was a man of Biblical hope.

Romans 4:17–22 KJV 1900

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Without a doubt, there were multiple times when Abraham seemed to be in hopeless situations. As noted here in Romans, the moment God tells Abraham that he and Sarai would have child, seemed like an obvious hopeless situation. However, as also noted in this passage. Abraham “believed in hope.” He expected God to fulfill His promises. For that reason, day in and day out, Abraham anticipated the moment those promises would come true. He continually look forward to the day when he would become “the father of many nations” as God said. His hope increased his faith.

Romans 4:19–20 KJV 1900

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Instead, Abraham was “fully persuaded” that God who had promised would also perform. What was the end result in Abraham’s relationship with God?

Romans 4:22 KJV 1900

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Note that all the elements of Biblical hope are seen in Abraham. God promised future blessings (i.e., a son, father of all nations). Note the blessings promised were near and future blessings. In other words, the promise of a son was realized in Abraham’s lifetime as Isaac was born. Yet, the promise that he would be the father of all nations was not realized in his lifetime. Abraham continually believed and “staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief.” He was instead “strong in faith.” Thus, God was pleased with Abraham and imputed righteousness to him.

Apply

HEAD – What should I know about God and my relationship with Him?

God never fails in His promises. It is in Scripture that we see, read, and know His promises. Note this verse Romans 15:4

Romans 15:4 KJV 1900

4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Did you catch the last part of that verse? Everything written in Scripture is for our education. As we read it, we realize that God is truth and His promises never fail. In turn, we can rely upon Him and His Word which results in a great expectation of those promises being fulfilled. Unlike people who are constantly boasting false promises, God always keeps His promises.

Here is another simple application. Maintaining hope comes via God’s Word. Abraham maintained hope and strengthened his faith by relying upon God’s Word to Him. It is not much different today. We hold in our hands the inspired Word of God. As long as we read it, study it, and believe it, hope remains and our faith is strengthened as well. However, if you neglect God’s Word, you will begin to doubt its promises and your hope will diminish.

Psalm 119:81–83 KJV 1900

81 CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: But I hope in thy word. 82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, Saying, When wilt thou comfort me? 83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; Yet do I not forget thy statutes.

HEART – What am I to feel? Happy, sad, guilty, thankful?

No, think about this. When my life is dependent upon my hope in God and His promises, there is a sense of purpose and anticipation. As a believer, I can live confidently each day knowing that God has something good in store for me. The wonderful thing about God is that He always has my best in mind. He promises that He will take care of His own. Let me give one small example of what I mean.

In Matthew 6, Christ spoke about the fact that we should not worry about the future. Listen to what He said.

Matthew 6:25 KJV 1900

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Instead of worry, we are to place our hope in His promises. If He is able to take care of nature, such as feeding the birds, surely then He is able to take care of us. We must simply have faith. Now, note Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Our faith is now coupled with hope. We must believe Him by taking the proper action of making Him first in our lives. When we do, we live the expectation that everyday He is going to take care of us. Why the hope? He promised to do so. Thus, our hope is based upon His promise. It is something we can live each day expecting Him to do. Now, this is just one of many promises. However, I believe it adequately demonstrates how we can live with great confidence each day as we expect the realization of His promises. This is why Scripture is adamant that we, as believers, should not live in fear. There is no reason to fear. We have hope and faith that...

Philippians 4:19 KJV 1900

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:13 KJV 1900

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

HANDS – What am I to do?

I am to be a believer of faith and hope. Each day, my duty is to trust God and His promises. And, if I do, I will experience the same spiritual actions that Abraham did. I will hope when there is no hope. Why? God is faithful and He has promised so many things if I just simply trust Him. Thus, I must not stagger at His promises. Instead, I must strengthen my resolve to believe Him. Here is the thing. Each time I put my trust in Him, I am rewarded through His blessings which in turns builds my faith even more. Biblical hope strengthens faith. Biblical faith, in turn, increase my expectation of God’s blessings.

Now, let’s return to our text.

1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV 1900

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

I am not going to spend a lot of time helping you understand Biblical love. We covered that topic extensively already. However, I do want to give the Scriptural definition of Biblical love once again before this next point.

Here are the definitions for faith and hope once again.

Biblical Faith Defined - Demonstrative and useful confidence in the testimony of God, which results in obedient actions.

Biblical Hope Defined - Continued expectation that we will enjoy God’s blessings upon our lives as He promised both now and in the future.

Biblical Love Defined - A purposeful (decisive) commitment to sacrificial action for another.

This entire chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, is entirely dedicated to this one subject. Now, as the Holy Spirit wraps His teaching on Biblical love, He makes this very simple statement.

1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV 1900

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

Biblical love is the Greatest Because...

Before we learn why it is the greatest, let’s examine briefly the word “greatest.” It is an adjective telling us what kind or sort of love we are talking about. In context, love is greater than faith and hope. It is greater than any spiritual gift and, by the same thought, it is greater than two other spiritual qualities, namely, faith and hope.

Why is this? That is the real question. Based on my study of God and His Word, I believe there are two reasons.

Biblical love is founded entirely upon God’s love.

Validate

In order to validate this point, I simply point you to a number of verses which talk about God and His great love.

John 3:16 KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900

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

1 John 4:16 KJV 1900

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Explain

We just commemorated Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. All that Christ did at Calvary was God’s love for us. God made a very decisive commitment to sacrifice Himself for us. He knew we were in trouble. Our sin condemns us to an eternity without Him. It is a condition that God did not intend for us to live. However, Adam’s actions of selfishness and disobedience placed us under God’s judgment. In order for us to escape that condemnation, a payment must be made for our sins. We see this in Scripture as atonement. In other words, God required a sacrifice that would satisfy His righteous demands of divine justice and a basis for reestablishing fellowship between God and man. God decided that the only plausible sacrifice was His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the perfect Lamb of God. Therefore, God determined that He would sacrifice His only Son for our sinful and hopeless condition. Such sacrifice, my friend, is Biblical love. God, who is love, loved us so much that He gave Christ for us. A demonstration that took place when Christ died for us.

Apply

For obvious and logical reasons, Biblical love then is greater than faith and hope because it God’s love. It comes directly from Him. Therefore, all who believe and put their faith in Christ become part of God’s family and His adopted children.

Galatians 4:5–7 KJV 1900

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

As sons and daughters of God, we then are now people of Biblical love. We might not often act like it, but we are. I just read the verse in 1 John. Let read it again.

1 John 4:16 KJV 1900

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

The moment we place our faith in Christ and receive Him as our Savior, God places within us His Spirit. He transforms us. We become His children with His Spirit. Consequently, within each believer lies the ability to love as God loves. It is the reason the Holy Spirit throughout the entirety of the New Testament encourages us to love as He loves. It is there within us. We have the ability because we partakers of His nature. 1 Corinthians 13 is a one long discourse of saying, “Act like who you are ! People of Biblical love.” No matter what we do or where we go, we are to love the Lord and love others with the same Biblical love that God demonstrated to us.

Here is the second reason Biblical love is greater than faith and hope.

Biblical love is the foundation for faith and hope.

i. Validate the point – explain why you have drawn this point from a text.

Again, it is our text that gives us this point. Note 1 Corinthians 13:13

1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV 1900

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

The word “greatest” gives the connotation of being greater in importance. In other words, Biblical love stands out as being more important than faith or hope. Such love is the foundation of faith and hope. A fact that is supported by several key passages in the New Testament.

Note Galatians 5:5-6

Galatians 5:5–6 KJV 1900

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Did you see the three elements of a true believer in these verses? There is the “hope of righteousness by faith.” And then, verse 6 states “but faith which worketh by love.” As we know, hope is closely related to faith. Without faith, there is no hope. However, love is the foundation of faith. Faith works because of God’s love. Without God’s love, there is no faith or hope. All is dependent upon God loving us even while were yet sinners.

Now look at Ephesians 3 and note something else about love.

Ephesians 3:17–19 KJV 1900

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Here we find the Holy Spirit encouraging us to let Christ “dwell in” in our hearts “by faith.” What then is basis or foundation for faith dwelling in our hearts? It is due to the fact that we are “rooted and grounded in love.” The words “rooted and grounded” convey the thought of a solid foundation. Love then is the foundation of faith and, indirectly, hope. As you continue to ready the next two verses, you understand how that we can be people of love as we are grounded in Christ’s love. Everything always comes back to this one major point.

John 3:16 KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900

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

1 John 4:16 KJV 1900

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

ii. Explain the point – Probe the meaning of the point and use illustrations to help people understand the point.

iii. Apply the point – apply the point in ways that are practical to everyday living.