The More Excellent Way
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
In the previous chapter, Paul wrote about the various parts of the human body which illustrate the diverse gifts operating within the Body of Christ, which we know, is none other than the Church…the great body of believers, made up of those who have been born again.
Chapter 12 closes with something interesting concerning these gifts...
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Paul told the Corinthians in chapter twelve he would show them the better and best way to live the Christian life...
This more excellent way is referring to an entire manner of life that always displays love rather than always seeking to display one’s spiritual gifts.
In this chapter Paul is going to help those Christians that have allowed their egos to run away with them.
The church at Corinth was facing great difficulty from within due to its members chasing after the sign gifts and the showy gifts; many wanted these specific gifts so as to be in the limelight.
This is about the most horrible desire that a Christian can display. The Christian that is self serving and self promoting is wrong in their mindset if they think this is okay within the church. It is a vile sin and unlike anything a true Christian is supposed to do.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
We must understand what love is and how important it is. Without it, everything we do is in vain. This is why this chapter is so valuable, so for a little while this morning, I want to preach on the subject of “The More Excellent Way”
Let’s dig in.
1-The Priority of Love (v.1-3)
1-The Priority of Love (v.1-3)
There is a priority given in Scripture of love…You think about it, in searching throughout this vast universe and all of its beauty, God chose love to describe Himself; I find this just amazing.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
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 character of God is described by love and the children of God are defined by this same pure priceless love.
The church at Corinth had many spiritual gifts, they were grounded in sound doctrine, but they were missing in the area of love. This lack of love was allowing them to be egotistical, divisional, and controversial; God was displeased with this crowd.
The whole idea of this chapter is that love is superior to everything else we can be or do!
Now, this is interesting, the word translated as “charity” in our text is the Greek word “agape” - it’s the same Greek word translated love in those verses I give you a minute ago in 1 John...
Agape is the Greek word that expresses unselfish esteem of the object loved. Christ’s love for us is undeserved and without thought of return…This is the idea being conveyed in these verses...
Just so you know, in the Greek language, there are four different words to our one, English word for “love” - I don’t have time to get into them this morning, but I want you to understand that it’s important to see the difference.
I want you to notice in verse 1...
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.
You may be a great speaker, but that is no substitute for love. No matter how beautiful your speech, how brilliant your rhetoric, without love you are simply a clanging cymbal.
Have you ever been to a cymbal solo? I can assure you it is not very exciting. No matter what you say, nor how you say it, nor how accurate it may be, without love it is just noise. Without love, talk truly is cheap.
You see, great talk can move a person’s emotions. Great rhetoric can move a person’s mind. A great speech can move a person’s will, but only great love can move a person’s heart.
Speaking can move one to tears, but only love can move one to Jesus.
Look at verse 2...
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.
All of these wonderful abilities are nothing without love for people and the Lord. Jesus made it clear that without His working in our lives, we can do nothing.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Look on to verse 3...
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.
We can give away everything we own. We can even give up our bodies on the altar of martyrdom, but if we do so without love in our hearts, it is a waste of time and it does not profit us one bit.
Love is a priority!
The emphasis here is clear as a bell this morning! When love is absent, we are nothing, we can expect nothing, and regardless of our abilities and our gifts, it’s all just a waste of time.
So, we are given “The Priority of Love” in these first 3 verses…Next we see:
2-The Practice of Love (v.4-7)
2-The Practice of Love (v.4-7)
In these verses, we are given an in-depth description of love. The Bible reveals all of its characteristics to us. These are truths that we need to be reminded of continually.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
True love will be patient and it will endure.
Jesus displayed a patient love when he forgave those that mistreated him. He also displays this same type of love in dealing with me; I am truly unworthy of his patient love.
Love is patient in that it will take most anything from others but it is also kind in that it will do most anything for others. This is the mighty agape love of God that has been given to all of us that follow him.
Love is not only long suffering and patient, it is not only kind, but love does not envy or produce a spirit of jealousy towards others. It does not lift itself up or deem itself to be better than anyone else, pure love is productive and powerful.
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
If we are filled with the love of God we do not try to mistreat others. We do not seek gifts that are self serving or superior to the eye, but we seek the welfare of others as we serve the Lord. True love does not get all torn up and explode at the drop of a hat, it is not easily ignited to anger or hatred. If we operate in a spirit of pure love we do not think the worst of others, but we consider their goodness and their wellbeing. Love does not seek vengeance towards others and does not think evil upon them.
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Love finds no pleasure in sin, not in our own sins or in the sins of others. Sin in all forms is Anti-God and should not be accepted or acceptable in any format. Sin is sin, it always has been sin and it always will be sin.
Love will never rejoice in sin but it will rejoice in the truth.
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Love patiently endures and overlooks the faults in others. The word “beareth” literally means “to cover”.
Love always places the best possible interpretation on everything that happens. It does not always seek the most negative answer, but it believes that good will triumph in any situation.
Love always expects the best possible outcome. It refuses to accept failure.
Love stands it’s ground and perseveres in spite of everything that can be thrown against it.
3-The Permanence of Love (v.8-12)
3-The Permanence of Love (v.8-12)
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. 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.
When everything else in this world has passed away. When everything that is held us such high esteem is gone. When knowledge and gifts no longer matter, love will still exist. It is the great constant throughout eternity.
There are times when love may lose a battle. In that the object of one’s love may never return that love. Yet, while it may lose a battle here and there, love has already won the war. The idea here is not on success. The idea is one of endurance.
When other things have been removed from view, there will still be love! It does not give in, give up or give out. Love that is real is love that lasts!
Conclusion
Conclusion
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
The three great pursuits of the Christian life are not “miracles, power, and gifts”; they are faith, hope, and love.
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.
These three are inseparable in the Bible:
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
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.
4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
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.
