Love is Enduring

Introduction

Play video: Andy Griffith Romeo and Juliet

Perhaps you are familiar the original version of Romeo and Juliet. A love story that was enduring and so prevalent unto death. It makes for a good story; and if Andy Griffith tells it, it makes for a humorous one. As we continue our study in 1 Corinthians 13, we come to a section of verses that help us understand true enduring love. Let’s read these together:

1 Corinthians 13:8–12 NIV84

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Love is Permanent (vs.8)

Verse 8 declares for us that love is permanent. Matthew Henry wrote, “Love is a permanent and perpetual grace, lasting as eternity.”

Prophecies will fail

Paul, in his great writing ability, reminds of of what he has written in verses 1-2.

1 Corinthians 13:1–2 NIV84

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

Here is verse 8, he declares that prophecies will fail. They will come and go.

An example is described in Matthew’s gospel.

Matthew 11:13

Matthew 11:13 NIV84

13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

Scholars conservatively state that at least 300 prophecies about Christ. Those prophecies have come to their end. They will not come about again. These prophecies foretold the coming of love in a way mankind had not known. Enduring love has brought completion to these prophecies and they will no longer be talked about but indeed lived out!

Tongues will fail

We also see that the gift of tongues will also come to an end. Do you know it is easier today to learn a different language than ever before? It has come to the point where language is really not a barrier like it used to be many years ago. You can use a translator app on your phone to basically communicate anywhere. When it came to using tongues in the Bible, it was a language used in worship and in glorifying God. It was also used as a sign for unbelievers. 1 Corinthians 14:22

1 Corinthians 14:22 NIV84

22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.

However, this will fade away when we get to heaven there will be no use for tongues because there will only be one language. Enduring love will bring about completion for the use of tongues and they will no longer be needed.

Knowledge will fail

Verse 8 also declares for us that knowledge will fail. I think we can all relate to going into a room and trying to remember what we went in there for…

Another more tangible example of this is what’s hanging on my wall in my office. I have three degrees encased in frames. They reveal lots of hours of papers and presentations and attending class. However, the documents signifying my 3 degrees are fading and turning yellow.

The word Paul uses for what we have as knowledge is gnosis. It refers to the general knowledge of the Christian religion. It is about spiritual truth. The point Paul is making here is summed up in this quote from theologian Anthony Thistleton: “The sermons of prophets and the knowledge of theologians are rendered redundant, while the character and fruit of love does not fall apart.”

Solomon struggled with knowledge. Ecclesiastes 1:16-18

Ecclesiastes 1:16–18 (NIV84)

16 I thought to myself, “Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;

the more knowledge, the more grief.

Knowledge is a great thing to have, but Paul, as well as Solomon, tell us that it will fail.

We see that prophecies, tongues, and knowledge will fail. But love will never fail!

Love will never fail

It holds its place. It will never suffer ruin. These gifts failing is a reminder that even though they are good things, they won’t be anything when it comes to unfailing love. I read a great illustration from Matthew Henry: “The light of the candle is perfectly obscured by the sun shining into its strength.”

Think about that. If you have a bright light that you are using and the sunlight is shining on you at high noon at its fullest, as good as that bright light is, it is useless compared to the sun. Love is permanent because love is perfect.

Love is Perfect (vs. 9-10)

1 Corinthians 13:9–10 NIV84

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

First and foremost, we see here that our gifts are limited.

Our gifts are limited

We have already seen this in the previous verses. The gifts are adapted only to a state of imperfection. They are limited. Our best knowledge and our greatest abilities are at present like our condition- narrow and temporary.

Our gifts are irrelevant

So our gifts are irrelevant. The gifts were fitted to the present imperfect state of the church valuable in themselves, but not be compared to love which is designed to last forever.

Our gifts are overcome

Our gifts are overcome. The imperfect gifts disappear when the perfect gift comes. The perfect gift is love! God desires for each of us to have complete wholeness. This is God’s plan. When God’s plan is fulfilled, all that is partial disappears! This is further illustrated in human life, going from being a child to an adult.

Love is Prepared (vs. 11)

Love is prepared. I mean that in the sense of maturing. In Jewish customs, there is a rite of passage. Some common examples of Rites of Passage include initiation ceremonies, coming-of-age rituals, weddings, and funerals. For example, the Jewish Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies are Rites of Passage that signify a child's transition into adulthood and their new responsibilities within the community. Paul sharing with us here a wonderful example.

I used to talk like a child

When I was a child, I talked like a child. Think about this in the context of the preceding verses. When I was an immature child of God, I would speak in tongues.

I used to think like a child

The same concept rings true in the next phrase: I used to think like a child. Again in the context of the preceding verses, when I was an immature child of God, I would think and reason like a child, I would prophesy and get my knowledge like a child.

As believers, we are to grow in maturity in Christ. There are steps to our maturity.

Hebrews 5:12–13 NIV84

12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.

Through maturity childish things are gone

We are reminded that through maturity, childish things are gone! Paul says, “When I was a child, I put childish ways behind me.” The tense here indicates that childish things are put away with decision and finality. When you grow up, you don’t grow back!

Love is Profound (vs. 12)

In verse 12, Paul has given us a beautiful illustration. Corinth was famous for its mirrors. However, they were not glass mirrors like we have today. They were made out of polished steel. This would give off an unclear reflection.

Unclear at first

This unclear reflection would be a poor representation. Can you imagine ladies, putting on your make up using a reflection of a polished steel mirror? Or guys, shaving in front a piece of shiny tin? Paul was telling his readers that things were dark and confused now, but they will become bright and clean.

Clarity will come

Clarity will come! There is a change from a poor reflection to one that is face to face. James 1:23-24

James 1:23–24 NIV84

23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

But, face to face we see so much more, right? Think about this way, how many times have you texted with someone or talked by phone and you have not been able to communicate your thoughts and feelings adequately. But when you got face to face, you got a clearer understanding!

By the way, this concept goes all the back to the Old Testament.

Numbers 12:8 (NIV84)

8 With him I speak face to face,

clearly and not in riddles;

he sees the form of the Lord.

Why then were you not afraid

to speak against my servant Moses?”

Paul also spoke more about this: 2 Corinthians 3:18

2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV84

18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Do you see what happens here? All earthly knowledge and spiritual understanding is partial.

Partial will become whole

But the partial will become whole! Face to face is in the presence of God! That’s what love does! The love of God will allow us the privilege of getting to be known the way we long to be known. True personhood can never be fully fathomed by our friends or family—and certainly not in a mirror! Only our Creator knows us to our depths. On the day of perfection, God himself will gaze beyond our eyes to the boundaries of our personhood. We will be known like we long to be known now. The quest for self-understanding will be over. The quest for knowledge will be over. All that is possible because of love. God’s love.

This passage accentuates for me the incredible need we have to get closer to God and how God in His incredible plan desires for us to get close to Him! The older I get, the more I realize how much I do not need religion, but I need relationship! You and I are created to be in an intimate, loving relationship with our Heavenly Father. Our problem is this thing called sin. It separates us from His love. Yet because of His love, He made a way for us to have that incredible relationship with Him. Every question we have in life, every question, can be answered in Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is my everything. Why? Love never fails.

David prayed in Psalm 69:13

Psalm 69:13 (NIV84)

13 But I pray to you, O Lord,

in the time of your favor;

in your great love, O God,

answer me with your sure salvation.

He did. He has given His great love and answered this plea of salvation.

He will answer your plea for salvation as well. Ask. Jesus is the answer!