Untitled Sermon (2)

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 - Without Love, We Are Nothing

By: Andrew Boozer

Good morning brothers and sisters. Please take your Bibles and turn with me to 1 Corinthians 13. At the beginning of 1 Corinthians, we are instructed in chapter 1 that the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church of God in the city of Corinth. And in 16:8 we are informed that the apostle is writing from Ephesus.

Paul has addressed the following topics prior to chapter 13. The error of favoritism regarding teachers, the centrality of the gospel of the Lord Jesus, immorality in the church, and the necessity of separating from a self-proclaimed Christian who is living in sin.

Additionally, he discusses resolving civil matters between Christians, a word to the non-married, respecting the consciences of others, the right for ministers to be paid by the church, head coverings, and the Lord’s supper.

In chapter 12, we learn that Christians have different abilities but that, as the body of Christ, we need each other as well as our various spiritual gifts. Paul compares the church in chapter 12 to a human body. The foot needs the hand, and the ear needs the eye. We need each other.

In chapter 14, Paul speaks about church order, including the use of tongues, which is the miraculous gift of speaking in other human languages. He also speaks about prophecy. Today the sermon focuses on 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, but, for context, we will read verses 1 through 13. Hear the word of the living and true God. (Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13) The grass withers, and the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. (Pray).

This morning we will see that we are nothing without love. Possessing love is a mark of a Christian. We are to love God and love others, especially fellow Christians. Friend, are you motivated by love?

So, what is love? The Apostle Paul, writing under the Holy Spirit, provides us with 16 characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. We read them earlier.

Verse 4:

Love suffers long - 1

Love is kind - 2

Love does not envy - 3

Love does not parade itself - 4

Love is not puffed up - 5

Verse 5:

Love does not behave rudely - 6

Love does not seek its own - 7

Love is not provoked - 8

Love thinks no evil - 9

Verse 6:

Love does not rejoice in iniquity - 10

Love rejoices in the truth - 11

Verse 7:

Love bears all things - 12

Love believes all things - 13

Love hopes all things - 14

Love endures all things - 15

Verse 8:

Love never fails - 16

Brethren, are we marked by love as just described? The sermon has three points: purposeless pandemonium, penniless professors, and pointless performance. Purposeless pandemonium, penniless professors, and pointless performance.

Purposeless Pandemonium (verse 1)

Explanation:

First, purposeless pandemonium. Pandemonium can be defined as a wild uproar or chaos. Please direct your attention back to 1 Corinthians 13:1 (read 1 Corinthians 13:1).

The Apostle Paul refers to speaking in the tongues of men and of angels. The spiritual gift of tongues is the gift of speaking in foreign languages. If I began speaking fluent Korean, Mandarin, or Arabic, even though I did not know what I was saying, this would be the gift of tongues. The gift of tongues was demonstrated clearly at the beginning of the book of Acts during Pentecost. This was a type of reversal of the punishment at the tower of Babel where languages were confused.

Acts 2:5-8 reads, “And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?”

The gift of tongues is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12, and chapter 14 is dedicated mostly but not exclusively to the topic of speaking in tongues. Paul had to give special attention to how the gift of speaking in other langues was practiced in church meetings. This is likely because there was an over-emphasis on the gift of tongues. In 1 Corinthians 12:27-31, Paul ranks the gifts of the church by order of importance but he lists the lists “varieties of tongues” last.

An important gift, but one that had been overemphasized. The church was imbalanced in this area. Paul tells the church at Corinth in 12:31 to “earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” Then we are presented with chapter 13, verse 1. The more excellent way is to be marked by love.

Regarding the mention of angelic languages, some Reformed scholars believe this is hyperbole or exaggerated speech. But scripture does not explicitly say that there are no angelic languages. In scripture, when angels are speaking, it seems like they are speaking in a known human tongue.

This was certainly true when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and when the two angels encountered Lot and his family in Sodom. What we do know is that Scripture does not tell us that humans communicated to angels using angelic languages. Are there angelic languages? We do not know, but if there are, they are not for us in this life. Our focus needs to be upon Christ and His glory not on building doctrinal superstructures out of isolated verses.

The point that Paul is making is clear. Speaking in unlearned languages is incredible. But, if Paul does not have love, even supernatural communication abilities would only equate to that of a piece of metal being beaten. Some commentators believe that these loud percussion instruments were used in pagan worship. Paul is saying that his words would be utterly pointless without love.

I am reminded of the words of our Savior. Jesus says in Mark 12:30-31, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Illustration:

Paul’s imagery is vivid. If he has supernatural communication ability but he does not have love, his communication is not just pointless; it is irritating. This is a good reminder for all of us. Even if we are good verbal communicators, if our words and actions are not marked by love, we are like nails on a chalkboard or tone-deaf singers.

Application:

Brethren, if you and I have nice words to say to others, but it equates to only shallow talk, then we do not have love. Are you marked with love? Would the person sitting next to you today say that you are marked by love?

After service, if you were to ask someone, “How are you doing.” And they actually responded honestly and said, “you know, I am doing terrible. I have these really hard things going on in my life, and I am struggling with a certain sin.” How many here would really want to hear that, or would you think, wow, I wish I wouldn’t have even asked.

If we have not love, we are clanging cymbals.

We have looked at purposeless pandemonium. We will now see how we are penniless professors without love.

Penniless Professors (verse 2)

Explanation:

Please direct your attention to 1 Corinthians 13:2 (read 1 Corinthians 13:2).

Let’s do a quick inventory. You are a prophet. You hypothetically understand all mysteries and knowledge. And you have amazing faith. Pretty impressive right? But then Paul says, but if you don’t have love, you are nothing. In the kingdom of man, you may be something. But in God’s judgment, you are a nobody. We are worthless if we do not have love.

In Numbers chapters 22 through 24, we are presented with a pagan prophet by the name of Balaam. The LORD uses Balaam to prophesy truthfully, but Balaam was wicked; he was not marked by the love of God and love for others. Also, there was no man wiser than King Solomon. But Solomon’s wisdom did not keep him from sinning greatly against God. Wisdom, knowledge, and intellect that are not marked by love are purposeless.

In chapter 13, verse 2, Paul mentions faith that can remove mountains. We see similar language used by Jesus in Matthew 17 and 21. Faith that can remove mountains refers to sincere faith. This does not literally mean that some people have faith that enables them to shift mountain ranges and lower clifts through concentration. Rather this faith that can remove mountains is based on a true conviction, a sincere belief.

Illustration:

In Luke 10, we are confronted with the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus tells a parable about loving those you deem unlovable. The story includes a Jewish Priest and a Levite who neglect to care for a man who was beaten and in need of immediate medical attention. The story is shocking because Jesus tells of a Samaritan man who cared for the injured person. We hear this with American ears and don’t sense the full weightiness of it.

So let’s bring this story a little closer to home.

A guy went down from Scranton to Newfoundland and was mugged and left for dead. A certain Reformed Baptist came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise, a member of the Bible Fellowship Church of Greentown, insert my name, insert your name, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain woke Roman Catholic, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.

If that made you feel a little bit uncomfortable, that is a weak reaction compared to how Jesus’ audience likely felt.

Most of us have likely heard that the Samaritans hated the Jews. The Samaritan people were a mixture of Jews and Gentiles. The name Samaritan comes from the city of Samaria, which was the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. After the Assyrian empire exiled many of the Israelites living in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, they resettled the area with non-Jewish idol worshippers. The already corrupted worship now included additional pagan practices.

After the Old Testament was written and before the New Testament was penned, the Samaritans when under threat of persecution, dedicated their temple to a false Greek god. This is not to be confused with the Jerusalem Temple. Later, in 128 BC, Jewish fighters demolished the Samaritan temple, and 20 years later, Jews destroyed Samaria.

To say that there was hostility between the Jews and the Samaritans is an understatement. There was deep hatred. Jesus purposely included the Samaritan in His parable, and this would have been shocking to many, if not all, of his listeners.

Prior to my conversion, I briefly attended a Reformed Baptist Church. I did not return to a 1689 church for a number of years because one of the most famous Reformed Baptists in America treated me rudely when I asked a sincere theological question after he preached. I literally asked him after he preached about King Saul, “how could Saul have an evil spirit that was sent by God.” He is a respected theologian and teacher, but the man was not marked by love. Let that not be true of us, beloved.

Application:

Correct theology is vitally important. Compromising on doctrine is not negotiable. The regulative principle of worship is not negotiable, lest we be guilty of strange fire. But if we have all the elements of correct doctrine and theology but have not love, we are nothing. We are damned if we do not believe the gospel, but if God has not changed us inwardly and thus outwardly and you are not marked by love, then you have to question if you are a Christian. When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone? When was the last time you had fellowship with a Christian outside of a church meeting? My brothers and sisters, are you marked by love?

Do you get excited by Reformed truth, good. But does your excitement stop at intellectual knowledge? If our intellectual knowledge does not lead us to love other people, then our intellect is worthless. If our biblical doctrine does not lead us to love other people, then we don’t understand what it means to be Christian. We have looked at penniless professors, and we will now consider pointless performance.

Pointless Performance (verse 3)

Explanation:

Please direct your attention back to 1 Corinthians 13:3 (read 1 Corinthians 13:3).

So maybe you are a giver. Maybe you give frequently and religiously to others. And maybe you even give until it hurts. That is admirable, but if you don’t have love, it doesn’t count for anything, it is pointless.

Maybe you would be willing to take a bullet for the name of Christ and even be burned at the stake, but if you do not possess love, your actions are purposeless. For our natural minds, that seems a little backward, right?

If I am a martyr for my testimony in Jesus but do not have love, my death is pointless. Because all those who are loved by God and who love God are marked by love for others. If you do not have love, then you simply do not know Christ.

Paul mentions giving his body to be burned. Some NT manuscripts say “burned,” and others say “boast.” Some scholars believe that the word burned should be translated as “boast.” Though I am not 100% sure, and I am not a Greek scholar, I believe that “burned” is the better rendering. Ultimately the meaning of the verse is very similar regardless of whether your translation says burned or boast.

It is important to note that until the rule of Emperor Nero, the practice of burning Christians had not been done. Paul wrote these words prior to the first burning of Christians. Paul may be referencing the book of Daniel where we are told about Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah being thrown into the fiery furnace by the decree of King Nebuchadnezzar. Whether or not this is a reference to the faithful Judeans in Babylon, we acknowledge that giving one's body to be burned would be a horrible death.

There is something entirely wrong with a person who is willing to die for the truth but not love. Christ’s love for the Christian and the Christian’s love for Christ results in love for others; this must be the driver of our actions.

A young woman that I knew in high school did not grow up with her dad. Because she lost her father on 9/11, he was a firefighter in New York City. The terrorists were not driven by love; rather, they were driven by religious zeal. The Apostle Paul was not unfamiliar with misguided religious zeal. He knew firsthand the dangers of zeal that was not driven by love for God. He approved of the killing of Stephen, the first martyr in the Christian church.

If you know Jesus, everything you do for Him will be driven by love. Our love is not perfect love, but we can love because the Holy Spirit is in believers. God is love. Also, let us not forget the words of our Savior in John 15 that there is no greater love than this that one would lay down his life for a friend. Love is the driver. And Christ has displayed the greatest love for us. And we should model our Savior in self sacrificial living before Him.

Illustration:

The historian Eusebius of Ceseara died in AD 339. He recorded a story about three men who were martyred under the persecution of Emperor Valerian. The record says they actually sought death by turning themselves in. Jesus speaking to his disciples in Matthew 10, tells them to flee when under persecution to another city. We are not to seek martyrdom. I do not know the destiny of these three early church martyrs but, it if they did not have love, they are not in Heaven right now.

Application:

So maybe you are willing to suffer for the sake of Christ. Good, that is the mark of a true disciple. But I ask you, are you marked with love? The fruit of the Spirit is love. Would your family characterize you as a loving person? Would your friends say that you are loving? Would the person sitting next to you describe you as a loving person? Your giving, your sacrifice, your good deeds, your evangelism profits you nothing if you have not love. If you have not love you are putting on a pointless performance, for it will profit you nothing.

If Bible Fellowship Church was one of the churches being directly written to in the opening chapters of the book of Revelation would we beloved collectively be commended by our Risen Savior for our love?

If you are more concerned with your Roth IRA than the needs of your brothers and sisters, then there is a problem. If you are more focused on your next vacation or purchase than on Christian fellowship, then there is a serious issue. We are nothing if we do not have love.

Some may have it in their mind that as long as everyone here is kind of getting by, then our jobs are done. There are Christians who are hungry at this very moment. There are followers of Jesus who will die this week, and we sit here in safety. Are these people not our brothers and sisters? Could these possibly be the ones referred to in Matthew 25? Those who are hungry, naked, and in prison. People who may not speak our language or reside in our nation but they are no more our family than our fellow brethren in Scranton, Hazelton, and Pine Bush.

Conclusion

Today we have looked at purposeless pandemonium, penniless professors, and pointless performance. I want to draw your attention to verse 8 of 1 Corinthians 13. (Read 1 Corinthians 13:8).

The Apostle instructs us that prophecies will fail, tongues will cease, and knowledge will vanish. But love never fails!

Brother and sister, are you marked by love? For Jesus tells us in John 13, to love one another and that all will know that we are followers of Jesus, if we love others. One of the marks of the early church is that they loved each other. Do you put others before yourself?

Do you put your spouse before yourself? Do you put your neighbors before yourself? Do you put others here before yourself? This is not a time to point fingers or to think about someone else. The questions are posed to all of us. Are you marked with the love of God? Has God given you a heart transplant? If you have a heart of flesh, you will have love.

For my fellow Christians, here are a few thoughts.

Look at the Ten Commandments as well as 1 Corinthians 13 as necessary guides to determine whether we are loving God and loving other people.

In Matthew 5, Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. Ask yourself whether you are marked by forgiveness, envy, or bitterness. Do you pray for those who hate you?

Love like you are going to spend eternity with the people in this church today.

If you have searched yourself and have not found love, then come to Christ. Tell God that you are sorry for your lack of love and for your failure to live up to God’s perfect standard. Come of our your sin and look to Christ.

Galatians 2:20 reads, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” We are owned by Christ. If you are His, you will be marked by love.

Jesus is perfect love