The Kind of Love That Doesn’t Let Go (Ephesians 4:2d)

Recap

The first half of Ephesians Paul tells us kung ano yung ginawa satin ng Diyos. From rags to riches, from curses to blessings, from death to life, from hostility to unity! God has done far more that we could ever think or imagine for his people. And the right response is to praise His glory! But Paul didn’t just stop to calls the church to praise God in their words, but he begs them to glorify God in their walks.

If we are to respond rightly sa ginawa satin ng Diyos sa chapter 1-3 and if we desire to grow in unity and maturity as a church, which is the main idea of verse 1-16 ng chapter 4, then we must listen sa sinabi ni Paul and ask the Holy Spirit to empower na maipamuhay natin, na makapag lakad tayo ng may:

Buong kapakumbabaan (humility), is a attitude of the mind where we think and see ourselves rightly in light of God’s glory. And the practical implication of that in the church na dapat hindi tayo mayabang, and it takes humility na admit na hindi dapat umiikot yung mundo satin. As Paul said sa Philippians 2:3–4 “doing nothing from selfish ambition or vain glory, but with humility of mind regarding one another as more important than yourselves, not looking out for your own personal interests, but rather for the interests of others.” That’s the first walk towards unity in the church, the second walk is gentleness.

Kahinahunan o pagiging mahinahon -gentleness ay nakikita sa kilos at pakikitungo ng isang taong may mapagpakumbabang puso. It’s not weakness, but strength under control—choosing to submit power, emotion, and response to God. When you have the power to destroy and crushed your enemy but instead, you decided to show mercy and grace towards them. Instead of being of humiliating them, you help them and take care of them, that’s gentleness, they demonstrate consideration for the needs and feelings of others. The gentle defend God, not themselves. They are kind under pressure, firm in truth, and respond to hostility with blessing, love, and trust in God's judgment. This is the second walk, towards unity. The thrid is patience, that we should walk with patience.

(pag-tya-tyaga sa isa’t isa o may mahabang pasensya towards one another), It means exercising humility and gentleness in the company of disappointing, frustrating, and downright offensive people. Patience is the ability to remain calm when everything within you and outside of you is pushing you na mairita o magalit ka na. That’s the third walk if we are to keep the unity in the church.

and the fourth Christlike character na dapat nating maipamuhay, is that we walk bearing one another in love (magtiisan tayo sa isa’t isa dahil sa pag-ibig.) What does it look like when the church bears one another in love? that we endure one another in love? And that will be the focus of our study today, I entitle this message: The Kind of Love That Doesn’t Let Go.

So I invite everyone to stand as we read the word of God, we will be reading 2 passages, the first one is Ephesians Chapter 4:1-3 and the second one is yung 1st letter ni Paul sa Corinth in Chapter 13 verse 4-7

Ephesians 4:1–3

“Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

This is the word of the Lord! Let us pray:

Introduction

Alam n’yo po, dati akong naggi-gym. Kasama ko po si Kuya PJ.

Nag pa member kami sa Anytime Fitness for almost 2 years, madalas 3x a week nag gi-gym kami, magbubuhat kami ng mabibigat—barbell, dumbbell, bench press. Hindi dahil para maging pang model yung katawan namin—pero dahil gusto naming naming lumakas, maging healthy. Masakit sa katawan, pero alam ko, kailangan kong tiisin (I need to bear the pain and yung ngalay) para lumakas, para maging mas malusog, as the saying goes, “no pain, no gain.”

Now as I look back, napaisip ako: “Grabe no, kayang-kaya kong buhatin ang bakal na mabibigat, yung kahit pagod ka na, tinitiis mo. Pero bakit pag ugali na ng ibang tao ang kailangang nating tiisin, ang bilis nating mapagod? ang bilis natin sumuko?

Yung iba satin, yung bigat ng weights—handa natin tiisin. Pero yung bigat ng pakikisama sa mga taong paulit-ulit sa pagkakamali… ilang beses mo nang tinuruan pero hindi pa rin nage-gets… matanda na pero parang bata pa rin mag-isip… binigyan mo na ng advice pero hindi pa rin sumusunod… pinagse-servan mo na pero demanding pa…

Sa bahay pa lang, minsan ang hirap na. Yung mga magulang na parang walang pake minsan sa pinagdadaanan mo… Yung anak mo na tinuturoan mo na araw-araw, pero parang pasok lang sa isang tenga, labas sa kabila… Yung asawa mong paulit-ulit mong pinagsabihan, pero parang ikaw pa rin ang may mali…

Yung mga kapamilya o ka-church mo na ang hirap-hirap intindihin, pero ikaw lagi ang umaabot, ikaw lagi ang nagpapakumbaba.

Nakakapagod. Nakakadrain. At kung minsan, ang tanong na lang natin: “Hanggang kailan ko ba ito titiisin?”

That’s why Paul exhort us, that in light of what God has done for us in Christ, and in order for the church to grow in unity and maturity where the glory of God is most visible, Paul is calling us as God’s church to walk bearing one another in love.

Hindi lang ito basta pagtiis. Hindi ito yung tahimik lang na nagtitimpi pero sa loob, galit na galit. And you don’t bear them up kasi wala ka ng choice or napipilitan ka lang, you don’t bear them up kasi you feel that you are better than them. We bear one another not in pride, but in love.

Sabi ni Charles Swindol, pero mas pinasimple ko na, sabi n’ya “Ang totoong pagtitiis sa pag-ibig ay ‘yung marunong kang umunawa kahit iba sila sa’yo. Kahit hindi mo trip ang approach nila, hindi mo sila agad hinuhusgahan. Binibigyan mo sila ng space para lumago sa Lord…”

You give them room for repentance, and time for them to grow in faith. You cannot expect to be like you, and to be better in an instant than they ought to be, and when they disappoint you, hurt you, fails you, you bear them up, you carry them, you don’t give up on them.

As John MacArthur comment on this particular word, sabi n’ya “Enduring love takes abuse from others while continuing to love them.”

"Kahit masaktan mo ako, madismaya mo ako, o o inisin mo ako— Titiisin kita ng may pag-mamamahal. Kagaya ng pagti-titiis sakin ng Diyos” Madaling sabihin, pero napakahirap gawin.

Alam natin ‘yan—because this kind of love doesn’t come naturally to us. Hindi ito galing sa sarili nating lakas

This is the work of God sa puso ng Kanyang mga anak.

Yung salitang ginamit ni Paul para sa ‘love’ dito ay hindi romantic love, o friendship love—

hindi ito kagaya ng Eros, Erōs love is essentially self-love, dahil may pake ka lang sa iba dahil alam mong may mapapala ka sa kanila. Etong klaseng pag mamahal na ito ay nang gagamit ka lang ng tao pero hindi nag bibigay.

Yung other word for love is philia, Philia love is primarily reciprocal love, love that gives as long as it receives (mahal kita for as long na mahal mo ako).

Ang ginamit niyang Greek word ay agape— isang pag-ibig na naghahangad ng pinakamabuti para sa kapwa,hindi ito nag hahangad ng kapalit at ito’y patuloy na nag bibigay ng walang kondisyon kahit hindi mo deserve.

Agape is divine love. (John 3:16) It’s the kind of love that says, “Titiisin kita, hindi kita susukuan!, because God did not give up on me.”

At kung tayo ay talagang tumutugon sa pagkakatawag satin sa kaligtasan ng Diyos - dapat tayong mag lakad ng tinitiis ang bawat isa sa pag-ibig, hindi sumusuko sa isa’t isa, bearing one another in love is the forth ingredient to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

And this is why Paul said the same thing to the chosen, holy and beloved believers in Colosee, as they respond to the new life that they have recieved, they are to put off the old self and put on the new one, and part of that is Colossians 3:13–14 “bearing with one another, and graciously forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord graciously forgave you, so also should you. Above all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” - yung love is yung glue na nag u-unite satin, without agape love, the church will be divided. That’s why we needed Agape love, we needed this kind of love that seek the highest good in each other despite na nahihirapan tayo, pinipili natin magtiis, magtiis ng may pagmamahal.

If we walk with all humility, gentleness and with patience, but we failed to bear one another in love, even the most beautiful attitudes will fail to build real unity and reflect Christ’s heart.

This is a Kind of Love That Doesn’t Let Go of each other to keep the unity in the church. In a world that cancels people pag nagkamali sila, and give up easily on people pag sumosobra na sila. God is calling us his church to bear one another in love as Christ did for us.

Bearing with one another in love” is how humility, gentleness, and patience are truly tested and proven. It’s not just inward character, but relational action.

Even si Jesus mismo naranasan Niya ‘yung bigat ng pakikisama sa mga taong mabagal matuto, kulang sa pananampalataya, at paulit-ulit sa pagkakamali. Kaya nga sa Matthew 17:17, nasabi Niya: ‘How long am I to bear (anechō) with you?’

Pero ang nakakamangha? Hindi Siya sumuko. Hindi Niya iniwan. Tinulungan pa rin Niya yung bata. Minahal pa rin Niya yung disciples. Tiniis n’ya at hindi s’ya sumuko hangang dulo. And He willingly went to the Cross, tiniis n’ya lahat ng insulto sa kanya ng mga tao, mula sa crowd na sumigaw na i cruxify s’ya, sa mga roman soldier na binastos s’ya, sa mga disciples na tumalikod sa kanya, he bear all of that, tiniis n’ya lahat yon, he could have called the legions of angels but he did not. When people revile him, he revile not. He endure, he put up with men, he bears all the insult and the harshness of the people He created. Tiniis n’ya ito ng may pagmamahal, that even na nakapako na s’ya, He is pleading to the Father na wag i count yung mga insulto at pananakit sa kanya ng mga tao. Luke 23:34a “But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

Yung nakita natin sa krus ay hindi lang basta isang duguan na lalaki na sumisigaw ng, ‘Ama, patawarin mo sila.’ Totoo ‘yon—pero mas malalim pa ang nangyayari doon.

Habang nakapako si Jesus sa krus, dala Niya ang kasalanan ng Kanyang mga tao. Hindi lang Siya nasasaktan—pinapasan Niya ang bigat ng ating kasalanan, Siya ang ginawang alay para sa ating kapatawaran.

Sabi sa 2 Corinthians 5:21 “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

At ganito rin ang sabi ni Pedro sa 1 Peter 2:24 “Who Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that having died to sin, we might live to righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.”

Kaya oo, may nakita tayong lalaking nagdurusa sa krus—pero higit pa roon, nakita natin ang Kordero ng Diyos na pinapasan ang hatol na tayo ang dapat tumanggap.

Dahil sa ginawa Niya, lahat ng tumalikod sa kasalanan at nanampalataya sa Kanya ay nakatangap ng kapatawaran, kaligtasan, at bagong buhay.

Hindi lang tayo tiniis ni Kristo ng panandalian, tiniis n’ya tayo hanggang dulo, dinala n’ya ang ating mga kasalanan sa kanyang katawan doon sa Krus ng Kalbaryo.

Mga kapatid, ang dahilan kung bakit kaya nating tiisin ang isa’t isa sa pag-ibig ay dahil may Isang tumiis ng lahat ng kasalanan natin. Si Cristo ang bumuhat ng pasaning hindi natin kayang buhatin—ang galit ng Diyos sa ating kasalanan. He absorbed the full wrath of God. Tiniis Niya ang pinaka-masakit na pagkahiwalay mula sa Diyos Ama.

He endured the greatest pain of all—not just the nails, not just the mockery, but the abandonment of the Father. At tiniis Niya ito para matupad ang kalooban ng Ama, para tayo’y maligtas, para makalapit tayo sa Diyos.

And because of that—kaya na rin nating tiisin ang isa’t isa. Hindi dahil madali, hindi dahil natural sa atin, kundi dahil ang pag-ibig ni Cristo ay nasa atin.

Yes, it’s hard to love people who are slow to change… Yes, it’s hard to be patient with those who keep failing… But if Christ bore with us at our worst, how can we not bear with one another in love?

Kaya kapag sinabi ni Paul sa Ephesians 4:2 na ‘bearing with one another in love,’ hindi lang ito advice, hindi lang ito suggestion na as if it’s up to us kung susundin natin or hindi—this is a calling for all the Christian, it’s a call to follow the very heart of Christ.

To fail to bear with one another in love is ultimately to misrepresent Christ, who bore with us in our sin (Romans 5:8).

Sabi ni Jesus, John 13:34–35 ““A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””

The kind of love that gets disappointed, frustrated, and even betrayed… but still chooses to stay, forgive and restore. This is the kind of love that does not let go. And this is a Christbearing love na dapat nakikita satin bilang mga Kristiano.

I want you to ask yourself today: ‘Mapagmahal ba talaga ako? O mapagmata lang ako?’ Paano ka kaya idedescribe ng mga kasama mo sa bahay? Would they say you're someone who patiently bears with them in love—someone who seeks their good, kahit na ang hirap pakisamahan, kahit na napapagod ka na? O sasabihin nila na iniisip mo lang lagi ang sarili mo?

Kumusta ka sa loob ng bahay? Sa konting pagkakamali, sumisigaw ka na ba? Sa konting puna, sinusumbat mo na lahat ng naitulong mo? Pag napagsabihan ka, ikaw ba'y agad napipikon, nagtatampo, o umaalis?

Sabihin natin totoo—minsan mas madali pang magpakita ng pasensya or tiisin yung ibang tao kaysa sa mga taong lagi nating kasama. Pero ang tanong: Kung hindi mo kayang tiisin ang mga kasama mo sa bahay, anong klaseng pag-ibig meron ka?

This is not natural to us. Ang ganitong klaseng pag-ibig—yung nagtitiis, nagpapakumbaba, nagpapatawad—ay bunga ng isang pusong binago ni Cristo.

So we must ask: ‘Do I just know about love, or do I truly show the love of Christ to those around me?’ ‘Do I bear with others in love—o dinadala ko lang ang sarili ko, at lahat dapat umikot sa akin?’

And if you find yourself falling short—as we all do—then don’t run from this conviction. Repent of your sins HCM and Run to the cross. Because the One who bore our sins is the same One who empowers us to bear with others in love.

Now let’s see yung another letter ni Paul how he tells us how we are to put this into practice.

In 1 Corinthian, sa end ng chapter 12, he tells to the church in Corith kung ano pa yung mas excellent kesa gifts of the Spirit, and that is Love.

1 Corinthians 12:31 “But you earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I will yet show you a more excellent way.”

Then in verse 1-3, He tells us the Priority of love. Sa verse 4-7 he described to us the Practice of love.

Let’s take a look as verse 1-3,

The Priority of Love

1 Corinthians 13:1–3

ALL THAT WE SAY WITHOUT LOVE IS NOTHING If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

You can be very gifted—you may speak with eloquence that moves people, sing like an angel, but all of that us nothing without love.

ALL THAT WE KNOW WITHOUT LOVE IS NOTHING.

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,

You can pray the best prayer, preach the most powerful sermon, or speak words of encouragement or even unlock the deepest treasures of Scripture and the world. But without love, you are nothing.

ALL THAT WE BELIEVE WITHOUT LOVE IS NOTHING.

and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

You may have a faith so strong that it can move mountains, stop the rain, send fire from heaven, that can break down the walls and split the sea into two. But without love we are nothing.

ALL THAT WE GIVE WITHOUT LOVE IS NOTHING.

If I give away all I have,

You may give away all your possessions— to the church, to an orphanage, to charity, to the poor. But without love, you gain nothing.

ALL THAT WE DO WITHOUT LOVE IS NOTHING.

and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

We may even give our life for the cause— sunugin ka, hatiin ka, balatan ka ng buhay, ipakain ka sa leon, pugutan ka ng ulo, ihulog ka sa pinakataas na building. But without love, we gain nothing.

ALL THAT WE SAY, WE KNOW, WE BELIEVE, WE GIVE AND ALL THAT WE DO, ALL OF THAT ARE USELESS AND AMOUNT TO NOTHING WITHOUT LOVE.

The Corinthian Church is a very gifted church, the Holy Spirit has gifted them so much. They have the gifts of the Spirit, but do you know what’s the problem with them? They have exalted so much the gifts of the Spirit and failed so much to manifest the fruit of the Spirit. And what we can learn sa sinabi ni Paul, all our spiritual gifts are nothing and will profits us nothing if we don’t have love.

HCM, I want you to listen very carefully: If you do not have love… all that you are build is nothing. All of that is worthless. Your gifts, your sacrifices, your passion—they amount to zero without love.

Love is not measured by spiritual gifts or big actions, we can “serve” the church but if we fail to bear each other in love—especially in hard moments, then we are nothing.

The Practice of Love

1 Corinthians 13:4–7

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

This verses is often quoted pag may kasal, o pag nag hahanap ka ng girlfriend o boyfriend, sabi nila malalaman mo if yun na yung right one pag pag pinalitan mo yung Love nung name nung sinasabi mong right one. Pero hindi ito yung context kung bakit sinabi ni Paul. The church in Corith is failing to manifest this kind of love in the church.

I will have a quick recap para mas makita natin kung paano sila nag struggle and keep on failing sa area. Again Paul wrote this letter to answer some of their concern regarding singleness and marriage na makikita natin sa chapter 7, eating food that was offered to idols na chapter 8-10, and Spiritual gifts sa chapter 12 and 14, and the about the ressurection na makikita natin sa chapter 15. The second reason why he wrote this letter is to restore yung order of worship from chapter 11-14. And pangatlong reason kung bakit n’ya ito sunulat is to resolve yung division inside the church, i correct yung sinful behavior like sexual immorality ng mga nag professing Christians —so that the church might live in light of the gospel of Christ. This is you assignment this week, read the entire book of 1 Corinthians, and see whether yung mga sinabi ko iare the reasons kung bakit n’ya sinulat yung letter.

Before we dive into the practice of love in 1 Corinthians 13, let’s understand why Paul needed to describe what real love looks like.

The Corinthian church was full of spiritual pride, but lacking in love.

Chapter 1: Paul hears of divisions—they were siding with Paul, Apollos, or Peter, treating God’s servants like rivals and boasting in personalities rather than in Christ.

Chapter 2: They were judging Paul through worldly standards—favoring eloquence, style, and philosophical wisdom.

Chapter 3: Paul calls them immature and fleshly, filled with jealousy and strife—proof they were not walking in the Spirit.

Chapter 4: They were arrogant, acting as if they had arrived spiritually, even looking down on Paul.

Chapter 5: Pride blinded them to serious sin in their midst—sexual immorality that even pagans wouldn’t tolerate.

Chapter 6: They were taking each other to court, lacking patience and kindness—even choosing unbelievers as judges.

Chapter 7:Paul address yung tanong nila regarding Marriage and Singleness, this coming retreat, that will be a topic ng isa pang Paul na taga HCM.

Chapters 8–10: Paul addresses Christian liberty, especially eating food offered to idols. The key lesson is found in 8:1:

“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”

Being right isn’t enough—love considers others first.

Chapter 11: Paul rebukes them for dishonoring the Lord’s Supper. The rich were eating ahead, the poor were left out—a meal meant for unity had become a picture of selfishness and division.

Chapter 12: They were obsessed with spiritual gifts, desiring the “greater” but Paul shows them them that there is much excellent way.

That’s why in Chapter 13, Paul points them to “a more excellent way”—love. And in verses 4–7, he defines love in contrast to everything they lacked. This isn’t just a wedding verse—this is a correction to a church that had knowledge, gifts, and influence—but not love. They are the total opposite.

They are impatient and harsh. They are jealous and full of pride. They act arrogantly and speak rudely. They demand their own way. They are easily irritated and keep a record of wrongs. They celebrate what is evil and reject what is true. They give up easily, trust no one, lose hope quickly, and walk away when things get hard.

But Paul is calling them, and calling us HCM to bear one another in love to keep the unity of the church to put love into action.

And there are 15 Questions to Ask to Know Whether We Are Bearing One Another in Love

1. Love is patient

When others repeatedly fail or fall short, do I bear with them in love—or do I demand change on my timeline? Am I patient when others fail me again and again? Or do I inwardly demand perfection now? Kaya ko bang tiisin yung taong 'to for a long period of time even if they never change?

2. Love is kind

When someone is hard to love, do I still show kindness—or do I withhold warmth because they “don’t deserve it”? Am I kind even to those who try my soul—or have I justified a cold spirit in the name of boundaries? Can I do random acts of kindness towards others even when it's not reciprocated back to me?

3. Love does not envy

Am I able to rejoice in others’ blessings without bitterness—or does their success make it harder for me to love them genuinely? Can I still celebrate other people when God blesses them even with the very thing I want for myself?

4. Love does not boast

Can I refrain from boasting to others about my life that may invoke a feeling of jealousy in them? Do I elevate myself—especially in conflict—to prove I’m better, instead of bearing with others in humility and love?

5. Love is not arrogant

Do I secretly think I’m more mature than others?

6. Love is not rude

When I’m frustrated, do I lash out or make cutting remarks—or do I speak truth in love, bearing with others gently?

7. Love does not insist on its own way

Kapag may gusto kang mangyari pero ayaw ng mga kapatiran na gawin yon? Or Do you demand things go according to your preferences? Can I look out for the best interest of this other person EVEN WHEN they are disregarding mine?

8. Love is not irritable

When someone rubs me the wrong way, do I react in irritation—or bear with their weaknesses in love and grace? Do I excuse my irritability as just ‘having a bad day’? Are people able to be around me without constant fear of hurting my feelings because I'm oversensitive?

9. Love is not resentful (doesn’t keep a record of wrongs)

Do I silently keep score, waiting for them to fail again—or do I bear with them in love, choosing forgiveness over bitterness? Can I genuinely forgive someone without keeping a secret ledger of how this person mistreated me in hopes of bringing it up later to boost my own position?

10. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing,

Am I secretly happy when something negative happens to someone I may dislike?

11. but rejoices with the truth

Do I overlook or tolerate sin to avoid discomfort—or do I lovingly speak truth, bearing with them in their growth toward holiness? Have I compromised truth in the name of peace?

12. Love bears all things (stegō)

to endure, carry, or even to protect by covering. It has the sense of quietly supporting someone, holding up under pressure without complaining or giving up.

Can I protect this person from possible harm, ridicule, gossip or negative exposure? DO I HAVE THEIR BACK?

13. Love believes all things

Can I believe the best about this person even when others have given up on them and they may have even given up on themselves?

14. Love hopes all things

Can I still maintain hope that this relationship will improve and that God is still working in this person's life just as He is in mine?

15. Love endures all things

When circumstances are heavy—when stress, suffering, or unanswered prayers test my heart—do I still choose to love others and bear with them? Or do I let the weight of life become an excuse to withdraw, complain, or stop loving well?

Can I endure the ups and downs of a relationship and stay committed when people tell me to leave and everything in me wants to call it quits?

But now I must say this: If you see yourself and despair—good. This is not a moral checklist to feel good about. This is a mirror, and it reveals the cracks. But do not stop there. Look away from yourself and look to Jesus Christ, who bore all things, who was patient, who was kind, who did not insist on His own way, and who endured the cross for you.

The only way we can bear with one another in love is because He bore us in love first. And the same Spirit that was in Christ now dwells in you. So I say to you—examine yourself, yes. But then flee to Christ. Ask for His Spirit. And live no longer in the flesh, but walk in love, as Christ loved you and gave Himself up for you. That is how the church shines in a dark world.