Worship in Spirit and Truth 26 - Portrayal of Love 2 - 1 Corinthians 13:6b-7

Psalm 78:64–66 ESV

64 Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation. 65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a strong man shouting because of wine. 66 And he put his adversaries to rout; he put them to everlasting shame.

John 21:15–19 ESV

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Introduction

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1 Corinthians 13:6–7 ESV

6 Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Having considered he negative aspects of love we come today to see the more positive aspects. Both are equally important and significant. Without a true knowledge and experience of love we cannot worship God as we ought. He reaches out to us in love even though our love for him is weak and frail. His dealing with Peter shows this so powerfully.

Ancient Greek had for distinct words for love:-

Erōs represents romantic and sexual passion.

Storgē captures familial affection.

Neither are used in the New testament

Philia denotes friendship and mutual affection. It meant “love, friendship,”

Agapē emerged as the dominant term in Christian usage.

In the New Testament, it is the word used distinctively to describe God’s love for man, and man’s love for man in imitation of God’s love.

We have already looked at Love being patient and kind, we now turn to the other 5 expressions of love.

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1. Love Rejoices with the Truth v6b

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1 Corinthians 13:6 ESV

6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

...one of the characteristics of love is the constant attempt to discover good and praiseworthy words, thoughts, and deeds in a person. Love searches out the truth and rejoices when that truth is triumphing over wrong. Love and truth are inseparable partners residing in God himself. God shares these characteristics with his people. He endowed them with love and truth, which, though tainted by sin, are renewed in Christ Jesus through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Kistemaker, S.

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 8:32 ESV

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 15:26 ESV

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

John 17:17 ESV

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Romans 1:18 ESV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Romans 1:25 ESV

25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

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2. Love Bears All Things v7

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1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV

7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love is the virtue “that throws a cloak of silence over what is displeasing in another person.” Kistemaker, S.

1 Peter 4:8 ESV

8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Proverbs 10:12 ESV

12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

Proverbs 17:9 ESV

9 Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

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3. Believes All Things v7

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1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV

7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love “believes all things.” This does not mean that a Christian filled with love lacks the qualities of wisdom and discernment and thus becomes the gullible dupe of every falsifier. On the contrary, love is always wise and discerning. Kistemaker, S.

Filled with love for God and neighbour, a believer trusts that God indeed will make his or her paths straight (Prov. 3:5–6). Kistemaker, S. J

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

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4. Love Hopes All Things v7

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1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV

7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love "hopes all things.” With this clause, Paul introduces hope, the second member in the triad of faith, hope, and love (see v. 13). He shows that love gives rise to both faith and hope, so that indeed love is the greatest virtue in this triad. Of these three virtues, hope is often the neglected member overshadowed by faith. Nevertheless, when a tripod loses one of its legs, its fall is inevitable. When a Christian nurtures love and faith but neglects hope, he fails and falters in his spiritual life. Kistemaker, S. J

Romans 5:1–5 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 8:23–25 ESV

23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

1 Corinthians 15:19 ESV

19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Ephesians 1:16–18 ESV

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

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5. Love Endures All Things v7

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1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV

7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love “endures all things.” The verb to endure connotes perseverance and tenacity in all circumstances. It means to endure in times of pain, suffering, deprivation, hatred, loss, and loneliness. New Testament writers repeatedly exhort us to persevere: Kistemaker, S.

2 Timothy 2:10–13 ESV

10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

1 Peter 2:19–20 ESV

19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Conclusion

The suffering which the apostles and early Christians had to endure for the sake of the gospel is eloquent testimony of fervent love for God. Kistemaker, S. J

Crown him with many crowns - Mathew Bridges and Godfrey Thring

Crown him the Lord of love! Behold his hands and side, those wounds yet visible above in beauty glorified! No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight, but downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.

Lord for the years - Timothy Dudley Smith

Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided, urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way, sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided, Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today.

There is a hope - Stuart Townend and Mark Edwards

There is a hope that burns within my heart, that gives me strength for every passing day; a glimpse of glory now revealed in meagre part, yet drives all doubt away: I stand in Christ, with sins forgiven, and Christ in me, the hope of heaven! My highest calling and my deepest joy, to make his will my home.

When this passing world is done - Robert Murray M’Cheyne (d. 29 years)

Chosen, not for good in me, called by grace from wrath to flee, hidden in the Saviour’s side, by the Spirit sanctified, teach me, Lord, on earth to show by my love how much I owe.

How would we answer the question the Lord asked Peter?