Three Attributes of the believer
Faith, Hope and Love Pauline Theology • Sermon • Submitted
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· 455 viewsA look at what the believers attributes are in Christ Jesus who is his Lord and Savior. Faith, Hope and Love.
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Three Attributes of the believer
Three Attributes of the believer
Joke about Love - If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it was, and always will be yours. If it never returns, it was never yours to begin with. If it just sits in your living room, messes up your stuff, eats your food, uses your telephone, takes your money, and never behaves as if you actually set it free in the first place, you either married it or gave birth to it!
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
New Living Translation Chapter 13
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Let’s read 1 Corinthians 13th chapter.
The
The time is 55 AD and The Apostle Paul is dealing with the church of Corinth because of the challenges the church was facing. Corinth would be the contemporary metropolitan of it’s day somewhere on the lines of a Miami and a New York. It was known for it’s wealth of the day and because it was a well known commerce and transportation hub it had a great mix of peoples from all walks of life. Roman, Greek, Jew, Rich and Slave.
Corinth had two patron deities. Poseidon, god of the sea, was appropriately reflected in the naval power and devotion to the sea. The other deity, Aphrodite, goddess of sexual love, was reflected in the city’s reputation for immorality. The temple was central to the worship of Aphrodite. It boasted one thousand female prostitutes available to the people of the city and to all the visitors. Most of these women were famous for their great beauty. The income of the temple prostitutes provided a major source of the city’s income. This practice, coupled with the looseness often characteristic of a port city of a mixed and transient population, gave Corinth a reputation far beyond the cities of its day.
Corinth had two patron deities. Poseidon, god of the sea, was appropriately reflected in the naval power and devotion to the sea. The other deity, Aphrodite, goddess of sexual love, was reflected in the city’s reputation for immorality. The temple was central to the worship of Aphrodite. It boasted one thousand female prostitutes available to the people of the city and to all the visitors. Most of these women were famous for their great beauty. The income of the temple prostitutes provided a major source of the city’s income. This practice, coupled with the looseness often characteristic of a port city of a mixed and transient population, gave Corinth a reputation far beyond the cities of its day.
To demonstrate this fact, the Greeks invented a term, to Corinthianize, which meant to live an immoral life. To call a young woman “a Corinthian” meant she was an immoral person.
The church was a picture of converts who had come out of this background (see ). The church had several problems, among them a leadership problem producing divisions in the church (1:10–17). Immoral practices were not being dealt with (5:1–6:20). An enthusiastic group in the church flaunted their spiritual gifts (12:1–14:40). A legalistic group was concerned about dietary laws (8:1–10:32). Some were abusing the Lord’s Supper (11:17–34), and others were offering false teachings regarding the resurrection (15:1–58). These matters—in addition to its multiethnic makeup of Greeks, Romans, and Jews and a mixture of social classes including rich, poor, and slave—made for a unique and troubled congregation.
The church was a picture of converts who had come out of this background (see ). The church had several problems, among them a leadership problem producing divisions in the church (1:10–17). Immoral practices were not being dealt with (5:1–6:20). An enthusiastic group in the church flaunted their spiritual gifts (12:1–14:40). A legalistic group was concerned about dietary laws (8:1–10:32). Some were abusing the Lord’s Supper (11:17–34), and others were offering false teachings regarding the resurrection (15:1–58). These matters—in addition to its multiethnic makeup of Greeks, Romans, and Jews and a mixture of social classes including rich, poor, and slave—made for a unique and troubled congregation.
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Dockery, D. S. (1998). The Pauline Letters. In D. S. Dockery (Ed.), Holman concise Bible commentary (p. 552). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
So Paul was dealing with a set of people who were full of issues. I want to focus today though on the thing that was lacking in the Corinthian Church and that was Love. See they were a culture who had come out of idol worship () so there was a fascination with the gifts of tongues and primarily this is because they were already doing this in their culture of religious ceremonies. worshipping false idols. Let’s read 1 Corinthians 13th chapter.
1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.
11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
The time is 55 AD and The Apostle Paul is dealing with the church of Corinth because of the challenges the church was facing. Corinth would be the contemporary metropolitan of it’s day somewhere on the lines of a Miami and a New York. It was known for it’s wealth of the day and because it was a well known commerce and transportation hub it had a great mix of peoples from all walks of life. Roman, Greek, Jew, Rich, Poor and Slave.
Corinth had two patron deities. Poseidon, god of the sea, was appropriately reflected in the naval power and devotion to the sea. The other deity, Aphrodite, goddess of sexual love, was reflected in the city’s reputation for immorality. The temple was central to the worship of Aphrodite. It boasted one thousand female prostitutes available to the people of the city and to all the visitors. Most of these women were famous for their great beauty. The income of the temple prostitutes provided a major source of the city’s income. This practice, coupled with the looseness often characteristic of a port city of a mixed and transient population, gave Corinth a reputation far beyond the cities of its day.
To demonstrate this fact, the Greeks invented a term, to Corinthianize, which meant to live an immoral life. To call a young woman “a Corinthian” meant she was an immoral person.
The church was a picture of converts who had come out of this background (see ). The church had several problems, among them a leadership problem producing divisions in the church (1:10–17). Immoral practices were not being dealt with (5:1–6:20). An enthusiastic group in the church flaunted their spiritual gifts (12:1–14:40). A legalistic group was concerned about dietary laws (8:1–10:32). Some were abusing the Lord’s Supper (11:17–34), and others were offering false teachings regarding the resurrection (15:1–58). These matters—in addition to its multiethnic makeup of Greeks, Romans, and Jews and a mixture of social classes including rich, poor, and slave—made for a unique and troubled congregation.
So Paul was dealing with a set of people who were full of issues. I want to focus today though on the thing that was lacking in the Corinthian Church and that was Love. See they were a culture who had come out of idol worship () so there was a fascination with the gifts of tongues and primarily this is because they were already doing this in their culture of religious ceremonies. worshipping false idols.
Why does Paul give us a clear indication of what’s more important and that being love? Because like the Corinthian Church we generally loss our way on that one. We find ourselves really being into self and so you have several definitions of the word Love from the greek.
Eros - Love between a man and a women.
Phileo - Love between friends. Brotherly love.
Agape - Love that is deep, abiding and self - sacrificing and looks out for the other person first.
It is important to understand Paul is not down playing any of the gifts, in verses 2 and 3 but that he is making a point to say that none of these matter if you don’t have the love of Christ in your hearts.
3 points of Love
1. Love is enriching and in ministry without love it is cheapened for both the minister and the one being ministered too. But ministry with love enriches the whole church and the experience.
2. Love is edifying and we must not think of ourselves but of others. Knowledge puffeth up but love edifieth or builds up.
3. Love is enduring and all the spiritual gifts will eventually pass away. See you won’t need these gifts when you get to heaven, but love will last forever! Because that is what our faith in Christ is build upon, love. Gods love for us and our love for Him and each other.
How does someone know if you love them?
20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
Matthew 7:20
Your actions will always speak louder then your words.
What are you allowing to be said about you based on your actions and what is being said about our Savior because of how you carry yourself. See love for your God is impossible if you can’t love your neighbor.
3 points of Love
1. Love is enriching and Paul is pointing out that ministry without love is cheapened for both the minister and the one being ministered too. But ministry with love enriches the whole church and experience.
2. Love is edifying and Paul points this out clearly. We must not think of ourselves but of others. Knowledge puffeth up but love edifieth or builds up.
3. Love is enduring and Paul knew that eventually these gifts will pass away. See you won’t need these gifts when you get to heaven, but love will last forever ! Because that is what our faith in Christ is build upon. Gods love for us and us for Him and each other.
In a boiler room, it is impossible to look into the boiler to see how much water it contains. But running up beside it is a tiny glass tube, that serves as a gauge. As the water stands in the little tube, so it stands in the great boiler. When the tube is half full, the boiler is half full; if empty, so is the boiler. How do you know you love God? You believe you love him, but you want to know. Look at the gauge. Your love for your brother is the measure of your love for God.
See love for your God is impossible if you can’t love your neighbor
Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 225). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
Here Paul is saying all this is great your prophecy and understanding all of Gods deep Words ( Side note he is referring to the Canon or the Bible) Giving to those in need and even martyrdom, all of this can be egotistical without love.
So you have to show your love for your neighbor to show your love for God.
38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
27 Last of all, the woman also died. 28 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.”
29 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.
Matthew 28:
Why is Jesus saying that we should love our neighbors equally as God? Isn’t that putting something above God which is a contradiction to putting nothing above God. No Jesus is saying that It’s so close it resembles your love for God.
See show me a man who loves his neighbor and I’ll show you a man who truly loves God. That’s what Jesus is saying.
Now remember there was a lot of division going on in the Corinthian Church and so this means that there were factions and splinters. Paul in verses 4 - 7 he gives a clear description of what it should look like so that no matter what your background is there is no excuse. You have those who are economically more fit then others in the church today just like then and so they see themselves as privileged. “Hurry up and get out of the way sister _________! I got places to be and money to make! Or on the other hand Brother _____________ think he is something else because he owns such and such company. I ain’t buying nothing from his company! He gets on my nerves. This is what was happening in they’re church and so it was causing enemies among the believers. But look at what Jesus says about that.
44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 44
Maturity in Christ will cause you to look past enemies short comings.
27 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.
Luke
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
Matthew 18:
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 1770 John Selwyn’s Namesake
John Selwyn, who became the Bishop of the South Pacific, was renowned for his boxing skill in his university days. On a certain occasion he had to utter grave words of rebuke and warning to a professed convert. The man removed from savagery only by a generation or two, struck the Bishop a violent blow on the face with his clenched fist.
All Selwyn did in return was to fold his arms and look into his face. With his powerful arm and massive fist he could have easily knocked him down, but instead he waited calmly for another blow. It was too much for his assailant; he was ashamed and fled into the jungle.
Years afterward the Bishop came home seriously ill. One day the man who had struck him came to his successor to confess Christ in baptism. Convinced of the genuineness of his conversion, he was asked what new name he desired to take as a Christian. “Call me John Selwyn,” he replied, “for it was he who taught me what Jesus Christ is like.”
There is an old Chinese Proverb that says:
• The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.
• The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people. Speak well of your enemies; remember you made them.
• The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.
• Speak well of your enemies; remember you made them.
See the love of God in us, is what draws those around us to Christ be it enemy of friend.
42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me.
You cannot love God without loving Christ our savior. Fall in love with God everyday as he loves His son and His son teaches us to love with the love of God through the Holy Spirit.
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
Love is
True love begins with loving God and it will transcend to loving all.
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Love, Example of
After the U.S.S. Pueblo was captured by the North Koreans, the eighty-two surviving crew members were thrown into a brutal captivity. In one particular instance thirteen of the men were required to sit in a rigid manner around a table for hours. After several hours the door was violently flung open and a North Korean guard brutally beat the man in the first chair with the butt of his rifle. The next day, as each man sat at his assigned place, again the door was thrown open and the man in the first chair was brutally beaten. On the third day it happened again to the same man. Knowing the man could not survive, another young sailor took his place. When the door was flung open the guard automatically beat the new victim senseless. For weeks, each day a new man stepped forward to sit in that horrible chair, knowing full well what would happen. At last the guards gave up in exasperation. They were unable to beat that kind of sacrificial love.
Jesus sacrificed himself because of the love he had for us, how simple is it for us to die to our pride and become more like Him.