To Live Is To Love

Introduction

Love is the energy that runs through the world.

Love Quotes:

There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved. George Sand

Love yourself. It is important to stay positive because beauty comes from the inside out.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage

Love is when the other person's happiness is more important than your own

Jesus Christ is our supreme example of love

The supreme quality of Jesus Christ’s love

Ephesians 3:17–19 NKJV

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Body - Love is: Enriching, Edifying, Enduring

LOVE IS ENRICHING (1-3)

The Importance of Love (13:1–3)

3 Types of love:

Eros - sexual passion

Philia - deep friendship

Agape - deep abiding love that only comes from the Holy Spirit pouring out His love on us

Romans 5:5 NKJV

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

referring to the love that is essential to undergird the spiritual gifts

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Ten: Be Wise about … the Church Body (1 Corinthians 12–13)

Paul named five spiritual gifts: tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, and giving (sacrifice). He pointed out that, without love, the exercise of these gifts is nothing. Tongues apart from love is just a lot of noise! It is love that enriches the gift and that gives it value. Ministry without love cheapens both the minister and those who are touched by it; but ministry with love enriches the whole church

A. The gift of tongues is useless without it (13:1).

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Glossolalia

GLOSSOLALIA Refers to the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues, especially speaking in a language that one has not learned in order to present the gospel to those who speak the language. For more information, see these articles: Pentecost; Spiritual Gifts.

Two Conversations:

Man speaking to God (spirit to Spirit)

1 Corinthians 14:2 NKJV

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

2. God speaking to man

1 Corinthians 14:27 NKJV

If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.

B. The gift of prophecy is useless without it (13:2a).

The ability to deliver representative declarations of the mind, will or knowledge of God

C. The gift of knowledge is useless without it (13:2b).

The power of knowing, intelligence, common sense. “some Christians get so heavenly deep that they’re no earthly good”

D. The gift of faith is useless without it (13:2c).

Saving faith (all who call on Jesus) vs.

Gift of faith = “NOW FAITH”

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 11

By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance

Those with NOW faith believe God for the impossible:

Noah by faith built a boat on dry land for 120 years when rain wasn’t even in the dictionary

By Faith, Abraham believed God would raise back up his son whom God called to sacrifice

By Faith, Moses stood before the ruler of the world and declared, “let my people go”

By Faith Moses stood in front of a sea with the entire Egyptian army behind him and declared after this day you will never see them again

By Faith David stood before a giant decked out in armor and him with only 3 stones

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

E. The gift of giving is useless without it (13:3).

Love is Edifying (4-7)

“Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth [builds up]” (). The purpose of spiritual gifts is the edification of the church (; , , , , ). This means we must not think of ourselves, but of others; and this demands love.

The Corinthians were impatient in the public meetings (), but love would make them long-suffering. They were envying each other’s gifts, but love would remove that envy. They were “puffed up” with pride (, ; ), but love would remove pride and self-vaunting and replace it with a desire to promote others. “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another” ().

The Holy Spirit enables believers to live with one another in love

with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

II. The Innocence of Love (13:4–7)

A. In relation to saints (13:4a): It is patient and kind, not jealous.

B. In relation to self (13:4b–5a): It is not boastful, proud, or rude, and it never seeks its own way.

C. In relation to sin (13:5b–6): It is not irritable, nor does it keep a record of wrongs; it is never glad about injustice or unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth.

D. In relation to situations (13:7): It never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Real Godly love releases the power of the Spirit in our lives and churches.

Love is Enduring (8-13)

III. The Indestructibility of Love (13:8–12)

A. Unlike the other gifts, love is permanent (13:8).

1. Prophecy will cease (13:8a).

2. Tongues will cease (13:8b).

3. Knowledge will cease (13:8c).

B. Unlike other gifts, love is complete (13:9–12): Paul offers two illustrations.

1. The child/adult illustration (13:9–11)

a. The gifts, if used without love, may be likened to the attitudes and actions of an immature child (13:9–11a).

b. Love may be likened to the attitudes and actions of a mature adult (13:11b).

2. The mirror/face-to-face illustration (13:12)

a. In the present, through the gifts, we see but a mirrorlike reflection of God (13:12a).

b. In the future, through love, we will see God face-to-face (13:12b).

A. Faith and hope are among God’s greatest gifts (13:13a).

B. Love is God’s greatest gift (13:13b).

3 Virtues of a Christian 1 cor 13:13

1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Greatest is love

IV. The Invincibility of Love (13:13)

A. Faith and hope are among God’s greatest gifts (13:13a).

B. Love is God’s greatest gift (13:13b).

Conclusion

all three of the Christian graces will endure,

even though “faith will become sight and hope will be fulfilled.”

But the greatest of these graces is love;

because when you love someone, you will trust him and will always be anticipating new joys.

Faith, hope, and love go together, but it is love that energizes faith and hope

Jesus Christ’s total giving of himself, shown supremely in his obedient suffering and death on the cross, reveals God’s amazing love for sinners. It continues to motivate and inspire Christians today.

Ephesians 3:17–19 NKJV

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

See also ,

See also ,

It caused him to leave his eternal glory See also

It moved him to give his life for others See also ,; ; ;

He loves sinners See also pp ;

He loves saints See also