1 Corinthians 13,7-13
1 Corinthians 13:7-13
November 3, 2002
Intro: We’ve seen in Verses 1-3 how the gifts of the Holy Spirit can
be made as a
- Irritating noise
- To be of no Spiritual use to God
- And of no profit to the gifted.
A- In verses 4-7, Paul describes the proper application of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
John 15:12-13, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
1- So this “agape” Love being so necessary for proper Christian service Paul is describing it in detail.
Ø In the last 2 studies verses 4-6 we’ve looked at 11 aspects of Christian love.
#1- Love is longsuffering (patient)
A- This is to give mercy to someone when you have it with-in your power to retaliate.
#2- Love is kind
A- If patience is how we are to receive one another then kindness is how we are to give back.
#3- Envy
A- To be envious is to express jealousies.
#4- Love does not parade itself.
A- To parade one’s self means to brag of your accomplishments.
1- This is the attempt to cause others to become envious
#5- Love is not arrogant
A- To realize that I am no more than a conduit for the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 4:7, For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it
#6- Love does not behave rudely
This is the caring for the feelings and sensitivities of others.
Romans 12:3, For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, …
#7- Love does not seek it’s own
This is the “what’s in it for me attitude”.
1 Corinthians 14:12, Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
#8- Love is not provoked
Love is not easily aroused to anger.
#9- Love thinks no evil
A- Does not dwell on the evil done to him
1- Does not keep a ledger.
a- This is the person who remembers the wrong done. (BUT still chooses to forgive.)
Ephesians 4:30-32, And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
#10 – Love does not rejoice in iniquity
A- For a Christian to rejoice in iniquity is to:
1- Derive joy from unrighteousness of sin.
a- My own or the sin of others.
#11- Love, also, rejoices in the truth.
A- It is not enough to keep from sin you must pursue truth
1- TRUTH: God’s revealed Word of righteousness.
#12- 1 Corinthians 13:7, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
A- The 1st thing is understanding this aspect of love is defining the noun: “THINGS”.
1- It can not mean “everything”.
a- We are not to bear with those who refuse our ministry.
b- We are not to believe that which is false.
c- We are not to hope in that which is hopeless.
d- We are not to endure false doctrine.
- The “THINGS” listed here are the things of the truth as related to people.
· Our ministry to outers as related in the Word of God.
#1- Love bears all things.
A- As much as it depends on me I will bear, cover, support, all who seek my help regardless of who they are.
1 Peter 4:8, And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
1- The 2 disclaimers to this are
a- Those who want nothing to do with our Lord.
b- Those who refuse to repent of sin.
Matthew 10:14, “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.
1 Corinthians 5:13, But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” (Sinning Christian).
2- But as for everyone else:
a- Human nature says: If you’re a hardship, distraction, or an irritant.
- We’ll discard you, Dump you, disown you.
Romans 10:12, For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
Read Galatians 6:1-5
b- Jesus bore all things in this manner on the cross
#2- Loves believes all things
A- This is to take the best and kindest view of all men and circumstances as long as scripturaly possible.
1- To know that God can restore anyone, HE RESTORED YOU.
Matthew 19:26 (V:25 Who can be saved), But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
a- This being the case:
- We are not to be cynical
- We are not to be suspicious
- We are not to be judgmental
2- Whenever there is reasonable doubt in a situation the benefit of the doubt will go to the accused.
a- The evidence will have to make me a fool for not changing my view.
#3- Love Hopes all things
A- Our hope is always in what God is able to do.
1- God does not create kindling wood (for Hell) but vessels designed to be vessels of honor.
a- God desires all men to be saved and walk in righteousness.
- It’s up to the individual if he will
· BUT my hope is in God and what He is able to do.
Read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
#4- Love Endures all things.
A- This is to hold a vital position at any cost
1- The right attitude of V:3
See Acts 7:54-60
2 John 9-11, Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
John MacArthur: Love bears what otherwise is unbearable; it believes what otherwise is unbelievable; It hopes in what otherwise is hopeless; and it endures when anything less than love would give up. After love bears it beliefs. After it believes it hopes. After it hopes it endures. There is no after for endurance for endurance exemplifies love.
1 Corinthians 13:8, Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
A- “Love never fails” = Love and it’s effects will prevail through out eternity.
1- A Church that fails at the previous aspects of love is destine for failure.
a- The guy who questioned us because of fallfest.
1 Peter 4:8, And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
2- Failure to love causes a multitude of sins.
Read verses 8-13
Ø Look at the preeminence, permanence, and perseverance of love, compared to the spiritual gifts.
A- Love never fails = There will never be a time that love will cease to exist.
Ø WHY will love always exist.
1 John 4:16, …God is love…
A- (remember “If a tree falls in a forest”)
1- If God is love can He really be love if there is no one else around.
a- This church is such a loving church when empty.
- God – US – Eternity
· Our righteousness will be the permanent fruit of God’s love.
Explain Verses 9-13
1 Corinthians 13:13, And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
A- Why is love the greatest of the 3 aspects of Christian character?
1- In Heaven it’s the only one that will exist.
1 Corinthians 13:7-13
November 3, 2002
John 15:12-13
1 Corinthians 4:7
Romans 12:3
1 Corinthians 14:12
Ephesians 4:30-32
1 Peter 4:8
Matthew 10:14
1 Corinthians 5:13
Romans 10:12
Galatians 6:1-5
Matthew 19:26
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Acts 7:54-60
2 John 9-11
1 Peter 4:8
1 John 4:16