The Way of Love

Introduction:

AG: Have you ever been around someone who is obviously brilliant, magnificently gifted, and just a pain in the neck to get along with? That’s kind of what today’s scripture is all about. The church at Corinth was full of self-centered braggarts who wanted nothing more than to toot their own horn. Paul spent a considerable time writing to them about spiritual gifts—everyone has one, everybody’s is different from everybody else’s, and we need each other in the church body.

In the very next chapter, Paul wrote, “Now let me show you a more excellent way.” Then came his most beautifully composed script, the love chapter of the Bible, what you often hear at weddings. He starts it, though, in the context of those spiritual gifts he’s been talking about. Paul says you can have the most amazing gifts ever—like speaking in the language of angels, or having enough faith to move mountains, or giving everything you have to the poor—amazing ways to serve God, but if you don’t have love, you have nothing.

TS: Yes, the spiritual gifts were present in Corinth. Right doctrine was in place, but love was absent.

That lack of love made all the difference. The loveless church had quarrels and exhibitions of selfishness and pride. Instead of selfishly and jealously desiring showy gits which they don’t have, believers should pursue the greatest thing of all—love for each other.

I. Love is supreme (vss 1-3, 13)

1 Corinthians 13:1-3, 13

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 ESV

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV

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

Love is the greatest of all that God gives us.

Why? Because

1 John 4:8 ESV

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

When God gives us love, He gives us part of His very nature!

He creates in us a capacity beyond our human limitations.

God displayed that love in the ultimate way:

Romans 5:6–8 ESV

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

That is why love is the greatest of all the things God gives us.

a. Greater than tongues

b. Greater than prophecy

c. Greater than knowledge and faith

d. Greater than outward displays

All of the most amazing displays out outward signs are worthless without love.

Look at how Paul describes great gifts exercised without love:

Noisy gong and clanging cymbals.

The same holds true for faith

Moving mountains is nothing without love

It even extends to great sacrifice

1 Corinthians 13:3 ESV

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

Love is supreme....

II. Love is selfless (vss 4-7)

This is the heart of one of the most beautiful and well known passages on love.

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.

a. Patient, kind, & Not jealous

In its selfless focus on others, love impacts how we treat them.

We show patience with their flaws and failures

We treat them with kindness

We never grow jealous of their successes and accomplishments.

b. Does not brag; isn’t arrogant; doesn’t act stupid

Love changes how we behave.

Arrogance is washed away, boastful pride is removed

Love doesn’t rejoice when wrongs happen

c. Isn’t selfish; doesn’t provoke to wrath; doesn’t keep a grudge

i. John 15:13

John 15:13 ESV

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus demonstrated this

We are live as He did.

ii. Matthew 6:14-15

Matthew 6:14–15 ESV

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

d. Isn’t happy with evil, but loves the truth

e. Is full of hope and optimistic

Love looks forward with optimism.

III. Love is steadfast (vs 8 -12)

1 Corinthians 13:8–12 ESV

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

a. Prophecy, tongues, and knowledge will go away

The apostolic/sign gifts were meant for temporary use

They validated the gospel and resurrection of Christ

They were designed to pass away when the Bible was complete

They are temporary and partial

The Word is permanent

b. Love will stand forever

Love lasts

God is eternal and thus so is love

We grow in love and it lasts

Paul wants us to seek love, not fancy and flashy gifts

Application/Invitation:

How do you love? Do you love with words only? What do your actions say? If you keep score; if you are always right and never say “I’m sorry”; if you are always correcting others; if you never have a nice thing to say; if you are always bragging; are you really loving?

Matthew 7:12 ESV

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Let us love as Christ did and view all through that lens.