These Three

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

These Three

Chapter 13 is considered one of the most remarkable passages in the bible. It is characterized by poetic beauty and scientific analysis. It is filled with exquisite beauty; yet marvelous in technique. This chapter falls into three clearly defined sections.

In the first three verses Paul shows the value and the superiority of love. In the next four verse Paul shows the virtue and nature of love. Then in the final 6 verses, Paul shows the permanence of love.

In our text Paul exposes the supremacy of love. Paul says that love is greater and superior to eloquence, Although for many eloquence is a desirable gift. To have the tongues of angels would give man a great power over the minds and imaginations of his fellowmen. Yet, love is still greater. Love is superior to intellectual eminence and spiritual insight.

The most dangerous thing in the world is knowledge without love; information without discipline, intellectual achievement without a passionate concern for the well-being of others.

Love is superior to faith, even a faith that remove mountains. Love is superior to liberal giving; love is greater than even a willingness to offer one’;s body to be burned.

Paul’s conclusion is that it does not matter how many talents you have, it makes no difference how great you are, or how much power you have over others. If you are not guided by, not captivated by, not possessed by the love of God as revealed through His Son, Jesus Christ; you become NOTHING, you are NOTHING, and you will profit NOTHING!!!

But though Paul presents a persuasive case for the preeminence and permanence of Christian love; he closes the chapter by linking love with two other indispensable gifts.

For Paul says And now these three remain: faith, hope and love these three words represent the fundamental principles of Christianity

Habakkuk 2:4 “The just shall live by faith.”

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are you saved through faith.”

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God”

2Corinth 5:7 “For we walk by faith and not by sight.”

Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is substance of things hoped for.” Hebrews 11:6 “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Romans 8:24 “For we are saved by hope.”

Lam. 3:26 “It is good that man should have hope.”

Romans 5:8 “But God commended His love for us.”

John 15:13 “Greater love has no man than this.” John 3:16 “God so loved the world.”

All through the bible these three are found. For a moment let us take a deeper look

Faith

Faith is not the exclusive property of religion. A scientist must believe that the formulas and the laws which govern the universe are constant. We do not fully understand the principles of electricity or the mechanics of autos. Yet we believe when we flip the switch or press the gas peddle that we will get the desired result.

This is not the kind of faith of which Paul is speaking. Paul is talking about saving faith. Saving faith is believing in the Gospel, believing that God is superior to satan. Saving faith is the channel through which God’s righteousness pours into our souls. Saving faith is trust in God.

Hope

Why should hope be ranked so high? We can understand why faith is where it is, because faith is the foundational stone of the whole structure of religion. For faith binds the creature to the creator. But what about hope?

Hope means to open your eyes wide and watch for what is to come. To really understand hope let us contrast hope with despair. Despair causes on e to give up or to give in. But if we have hope we turn to Psalms 30 “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” DESPAIR IS DEMORALIZING, BUT HOPE IS ENERGIZING.

Amid the many trials of life, hope keeps anticipating a brighter day. Hope is the extenuation of faith. Faith believes God will do and hope waits for God to do it. No wonder Isaiah said “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew . . .”

The greatest of these is love! Love is so great that it is found in every Christian virtue.

Bible study is love reading Peace is love resting Prayer is love communicating Sympathy is love tender feeling Enthusiasm is love burning patience is love waiting Hope is love expecting Faithfulness is love holding on Soul winning is love pleading

The greatest of these is love. The bible does not define love, but it tells us what love is 1 John 4:8 “God is love.” Paul does not define love, but he shows us love in action

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Collectively

These three words are interwoven into each other. We come to God by faith. We trust God because of hope. We serve God out of love. Without hope, faith would never envision. Hope without faith is an idle dream.

Faith has no time for doubt. Hope has no time for despair. Love has no time for hate. He who has no faith has no hope. He has no hope has no faith. He who has neither faith nor hope has no love.

Faith is that essential that keeps hope hoping. Hope is that essential that keeps faith trusting. Love is that essential that keeps faith and hope alive. Faith breed hope. Hope rests on faith

These Three. Three is a very important number

It takes a least 3 lines to enclose any space

3 dimensions to form a solid

There are 3 divisions of time (Past, present and future)

3 Persons in the Godhead

3 Letters that spell God

3 Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace

3 patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob)

Jesus lived 33 years He died on the cross that had three languages(Aramaic, Greek, and Latin) and He rose on the 3rd day

When we pray our prayers effect three worlds. They go to heaven in worship, earth to work and down to hell as warfare

We were baptized in three names: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit

Every Christian ought to have these three

Faith: Without faith it is impossible to please God. The just shall live by faith. We . walk by faith and not by sight

Hope: My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood

Love: I love the Lord He heard my cry

Love Lifted Me

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more

But the master of the sea heard my despairing cry From the waters lifted me, now safe am I

All my heart to Him I give, Ever to Him I cling In His blessed presence live, Ever His praises sing

Love so mighty and so true, Merits its souls’ best songs Faithful loving service too, To Him belong

Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves He will lift you by His love, Out of the angry waves

He’s the master of the sea, Billows His will obey He your Savior wants to be Be saved today

Love lifted me Love lifted me

When nothing else could help Love lifted me