Love Is . . .Pt. 4

Love Is . . .

1 Corinthians 13:8–13 ESV

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 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. 12 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. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Introduction:

DT: Love has unparalleled qualities that empower us to function as Christians

AIM: We will love without excuse

Love Is Eternal (v.8)

1 Corinthians 13:8 ESV

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

The Corinthians were enamored with the temporal gifts. Meaning those gifts that are temporary. They seemed to be consumed with comparing their abilities and arrogantly boast about them.

Paul teaches that love far exceeds the limits of our other gifts

Love is eternal it does not end

It does not collapse

This does not devalue the temporal gifts. What Paul seek to do is challenge them to value one another.

Paul is saying that he wants the Corinthians to recognize that the things they value now are transient and that they should begin to value the things that are eternal

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Transition: Another quality unparalleled in love is that

Love Is Complete (vv. 9-10)

1 Corinthians 13:9–10 ESV

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

Paul assures the people of Corinth that love has no shortage or expiration. It is not partial but it is complete.

No one knows all the knowledge. And even with great amounts we tend to forget things we have known

Prophesies that have not been fulfilled know one knows when they will be fulfilled.

Love does not operate partially. There is no such thing as kinda love and almost love or some love.

Love is complete. You can’t love me today and then try to love me tomorrow.

2 John 5–6 ESV

5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.

This love is not predicated on what people can do for you but for what God has commanded of you.

Love Is External (vv. 11-12)

1 Corinthians 13:11–12 ESV

11 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. 12 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.

Paul wants the Corinthians to realize the affects of love. Love is visible because it changes our behavior.

This verse also illustrates Paul’s point about the completeness of love. As a child we were not all we have become. We had not completed the growth cycle.

Mature believers