Living With Excellence (part 2) - 13:8-13

Introduction

These words that were just read come after one of the most famous discussions of love ever.

As we have noted previously, this passage was not written about marital love, though it has application for that.

This passage was written to the church.

Paul is arguing that using a spiritual gift that is highly visible and life changing is nothing without love.

He has explained what love is and how love is supposed to operate, now he is going to explain why love is the more excellent way to live.

Love is permanent.

The passion of Paul for the church is that we would not waste our time pursuing the accolades and applause of men.

We have a higher calling.

We have an urgent task that we must never lose sight of.

I want to show you a video that discusses our urgent task.

VIDEO

It is our time.

It is time we stop wasting time pursuing things that don’t matter.

We have something far more important to pursue.

We pursue the advancement of the gospel.

However, the advancement of the gospel is not possible apart from an excellent life of love.

Here in chapter 13 Paul is calling us to live with excellence.

The excellent life is a life of love!

Principle:

To live with excellence, love is our most important priority.

Guidance:

The priority of love is revealed through the pursuit of three goals.

Outcome:

When we live with excellence, we love well and that love attracts people to Jesus.

Three goals we pursue as we live with excellence.

Goal #1…

1. A Life Of Excellence Pursues Purpose vv. 8-10

Have you ever had a day where you wake up and just lay in bed for awhile?

The longer you lay there, the more you don’t want to move.

Recently I heard these called no bones days.

It’s like you have no bones, you just can’t get out of bed.

One of the things Jess and I have noticed is that when we don’t have a plan for the day, it tends to disappear.

To live lives of excellence we must have purpose.

This means that we need to pursue the things that matter most.

We need to pursue things that have eternal value.

One of the problems in the Corinthian church was that they were pursuing things that only mattered short term.

They wanted the recognition of men.

That is fleeting and temporary.

Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthian church and to us is to…

a. Find purpose in what is permanent v. 8

1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV

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.

Love never fails.

What’s the next word?

“But” - this word introduces contrast.

Why is love the more excellent way?

Because love never fails!

And I can just hear the argument.

“But Paul, what about all these other awesome things?”

What about being able to speak in any language?

What about knowing the future?

What about being able to reveal the deep truths about God and His will?

About that.

Those things are temporary.

Prophesy, tongues, and knowledge all change.

Prophecy will fail, tongues will cease, knowledge will vanish away.

These three gifts have in common that they are revelatory.

All three of these were used by God to reveal Himself and His will.

Where do we turn now to learn about God and His will?

The Word of God.

Keep that in mind.

Let’s do some definition.

Prophesies. We have looked at this before. The idea is that of speaking from God. Either in regards to the future or in regards to His will.

They will fail – καταργέω (katargeō) abolish; set aside; wipe out. to be inactivated v. — to be or become idle, inactive, inoperative, or useless. Finite verb, future, passive, indicative, third person, plural.

They will fail – καταργέω (katargeō)

This Greek word is used for both the failure of prophecy and the vanishing of knowledge.

Knowledge refers to special revelation or insight from God.

Both of these will be brought to an end.

Tongues refers to the supernatural ability to speak in languages not previously known.

This ability will cease.

Cease – παύομαι (pauomai) cease; stop. to end v. — to have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical. Finite verb, future, middle, indicative, third person, plural.

Cease – παύομαι (pauomai)

Tongues are going to gradually cease on their own.

Quote Dr. Christopher Cone.

“In 13:8, there are three revelatory sign gifts or functions (they are not specifically referred to as gifts in this context) mentioned: prophecy, tongues, and knowledge. Prophecy and knowledge both end the same way: they are done away – prophecies, in the plural (καταργηθήσονται) and knowledge, in the singular (καταργηθήσεται). The verb, katergeo (to put an end to or stop to) in both cases is passive voice, meaning that an outside force will end these abruptly. Tongues, on the other hand, will cease (παύσονται). This verb is in the middle voice, meaning that the subject is acting upon itself: tongues will cease themselves. Tongues is the first of these three to go. Remember the contrast: love never fails, but these other three will. Verses 9-10 discuss a specific event that brings the “failing” or limitation of prophecy and knowledge, but by the time that event happens, tongues have already ceased themselves. Tongues are the least significant of these three revelatory sign gifts or functions. Remember that after the mentions of tongues in 1 Corinthians 12-14 tongues is never again mentioned during the remaining forty or so years of New Testament history – not once.”[2]

I have the entire article Dr. Cone wrote if anyone is interested.

There is a specific event that causes prophesy and knowledge to fail and vanish.

There is a very important point to be made here from the Greek words here.

Before Prophecy and knowledge are done away with tongues will have already ceased.

It is important for us to understand that tongues were designed to gradually fade.

Let’s ponder a couple of questions.

If tongues are a vital part of the Christian life for today why are the never mentioned in any other epistle?

Why is there this ringing silence on tongues before the completion of the New Testament canon?

The conclusion we draw is that tongues had already ceased!

If we spend all our time and energy on things like tongues, prophesy, and knowledge, we are missing what is most important!

Love first.

Love is what gives meaning to everything else!

Love is permanent, these other things are not!

You can’t live with excellence if you are pursing things that won’t last!

Here is our lesson.

A life of love has eternal value.

Paul encourages us to find purpose in what is permanent.

Next he challenges us to…

b. Find purpose in what is perfect vv. 9-10

Verse 9 is an explanation of verse 8.

Look at verse 9.

1 Corinthians 13:9 NKJV

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

Why will knowledge and prophecy be ended?

Because they are partial.

The Greek here is ek meros meaning “a partial portion.”

This is really really important to understanding this passage.

The contrast Paul is making is between what is partial and what is complete.

Once again, let me emphasize that Paul is explaining verse 8.

Prophecy and knowledge are going to be forcibly ended by something.

Tongues will cease on its own.

Verse 10 explains what will end prophecy and knowledge.

Look at verse 10.

1 Corinthians 13:10 NKJV

10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

There is something coming that has perfect knowledge and prophecy.

When that something comes, it will eliminate the need for what is partial.

I am of the opinion that this word would be better translated “complete”.

Perfect – τελειότης (teleiotēs) perfection; maturity. perfection (state) n. — the state of being complete and without defect or blemish. Substantival adjective, nominative, singular, neuter.

Perfect – τελειότης (teleiotēs)

Paul is giving us a contrast.

Contrasting partial, with something else.

“Perfect” is not the opposite of partial.

What is? Complete.

Complete is a legitimate translation of this Greek word.

Here’s what Paul is saying.

When the complete comes, the partial will be done away.

Since the purpose of knowledge and prophecy was the authentication of the apostles message as well as the revelation of God and His will, it is logical to understand these as partial revelation.

The purpose of tongues was the authentication of the work of the Holy Spirit as well as a sign against Israel because of their unbelief and rejection of Christ.

It would therefore be exegetically consistent to conclude that the “complete” thing mentioned here is God’s finished revelation in His Word.

Now, for sake of clarity, I want to acknowledge 4 other theories about what the “perfect” is.

1 - Some believe this refers to the rapture.

2 - Some believe this refers to the maturing church.

3 - Some believe this refers to the second coming.

4 - Some believe this refers to the eternal state.

I believe that all of these fall far short of explaining the text.

Therefore, I conclude that the perfect thing that ended prophecy and knowledge was the completed Word of God.

As previously noted, by the time Scripture was completed, tongues already ceased.

The only revelation of God and of His will that the believer needs is now contained in the 66 books that comprise His written Word.

Before the completion of Scripture, knowledge, and prophecy were partial.

That is Paul’s point.

The Corinthian believers were desperate to have these gifts because they thought that would make them significant.

They believed that having an “up-front” gift would give them purpose!

Paul wants them to understand that purpose is found in what is perfect.

Our purpose is found in the Word of God!

This is where we find our purpose as believers.

A life of excellence is spent in pursuit of the complete, the Word of God.

Spending our time and energy on what is partial is simply foolish!

Here’s our lesson.

Purpose is found in the pages of Scripture.

If we want purpose we need to know what God has told us to do!

We need to live by His Word.

We find purpose in what is permanent and in what is perfect.

Three goals we pursue as we live with excellence.

Goal #1: A life of excellence pursues purpose.

Goal #2…

2. A Life Of Excellence Pursues Growth vv. 11-12

As many of your know, Jess and I exercise on a regular basis.

Being a part of the health and fitness community during these last 2 years has been interesting.

When the gyms closed down, the weights in all the stores disappeared.

For months if you went into the exercise aisle in almost any store it was like entering a desert wasteland.

More fascinating to me has been the two responses to the pandemic.

There were those who did nothing and lost all they had gained.

There were others who were motivated to change their health and change their lives.

Here’s my point.

Growth doesn’t just happen.

Growth must be intentionally pursued.

You don’t get healthy just by deciding to be healthy, you have to put healthy disciplines into your life.

If we are going to live excellent lives, we must pursue growth.

We cannot stop.

We cannot sit on the couch of life and expect to grow in our walk with Christ!

Growth must be pursued.

Why?

Why do we pursue growth?

Paul gives us two reasons to pursue growth.

Reason #1. Pursue growth because…

a. Growth transforms v. 11

1 Corinthians 13:11 NKJV

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

How we speak, understand, and think changes as we mature.

Love, on the other hand, just deepens and broadens.

As before, we need to understand that Paul is explaining his statement in v. 8.

Love never fails.

These other things will fail.

Why will they end?

Because they are partial.

Love is better.

In this verse Paul uses the illustration of immaturity to explain why these things will pass off the scene.

Spoke parallels tongues.

The idea here is that speaking in tongues is for the spiritually immature.

To speak Scripture is to speak with maturity.

This is born out in ch. 14 as Paul talks about speaking 5 words that are understood.

Understood parallels knowledge.

Thought parallels prophecy.

The parallels in this verse are too strong to ignore.

Paul is comparing tongues, prophesy and knowledge to childish, infantile things.

I’m not making that comparison, Paul is.

Now, this is a comparison statement.

Childish, immature, versus mature.

As children our ability to speak is partial as is our knowledge and understanding.

When we are mature, we put aside those partial things.

“Put away” is the same Greek term Paul used of prophesies and knowledge in v. 8.

When we mature, when we reach complete manhood, we get rid of childish things.

This is a process of transformation.

We are transforming from child to adult.

That is what growth does.

The implication is this.

To focus on prophecy, knowledge, and tongues is to remain immature.

It is to follow after the lesser things of Christ!

Far more important, is to love others well.

Love is something that we learn as we grow.

As we mature in Christ we are to set aside the partial things, set aside the immature things, we are to grow and transform into those who are willing to love the unlovely and serve without notice.

Here’s our lesson.

As we grow and transform we learn to prioritize.

The things that the Corinthian believers had been focusing on where immature!

They were not things that would last.

Two reasons to pursue growth.

Reason #1. Pursue growth because growth transforms.

Reason #2. Pursue growth because…

b. Growth teaches v. 12

1 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV

12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

This is a verse that is really easy to misunderstand.

So let’s begin by asking a really important question.

What do you look at in a mirror?

Yourself.

This is not referring to seeing Christ face to face.

It is referring to seeing ourselves dimly, having a partial awareness.

This is talking about a knowledge of self.

When Scripture comes, it reveals who we really are!

Scripture exposes ourselves.

We do not see ourselves clearly apart from Scripture.

We need the Word of God to reveal what is going on inside us.

Hebrews 4:12

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Has anyone else had the experience of reading a passage of Scripture and having it slice you right open?

It reveals what is really going on inside of us!

That is what Paul’s point is here.

He writes “but then face to face.”

The word “then” means at that time.

At what time?

When the complete comes.

When what is perfect has come, when the Word of God is complete, we will know ourselves as we are known by God.

In the end of the verse we again have the contrast between partial and complete.

We know in part, ek meros.

That is our human understanding.

It is partial.

When Scripture comes we know fully.

This comes as we grow in the Christian life.

The Word of God is the food that nourishes our spiritual life.

It grows us.

1 Peter 2:2

1 Peter 2:2 NKJV

2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

This is where we start.

With milk.

With the easier things of Scripture.

We move from those to the more difficult things.

Hebrews 5:13-14

Hebrews 5:13–14 NKJV

13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

As the word of God grows and matures us we learn about ourselves.

The Word of God teaches us.

It teaches us discernment and how to live for Christ.

Here is our lesson

To know ourselves fully we must know God’s Word.

We cannot live with excellence, we cannot live with love if we don’t even know ourselves!

God’s Word exposes areas of weakness and strength.

It reveals what we need to work on, areas we need to grow in as well as areas that are strong.

We pursue growth because growth transforms and teaches.

Three goals we pursue as we live with excellence.

Goal #1: A life of excellence pursues purpose.

Goal #2: A life of excellence pursues growth.

Goal #3…

3. A Life Of Excellence Pursues Excellence v. 13

Excellence doesn’t just happen.

Several weeks ago I mentioned Andrew’s love of monster trucks and motorcycles.

Those drivers and riders didn’t achieve professional levels by accident!

They put in hours and hours of hard work.

Recently I was teaching one of our kids how to skateboard.

I didn’t learn how overnight.

I spent years practicing and working to be able to ride well.

Welders continually strive to improve.

Painters hone their craft.

Politicians work and train to tell better lies.

Just kidding.

The point is this.

If we want to live with excellence, we must work toward that goal.

Verse 13 teaches us two truths about excellence.

Truth #1…

a. Excellence progresses v. 13a

1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV

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

I believe that Paul’s intention here is to show us what we are to pursue.

We do not pursue tongues, prophesy, and knowledge.

We pursue faith, hope, and love.

Faith reflects both our belief and what we believe in.

We have faith and we hold to the faith.

Hope is the confident expectation that God will do what He has promised.

Love here is agape. We are to demonstrate the same unconditional love that we are given by God.

These, faith and hope, are qualities that compare with love.

Go with me to 2 Peter 1:5-9.

2 Peter 1:5-9

2 Peter 1:5–9 NKJV

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

These are the qualities we are to pursue.

We are not to seek after certain spiritual gifts.

Hebrews 11:1 says this.

Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

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

Faith and hope go together.

We believe and so we are confident that God will do what He has promised.

The fruit of the Spirit according to Galatians 5:22-23 is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

This is what a life of excellence looks like.

It progresses and grows in these qualities.

Here’s our lesson

A life of excellence demands submission to the Holy Spirit.

We cannot grow if we are trying to do things our own way!

It is not possible.

If we are not growing, we are not living with excellence.

Two truths about excellence.

Truth #1: Excellence progresses.

Truth #2…

b. Excellence prioritizes v. 13b

1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV

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

The greatest thing we can do as the body of Christ is love one another.

Jesus told His disciples in John 13:35 that people would know them as His disciples by their love for one another.

If we do not love one another, we fail to be true disciples of Jesus.

When it comes to love, we have never arrived.

We can always love more and better.

This is a vital truth to take into all our relationships.

I love better as a friend, a father, and as a husband.

What is it about love that makes it better than faith and hope?

One day, maybe soon, faith will become sight.

Jesus will return and we will be caught up to be with Him!

We will no longer have faith because we will see Him face to face!

In His presence, our hope, our confident expectation, will be a fully realized reality.

We will no longer look forward to God keeping His promises because they will have been kept.

What about love?

Love will remain.

We will abide in the love of Christ for eternity.

Faith will become sight. Hope will be realized. Love endures forever.

In light of this reality, what should be our priority?

Should we spend our time and energy on things that are temporary and fleeting?

Or

Should we spend our time and energy in pursuit of what is eternal?

Here is our lesson

A life of excellence knows that love is our top priority.

How are we doing in this area?

Do we love like Christ?

Conclusion

Here is Paul’s whole point.

Until we learn to love, our spiritual gifts are useless.

Worse, until we learn to love our gifts are potentially damaging.

Tongues don’t matter if you don’t love the people you are talking to.

Prophecy is useless if you don’t care about the people!

Knowledge benefits no one if it isn’t shared with love!

If we have truly been transformed by Christ.

If we have embraced His purpose.

If we are pursing a life of excellence.

We must be the most loving people there are.

Period.

Here is our commitment today.

COMMITMENT:

I will submit to the Holy Spirit and love like Jesus.

What does that mean?

Let’s break it down.

To submit to the Holy Spirit means we obey His Word.

If Scripture says no, whatever it is, that’s a no for us.

If Scripture says yes, whatever it is, that’s a yes for us.

To love like Jesus means that our first consideration is not how much someone deserves love.

We want this to be the metric by which we determine our giving of love.

Have they done enough to earn my love?

That’s not loving like Jesus.

Our first consideration is how much someone needs love.

Has anyone ever met someone who didn’t need love?

They may think they don’t, but everyone needs love.

Love is vital.

In our friendships, we cannot represent Christ to people if we do not love!

In our church relationships, how we love one another is being carefully observed by a lost world. What do they see?

In our parenting, our children need to know we love them more than they need to know anything else! Believe me, they know when they have made mistakes, they know when they are not measuring up to our standards. Let them know that you love them anyway.

In our marriages, love will make or break a marriage. We love one another, we respect one another regardless of performance.

What does that mean? Even when your husband or wife is not doing what you think they should, you love them. You respect them.

That is what it means to love like Jesus.

Four thoughts as we close:

Our purpose is to show the love of Christ and represent Him well.

In the Christian life, growth cannot happen apart from Scripture.

We only live with excellence when we love others.

Believe the Word of God, hope in God’s promises, and most of all love others with a genuine love.