1 Corinthians 12:31-13:4 Biblical Love: Totally different

Totally different: Than seemingly similar substitutes PPT pics (end Mike)

Eros – erotic attraction Physical responsiveness Erotic love – Greek/not Bible word - Distortion of God’s intention for sex A means to bring a couple into deeper oneness within a committed relationship

Philos and related terms – friendly/family concern Brotherly concern Genuine caring – sometimes used interchangeably with the next word.

Agapa – something totally different Caring in action Sacrificial response

The other person becomes predominate

This Greek word was not in common use before the New Testament (it occurs twenty times in lxxand a few times in writings like The Epistle to Aristeas). But the Christians took it up and made it their characteristic word for love (it occurs 116 times in the New Testament, 75 being in Paul). Whereas the highest concept of love before the New Testament was that of a love for the best one knows, the Christians thought of love as that quality we see on the cross. It is a love for the utterly unworthy, a love that proceeds from a God who is love. It is a love lavished on others without a thought whether they are worthy or not. And in fact even when they are not worthy.

It proceeds from the nature of the lover, not from any attractiveness in the beloved. The Christian who has experienced God’s love for him while he was yet a sinner (Rom. 5:8) has been transformed by the experience. His character is transformed into Christlikeness. Now he sees people as those for whom Christ died, the objects of God’s love, and therefore the objects of the love of God’s people. In his measure he comes to practice the love that seeks nothing for itself, but only the good of the loved one. It is this love that the apostle unfolds

This is true in a man/woman relationship.

This is true in caring about those around us

This is true of the love we should have for one another in the church.

This is true of the love we should have for even those who oppose us.

1 Corinthians 13 Biblical Love: Totally different

Let’s take a look at what this type of love looks like

I. Real Love: Beyond externals

Paul specifically is addressing the assembly and worship service of the church, but everything he says applies well beyond that context. The same principles involve our love in any situation.

Regardless of the effort, emptiness is created when love is absent

A. More than a show 1 Cor 12:31b

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 12 31b But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

1. Not just a pretend thing that looks good – lived out in every situation

2. Looks good before people – here in the assembly – lots of gifts on display

3. But empty

a. For others / For me

B. More than flashy words 1 Cor 13:1

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 13 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

1. Not just saying good things – lived out in behavior among people

2. Speak the words of God (in another language)

a. A good thing

b. Self authenticating

c. Flashy and obvious

3. Just noise without love

4. Who I am not just what I do

C. More than mere knowing 1 Cor 13:2a

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 13 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteriesand all knowledge, … but have not love, I am nothing.

1. Not just knowing stuff in our head – lived out by applying that knowledge to people

2. Understand and communicate truth – supernatural gifts that enable one to speak for God

3. Amounts to nothing without love

D. More than seeming ‘spirituality’ 1 Cor 13:2b

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 13 2 … if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

1. Not just a warm feeling about God – lived out in action among people

2. Trust in God – gifts of extraordinary faith to accomplish stuff

3. Amounts to nothing without love

E. More than just giving stuff 1 Cor 13:3

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 13 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my bodyto be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1. Not just actions - lived out in the motives behind the gifts

2. Gain nothing without love

II. Real Love: Spiritual character on display

Supernaturally produced

Flows from an inner transformation

Evidenced in action

The real measure of Christ-likeness

A. A spectrum of active attributes 1 Cor 13:4a

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 13 4 Love is …

1. The form of each word in Greek is a verb - active

2. A characteristic that manifests itself in life

3. Not do I have an inward feeling that causes me to feel good and seek self gratification

4. But do I have a certain outward feeling that causes me to act on behave of someone else

B. A reflection of God’s character Ex 34:6; 1 John 4:7-8

1. Who God is

(ESV) Exodus 34 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast loveand faithfulness,

2. Who we are as God’s children – His DNA

(ESV) 1 John 4 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of Godand knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

C. A measure of the Spirit’s transformation Gal 5:22-23

(ESV) Galatians 5 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

1. Produced by the Spirit

D. A responsibility to engage Col 3:1, 12-14

(ESV) Colossians 3 1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

(ESV) Colossians 3 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

III. Real Love: The example of Christ’s love

A. Given to the unworthy Rom 5:8

(ESV) Romans 5 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

B. At great personal sacrifice John 3:16

(ESV) John 3 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in himshould not perish but have eternal life.

C. With lasting results 1 John 3:1; Rom 8:35-37

(NIV) 1 John 3 1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

(ESV) Romans 8 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Have you experienced this love? Was there a time when you chose to receive His love?

Do know that God so loved you so much Jesus came to die in your place? We deserved to die because we sinned. But He took on our sin penalty on the cross. He died for us. And He offers forgiveness and eternal life to anyone who comes to Him and puts his trust in what Jesus did, desiring to take Jesus as his Savior.

Have you trusted Jesus as Savior?

Do you live out your life with the same kind of love that God gave you? When others are unworthy of anything from you, do you still demonstrate love for them. Love is a choice. God chose to love us when we were unworthy. We should chose to love others even though they are unworthy.