Known as the love chapter, 1 corinthians is one of the greatest reminders to us today of. Enduring word bible commentary 1 corinthians chapter. Reading this litany of god s goodness reminds us of pauls anthem to love in 1 corinthians. If i had the gift of prophecy, and if i understood all of god s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if i had such faith that i could move mountains, but didnt love. It is reasonable to conclude than that of all the ambitions that can arise from faith in christ, the most excellent is the pursuit of love that is patterned after god. If i had the gift of prophecy, and if i understood all of gods secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if i had such faith that i could move mountains, but didnt love others, i would be nothing. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Love is more important than having a spiritual gift. Campbell morgan wrote that examining this chapter is like dissecting a flower to understand it. Now this is an aspect of this love to which we shall later return, but it is sufficient to note, at this point that there is a vast difference between gods love and the love of man as detailed above. Youth group lesson on 1 corinthians ministry to youth. Paul makes the point that the use of their godgiven gifts would amount to nothing if the corinthians did not make love their priority. This is a rather strange statement coming from a man like st paul. The love which is referred to in this chapter, and illustrated, is mainly love to man 1 corinthians.
Theres no doubt that each of these virtues faith, hope, and love has great value. And where god is to be seen as he is, and face to face, there charity is in its greatest heightthere, and there only, will it be perfected. Whoever lives in love lives in god, and god in them. Unselfish love is rare unless god enables a person. If you tear it apart too much, you lose the beauty. It does not dishonor others, it is not selfseeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Encounter his love receive gods gifts for you 1 corinthians. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Items similar to love is patient love is kind 1 corinthians. How to heal a marriage a study of 1 corinthians be in health. Free reading plans and devotionals related to 1 corinthians. Pauls point is that, essentially, faith, hope, and love are united. What love looks like flagstaff christian fellowship. A prayer of love from 1 corinthians your daily prayer.
We come to worship today to hear your good news, to hear of faith, hope and love. 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. There is no place that we cannot go and escape the love of god. Jesus said that the most important commandments were to love god and to love your neighbor. His illustrations, however, are chiefly drawn from the effects of love toward people. The love of god 1 corinthians knowing jesus christ. But, in 1 corinthians, we see the biblical definition of love gods love. They are used for the love that god has for people romans 5. It is a matter of will rather than feeling for christians must love even those they dislikematt.
In the original greek, the word agape is used throughout the. Love is patient, love is kind bible verse analysis owlcation. As believers in jesus christ, it is essential for christians to understand the meaning of this verse. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in jesus christ. His illustrations, however, are chiefly drawn from the effects of love. The message to which we listen in this chapter is this. The supremacy of love and now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three. Perhaps more than any place in the entire new testament, 1 corinthians is the letter that fleshes out for us the meaning of this god like love. He provided a means of salvation that will save the vilest.
Lord, please help me to walk in love and see others the way you see them and treat them how you would treat them. If i could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didnt love others, i would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. It is authored by paul the apostle and sosthenes in ephesus. Introducing his homage to love in 1 corinthians 12. If i speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but dont love, im nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. Alan redpath said one could get a spiritual suntan from the warmth of this chapter. Pauls famous chapter on love, 1 corinthians, tells us.
Agape love is defined by what it does and doesnt do. 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. The new testament was written in greek, and the greeks had a special word to distinguish gods love from other kinds of love. We can get the big picture by thinking through the chapter with the following outline in mind. Many know that 1 corinthians is often called the great love chapter of the bible.
This means to agree with god from your heart that jesus is the only way to god. This reflects gods nature, as opposed to the selfish nature of human beings. Apologetics press love is not jealous, so why is god. In our lives, we cast our hopes upon an allloving god many.
James o lord my god, by your holy spirit grant me this wisdom. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. This valentines day, may we focus on this kind of love. Experience the life of jesus as one seamless story. The th chapter of 1 corinthians, which is in many ways the thesis statement for the entire book, says that love is the most essential. Theres no doubt that each of these virtues faith, hope, and love. Love never failsbut now faith, hope, love, abide these three. Some view love as a feeling characterized by butterflies in the stomach when they spend time with someone they care about. The word is agape, and thats the word that is used throughout 1 corinthians. Happy is he that hath the god of jacob for his help, whose hope is in the lord his god. Philos was the word used of jesus love for his friend lazarus john 11. To close this article, below is a summary of what 1 corinthians chapter tells us regarding gods kind of love. The new testament was written in greek, and the greeks had a special word to distinguish god s love from other kinds of love.
Four things that love does, without limits 1 corinthians. In this space, we yearn to discover companionship from the divine. Read 1 corinthians and note what these verses have to say about the primacy vv. When jesus says that the two most important commandments are love the lord your god and love your neighbor as yourself, matthew 22. When jesus says that the two most important commandments are love the lord your god and love.
So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you. Dear god, thank you that you are a loving, gracious god. Paul makes the point that the use of their god given gifts would amount to nothing if the corinthians did not make love. Verses 47 outline fourteen characteristics of love, and verses 8 establishes the permanence of love. Three things will last foreverfaith, hope, and loveand the greatest of these is love. Preparing for lent sermon by paul andreasen, 1 corinthians. It all starts with gods love working in us and through us. The ultimate expression of gods kindness is found in the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in christ jesus ephesians 2. Pauls famous chapter on love, 1 corinthians , tells us.
Supernatural endowments were granted to the church for a season. But yet, agape love is love as god truly intended it. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. You will immediately be aware that every christian ought to have this love, and that again it ought to be a cause of unity among the brethren. Join pastor wes morris of the rock church fenton for the beginning of a series on what the bible says love is. I think that the best way to introduce the text for todays message 1 cor. When god s love works through us, that love has no limits. How, the skeptic asks, can god be jealous when several verses say god is love and 1 cor. In 1 corinthians , st paul gives us his amazing analysis of love or as our king james version calls it charity. Many have had 1 corinthians read at their wedding.
Feb 18, 2016 this valentines day, may we focus on this kind of love. What does it mean that faith, hope, and love remain 1. Choose to receive god s love from his son jesus christ. Its excellency represented by its properties and effects. Verses the excellent way had in view in the close of the former chapter, is not what is meant by charity in our common use of the word, almsgiving, but love in its fullest meaning. It is the surest offspring of god, and bears his fairest impression. The ultimate expression of god s kindness is found in the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in christ jesus ephesians 2. Bible references from todays message 1 corinthians. Dec 04, 2015 join pastor wes morris of the rock church fenton for the beginning of a series on what the bible says love is. And where god is to be seen as he is, and face to face, there charity is in its greatest heightthere, and there only. Now, we come to verses 48 of chapter, which amplify love in a beautiful and. It is reasonable to conclude than that of all the ambitions that can arise from faith in christ, the most excellent is the pursuit of love that is patterned after god himself. The corinthian church was emphasizing a good thing, spiritual gifts, to the neglect of the best. Many have read poems or received hallmark cards with various parts of 1 corinthians.
Verses 1 3 the excellent way had in view in the close of the former chapter, is not what is meant by charity in our common use of the word, almsgiving, but love in its fullest meaning. First, we have to get connected to god s love by confessing that jesus is the son of god 1jn. Some may feel unloved because of the way they have been mistreated others. Our focus today is going to be on the characteristics of love in verses 47 and even more specifically on the characteristics of patience and kindness in verse four. When i was on the high school cross country team, we would do some of our training at a nearby lake. Paul had left us nothing but this exquisite hymn in praise of heavenly love.
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