CHRISTIAN LOVE

December 3, 2019 (1 Tim. 2:1-6)

Reading to the hearer: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Seven meanings of love from the Greek language:

PHILOTEKNOS—love for one’s children (Titus 2:4).

PHILANTHROPIA—fondness of mankind, benevolence (Titus 3:4)

THELEMA—choice, pleasure, determination, desire—Mark 12:38

PHILARGURIA—love of money, avarice (John 6:10)

PHILADELPHIA—brotherly love, friendship (Rom. 12:10)

PHILEO—fond of, affection, sentiment (1 Cor. 16:22)

AGAPE—DYNAMIC WORD FOR LOVE; but even when phileo and agapao are used together in a passage such as John 21:15-19, it is difficult to interpret supposed shades of meanings.  The great fact changed our understanding of love and has opened up a life of love for us – a life that is different from every culture’s highest ideals.

The Preeminence of Love

 

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2     And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3     And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

 

The Marks of Love

4     Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5     Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6     Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7     Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Love Unfailing

8     Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

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

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

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

12     For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13     And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

 

  1. IMPORTANCE OF LOVE—vv. 1–3
  2. Linguistic ability—v. 1. Knowing all languages but having no love.
  3. Learning ability—v. 2. Understanding prophecy, mysteries, having knowledge and faith, but NO LOVE!
  4. Laboring ability—v. 3. If all was given for the sake of the gospel without love, still nothing.

The Marks of Love

  1. INTERPRETATION OF LOVE—vv. 4–8
  2. Patience—v. 4. Patient, kind, trustful always.
  3. Prayerful—v. 5. Love doesn’t demand its way.
  4. Personality—v. 6. Rejoices at others’ success.
  5. Personal—v. 7. Real love is always loyal.
  6. Perfection—v. 8. Spiritual gifts will pass away when Christ returns to this earth.

 

Love Unfailing

III.   INSPIRATION OF LOVE—vv. 9–13

  1. Prophecy—v. 9. Know in part God’s plan and purpose for our lives.
  2. Perfection—v. 10. No need for Spiritual gifts when Christ returns. They are only temporary.
  3. Plan—v. 11. Put away childish things when mature.
  4. Plain—v. 12. Someday all things will be clear.
  5. Power—v. 13. Both faith and hope are important and needed, but love is the greatest!
  1. Three Amen from Romans chapter 16:

 

16:20 – Paul predicts victory for believers when the God of peace soon will crush Satan.

16:24 – Paul makes a prayerful pronouncement.  He summons “the grace of our Lord Jesus to be with you.

16:27 – Glory in God’s ability.