April 28, 2024
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
“Now in Part, Then in Full”
Service Overview: We don’t know what we don’t know, but what we do know is a God who knows everything! And one day our blinders will finally be removed in order for us to see how God has been working everything out for our good and for his glory all along. Until that day comes, we must hold onto faith hope and love, the greatest of these being love.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
Background Insights:
- Some have used this verse as the central passage for teaching that speaking in tongues came to an end in its usefulness with the death of the apostles and the writing of the New Testament. Therefore, they say, the focus today should be on the written word, not on tongues or prophecy. “When the end comes” (13:10), that is, when believers will be made perfect, “special gifts will all disappear.” These same scholars take “perfection” to mean the close of the New Testament canon or the completion of all the authentic New Testament books. This view is upheld by various groups and denominations. Others believe that the perfection will happen at the return of Christ; thus, these gifts (prophecies, tongues, and knowledge) still have a place. It is incongruous to argue that tongues have no value now while affirming that prophecy and knowledge are still important. Most likely, therefore, Paul was not teaching the cessation of tongues but the priority of love. (Grant R. Osborne, 1 & 2 Corinthians, 190)
- A major theological error that follows from the misinterpretation of verses 8–13 is the belief that any or all of the gifts of the Spirit have already ceased. As we have already seen, this violates every sensible reading of verse 12, and it has to distort the actual record of events throughout church history. Neither tongues nor prophecy nor miracles ceased at the end of the first-century; they continued at least into the third century and have recurred sporadically if not consistently ever since. (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 350)
- There is some debate over what “the perfect” references. The context and the overarching revelatory context of Scripture convinces me this is referring to “the arrival of the eschaton, when all God’s purposes for human beings will be realized and fulfilled” (Schreiner, 1 Corinthians, 280). In other words, it refers to the “life in the world to come after Jesus reappears on earth” (Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 260). The gifts mentioned simply won’t be needed then. (Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians, 262)
- Paul’s references to the abolition of the gifts [v. 8] are to be understood in light of the patently eschatological language of v. 12: the contrast between “now” and “then” is the contrast between the present age and the age to come.) (Richard B. Hays, First Corinthians, 229)
Why such heavy emphasis from Paul on love?
- Because the gifts God gave his church are to be driven by it.
(vv. 1-3 | Gal. 5:14; Eph. 4:2-5; Colossians 1:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; Hebrews 6:10-12)
No spiritual gift, no natural ability, no human achievement is greater or more important than love. (Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians, 257)
Love provides the basis for all the spiritual gifts exercised in the church body. Love connects every act with God and makes our actions and gifts useful. (Grant R. Osborne, 1 & 2 Corinthians, 182)
In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul refers to agapē love—the kind of love that seeks the highest good of the other person, even at the price of one’s own comfort, safety, and benefit. (Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on 1 & 2 Corinthians, 190)
- Because spiritual growth and maturity are contingent on it.
(v. 11 | 1 Cor. 14:20; Galatians 5:6; Ephesians 4:13-15; Hebrews 5:12-13; 2 Peter 3:18)
The analogy of verse 11 reinforces this point; just as the perceptions and communicative strategies of childhood are put aside when one arrives at maturity, so also the church’s present spiritual gifts will be put aside in the eschaton. The analogy is calculated to ruffle the feathers of those Corinthian readers who consider themselves far advanced in their spirituality and who think of the gift of tongues as the pinnacle of spiritual maturity. (Richard B. Hays, First Corinthians, 229)
Believers who love look forward, not backward. They seek for growth and maturity in the church, knowing that God is working in every person. They know that failure is not the end, and they trust in God who promises “that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). (Grant R. Osborne, 1 & 2 Corinthians, 189)
- Because the reality of God’s big picture can only be seen through it.
(vv. 9-10, 12 | Rom. 8:18; 1 Cor. 2:9-10; Eph. 1:15-18; 1 Peter 1:3-8; 1 John 4:8; Rev. 21:4)
When the perfect comes, when God judges the secrets of human hearts, when we can see this life from the other side of the resurrection, we will discover that even the things that have seemed most glorious and exalted to us (whether tongues or technology) have been like child’s play. (Richard B. Hays, First Corinthians, 232)
In every era of church history, “we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror”; only when Christ returns will we “see face to face.” This reminder should inspire humility in our personal relationships, our intellectual endeavors, and the spiritual claims that we make for ourselves. (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 350)
- Because spiritual gifts and virtues in this life will be outlived by it.
(vv. 8, 13 | Romans 8:37-39; 13:8; Colossians 3:14; 1 John 3:1-2; 4:16)
Love is the one virtue of the three mentioned that we will take into eternity. Faith becomes sight in heaven, hope is completely fulfilled in heaven, but love, again, never ends. Love never ceases. Moreover, it is because of the magnificent love of God that our faith will be rewarded by sight and our hope will be rewarded by total fulfillment. (Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians, 262)
We will not be fully completed until Jesus returns, but we ought to be growing and maturing now. Children live for the temporary; adults live for the permanent. Love is enduring, and what it produces will endure. (Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Wise, 145)
Conclusion… What’s the counter-cultural challenge in all this?
A. To grow up!
(Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; 1 John 3:18; 4:7-8)
The main evidence of maturity in the Christian life is a growing love for God and for God’s people, as well as a love for lost souls. It has well been said that love is the “circulatory system” of the body of Christ. (Wiersbe, Be Wise, 142)
Do you know what the measure of spiritual maturity is in the Scriptures? It is not the display of spiritual emotion, or even the display of spiritual gifts, but the manifestation of spiritual fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control. (Gregory Koukl, Genuine Revival, Stand to Reason Commentary)
B. To make love the driving force behind all pursuits.
(John 15:12; Romans 13:10 ; Galatians 5:6; 1 Thes. 1:3; Hebrews 10:22-24; 1 John 3:16)
When love is felt, the message is heard. (Jim Vaus, Quoted by Curtis C. Thomas, Practical Wisdom for Pastors, 65)
[Love] keeps our firmness from becoming hardness and our strength from becoming domineering. It keeps our maturity gentle and considerate. It keeps our right doctrine from becoming obstinate dogmatism and our right living from becoming smug self-righteousness. (John MacArthur, 1 Corinthians, 476)
Love as the centerpiece of the Christian ethic must remain the believers’ focus in every era and culture. (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 351)
We desperately need the church for love, for maturity and preparedness, for spiritual care. It is arrogant, rebellious, self-reliant, God-indicting pride to conclude that the church is an optional extra to the Christian life. We need everything God designs for us. Everything. To reject what God designs for His glory and our good is spiritual suicide. To reject the church is to take your own spiritual life. (Thabiti Anyabwile, Don’t Call it a Comeback, 211)
Gospel Connection…
The greatest example of love is Jesus; who not only died for the objects of his love, but gave a model of mature and perfect love to imitate.
(John 15:12-13; Romans 5:1-8; Ephesians 2:4-5; Colossians 1:4-5; 1 John 3:16; 4:7; 4:19)
What a wonderful Savior we have. It wasn’t lovely people for whose sake He died; it was for ungodly people, for His enemies. It was for law breakers that He suffered. He loved us, says (the Apostle) Paul, in spite of how unlovely we were. Just as He loved us, Paul insists we are to love one another. (Jay Adams, Christian Living in the Home, 41)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- In what ways have you tried to substitute other things, such as speech and scholarship, for loving? What was the result?
- Which of the virtues of love do you find easiest to practice? Which of the virtues of love do you find most difficult to practice?
- How does the concept of true love relate to the issue of bitterness and the lack of forgiveness that we find so prevalent both in the church and outside it?
- How is love even greater than faith and hope?
- What are some practical ways you can express love that you have heretofore not done effectively?
Quotes to note…
How desperately sad is the fact that the church is known by schism, not unity; ignorance, not knowledge; and indecisiveness rather than maturity. How it must break God’s heart to see us continue in such a poverty stricken condition in light of what He has done, stands ready to do, has the resources to accomplish, and has defined as our calling in Christ. (R.C. Sproul, The Purpose of God, An Exposition of Ephesians, 104)
The Spirit is the pledge of the eternal heritage into which believers will enter at resurrection (cf. 2 C. 1.22; 5.5) and his gifts belong to the present, anticipatory stage of his ministry: they are imperfect in comparison with the coming perfection. The eschatological emphasis of verses 8-13 must not be overlooked if Paul’s argument and point of view are to be properly appreciated. (F. F. Bruce, The New Century Bible Commentary: 1 and 2 Corinthians, 128)
There is a vast difference, however, between childlike faith and childish faith, though the two are often confused. [Childlike faith calls the believer] to remain forever in a state of awe and trust of their heavenly Father, while a childish faith balks at learning the things of God in depth. It refuses the meat of the gospel while clinging to a diet of milk…The call of the New Testament is to maturity. (R.C. Sproul, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, xi)
The implication is clear: Instead of obsessing over the current gifts of the Spirit that will vanish in the future, we should invest our time and energy in nurturing faith, hope, and love, as these benefit us not only in the present age, but throughout time and for all eternity. (Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on 1 & 2 Corinthians, 196)
The perfection of God’s love, in perfect harmony with all of God’s other perfections, is inevitably displayed in different ways in the varied relationships He maintains. Similarly, mature Christian love should be nurtured as a reflection of the very being of God, in harmony with those other divine perfections we must emulate…and this love will be displayed in different ways in the very relationships we maintain. (D.A. Carson, Love in the Hard Places, 193)
We ought not to expect to receive from God what we are not prepared to bestow on others. (David Garland, Luke, 464)
To be sure, it is much easier to be loving if you’re in love, but being in love is not intrinsically necessary to being loving – else the Great Commandment is a farce. (R.C. Sproul, The Intimate Marriage, 103)
It is inconceivable that a person could fall in love with the Redeemer in the biblical sense and not long to be conformed to the object of that affection. (John Hannah, To God be the Glory, 38)
The fundamental response to God’s radical love for us is for us to radically love Him. (Mark Dever, Discipling, 15)