First Corinthians 13 Part 2 What Does God's Love Look Like In Us?

God's love must shape us or all that we do is valueless.

1 Corinthians 13:1-2  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. 

In our last post we defined the word "charity" and noted that it is the same word translated "love" seventy five percent of the time this word is used.

The word "charity" accurately conveys what it means to love God with all our strength and to love others as ourselves. 

Without the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, our service for God means nothing.

Jesus commanded us to love one another because it is a powerful and persuasive testimony to a lost and dying world.

Paul compares speaking in tongues without the love of God, to pagans banging metal cymbals together trying to summon their deities.

Interpreting tongues without God's love is like playing a brass instrument without music, making a loud cacophony of harsh sounds. 

Paul mentions the gift of prophecy which we previously looked into. This was a temporary gift for the church until the completion of the New Testament scriptures (See Acts 11:28; 21:10). 

Understanding God's mysteries without the love of God is valueless.

Romans 16:25-27  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26)  But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27)  To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Understanding all mysteries such as those God revealed to the apostle Paul, was vital for teaching Christians what God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Mysteries connected with the redemptive plan of God was hidden by God from before the foundation of the world. 

God revealed the mysteries to us through His apostles. This revelation is for a specific purpose to all people and nations to obey faith in Jesus Christ. 

Even though Paul was gifted with full knowledge and understanding of the glorious mysteries, without God's love, it means nothing. 

Faith to move mountains without God's love is nothing.

Matthew 17:20  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 

Jesus taught His disciples that if their faith was as much as a tiny mustard seed they could move mountains. 

Not moving mountains in a literal sense but in the sense of doing wonderful, big things for the kingdom of God. 

Yet, having such faith without the love of God is meaningless. 

The word "nothing" is the idea of an absolute zero, that adds nothing, accomplishes nothing and is worth nothing. 

Adam Clarke has excellent insight into this passage that helps our understanding of why the love of God in us is vital to Christian faith and living.

"Understanding all mysteries, the meaning of all the types and figures in the Old Testament, and all the unexplored secrets of nature; and all knowledge of every human art and science, and have all faith, such as would enable me even to remove mountains; or had such powerful discernment in sacred things that I could solve the greatest difficulties and have not charity - this love to God and man, as the principle and motive of all my conduct, the characteristics of which are given in the following verses, I am nothing - nothing in myself, nothing in the sight of God, nothing in the Church, and good for nothing to mankind."

Selling our things to feed the poor means nothing without God's love.

1 Corinthians 13:3  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. 

Selling all our possessions in order to distribute food to the poor achieves nothing without God's love being our sole source of motivation.

Allowing ourselves to be martyred by being burned at the stake means nothing without the love of God. 

I suggest reading Foxe's Book of Martyrs to read eyewitness accounts of those saints who were martyred for their faith in Christ. 

They refused to renounce their faith in Christ, because the love of God was poured into them.

Paul spent time instructing us what "charity" or "love" is not. 

Now he is going to teach us what "charity" or "love" really is like.

Charity or love as the Spirit's fruit in us is beautiful and honors God. 

1 Corinthians 13:4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

What is the love of God or "charity" really like? How can we know this love of God.

Charity is longsuffering. This is the idea of a patient mind unmoved by trials, adversity, persecution, or provocations. 

Longsuffering does not allow these things to disrupt the love of God that we have for others. 

The love for God and our neighbor is patient or longsuffering towards all men. 

Exodus 34:6-7  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7)  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. 

When Moses asked to see Jehovah, the LORD told him that He would cover Moses' eyes and pass before him.

As the LORD passed before Moses He proclaimed His name as He passed by. The name of God reveals Him to us. 

Jehovah Elohim is merciful and gracious and longsuffering, which is what Paul is teaching the us about in his letter to the Corinthians.

Longsuffering suffers or endures all weakness, ignorance, errors, and infirmities of the children of God without seeking revenge or responding in kind.

Longsuffering also waits for God’s time to accomplish His gracious or providential purposes. 

Longsuffering continues loving God and others without murmuring and bears its own infirmities, as well as those of others, with a humble submission to the will of God.

Kindness is being tender, compassionate, mild, gentle in our dealings with others.  

If God calls us to suffer then being kind means we will respond with a sweet spirit. 

Kindness in us is submissive to all that God allows in our lives and causes trouble to no one.

Charity or love is not envious of others as the Corinthians were. 

Charity is not grieved because another possesses a greater portion of earthly, intellectual, or spiritual blessings.

It is showing ourselves to be mild in our actions toward others rather than erupting in anger. 

The ideas of vaunting one's self or being puffed up are connected. 

Charity does not desire to be noticed or be the center of attention. 

Rather, charity wishes that God may be all in all.

Vaunting ourselves is putting self forward as some great thing instead of having true Biblical humility. 

Being puffed up refers to a blow fish that puffs itself up at the presence of a predator. 

This is the idea of arrogance, pride, or self conceit. 

Charity does not vaunt itself up or become puffed up with pride.

Pride is the opposite of having the spiritual fruit of longsuffering in us.

Proverbs 11:2  When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

The Bible teaches us a lot about the sin of pride and how it adversely impacts our lives. 

Paul rebuked the prideful sins of the Corinthian church and this led to godly sorrow that led to true repentance. 

Shame follows pride because pride leads to arrogance and self conceit. 

Those who are longsuffering know that we are nothing if we are not in Christ. 

Those who are long suffering depend upon the indwelling Spirit of God to lead and guide each step that we take.

Humility of heart and child like faith are evidences of a longsuffering spirit.

Matthew 18:3-4  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4)  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

Jesus reminds us that we must have a pure, child like faith in Him to be saved. This is a humble, dependent faith upon the LORD who will save all who call upon Him. 

Isaiah 57:15 tells us that although God is high, holy and dwelling in eternity, He lives with those who have humble hearts and contrite spirits. 

A humble heart is realizing how depraved we are in Adam and how loving and merciful God is to provide salvation to us.

A contrite spirit is when we have been crushed by life's circumstances, the consequences of our sins or the oppression of others. 

We learn to turn to God in all situations and we allow His love and longsuffering to be worked into our heart, so that we can respond to others as Christ responded to His enemies and adversaries. 

We inherited a proud spirit from Adam that must be submitted to God.

James 4:5-10  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6)  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7)  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8)  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9)  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10)  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 

Many Corinthians were puffed up and filled with pride. They caused dissension and divisions in the church. 

They envied one another instead of loving one another. 

James tells us what must happen to be free of such a vile spirit of envy and lust. We must learn to submit to God, resist the Devil and draw close to God.

We must constantly confess and forsake our sins and seek the cleansing and forgiveness that only God can supply. 

Godly sorrow with repentance with leads to a great cleansing and transformation in our heart (See also 1 Peter 5:5-7). 

We have learned what charity or love is not, and we are beginning to learn from Paul what charity or love really is like. 

There are some questions we can ask to assess where we are in our walk with the Lord.

Is there evidence of longsuffering as the fruit of the Spirit in our thoughts, words and actions?

Are we kind hearted toward all people, not just those with whom we agree?

Do we become jealous over others who we think may have a more important gift or role in our church family than we do?

Do we have a spirit marked by self conceit or pride?

Our answers to these questions will show us the condition of our heart.

Let us be willing to make adjustments if needed.

Let us pray for the Spirit of God to help us see where we fall short.

Let us plead with God's Spirit to change our heart and make us more conformed to the image of Christ. 

Bob