First Corinthians 13 Part 6 Some Spiritual Gifts Stopped But Faith, Hope and Love Continue.

God's love pours into our heart like a river overflowing its banks. 

Romans 5:1-5  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2)  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3)  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4)  And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5)  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

I also included the first part of Romans 5 because Paul tells us about the love of God within the context of our need to patiently endure while facing trials and troubles in life.

The love of God continues to be the main theme. This love is poured into each believer in Christ by God's Spirit. 

Paul frames the outpouring of God's love into our heart by connecting it to the new birth. 

We have peace with God through repentant faith in Jesus Christ and this is the basis for God filling us with His love.

Because we see our old way of life passing away and we sense the resurrection life of Christ in us, we can face troubles with hope in our hearts.

We are content when we suffer for the sake of the gospel of Christ. 

It is in this context that the love of God is "shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost."

The words "shed abroad" picture a river or stream of water that reaches flood stage after heavy rain and overflows it's banks.

This is that specific love or charity that Paul is teaching us about in First Corinthians 13. 

Charity, the Divine love of God will never lose its power or effectiveness. 

1 Corinthians 13:8  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. 

This verse (1 Cor 13:8) is an umbrella text that tells us what the closing paragraph is going to teach.

Charity or God's love in us will never fail. The word "fail" means to lose power, to become impotent and ineffective. It means to fall to the ground unable to rise up.

This word is used when Paul was shipwrecked on his way to Rome. 

The soldiers used nautical devices so that the ship would not "fall" into quicksand and be swallowed up. 

It is used of casting our 4 anchors to secure the ship so that it would not fall upon jagged rocks and sink (See Acts 27:17; 29; 32). 

Paul is painting a vivid contrast between the love of God and certain spiritual gifts in the early church.

God's love will never fail, never lose it's power and will never cease to be effective in its ability to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ.

Charity or love, is a permanent and perpetual grace, lasting for eternity. 

In contrast, the extraordinary gifts which the Corinthians prided themselves on, were temporary gifts. 

The gifts of prophecy, speaking in tongues and gift of knowledge passed away.

1 Corinthians 13:8  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. 

Certain spiritual gifts were given to edify the church for a short period until the New Testament revelation was completed. 

Therefore, the spiritual gift of prophecy was going to fail, and indeed, it did fail when the last apostle passed away. 

Once the Bible was complete there was no longer a need for any prophecy. 

If a televangelist claims to be speaking prophetically, he or she must be rejected (See Deuteronomy 13:1-3; Matthew 7:15; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:13; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1-6).

Speaking in tongues or prophesying is adding to the Word of God.

Revelation 22:18-19  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19)  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 

God specifically commands us not to add anything to His Word and not to take anything away from His Word.

Prophesying and speaking in tongues both add to the Word of God. This is why those who claim to have these gifts today must be rejected. 

God's love will never fail, but speaking in tongues and interpreting them will cease. Indeed, this did cease when the Bible was completed. 

The word "cease" means to make something cease or desist by restraining it and removing its power. 

There is no longer a need for the gift of tongues because the written word with the full revelation of God can be preached and translated into almost every language.

Prophecy must fail, that is, either the prediction of things to come (which is its most common sense) or the interpretation of scripture by immediate inspiration. 

Tongues will cease, that is, the miraculous power of speaking languages without learning them.

Thus, these gifts which the Corinthian coveted with jealousy and discord, did pass away. 

Knowledge as a revelation from God to the apostles that opened up the mysteries of Jesus Christ and our salvation, ceased.

Now, such knowledge is learned when we read the Bible, when we study it and seek the mighty help of God's Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit indwells us specifically to teach us about Jesus Christ and to guide us as we study the Word seeking to learn more about God.

We also gain knowledge as we listen to sermons and lessons of capable preachers and teachers who instruct us in the ways of God, in His doctrines and His plans for us.

1 Corinthians 13:9-10  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. 

Any knowledge that we can attain in this life is temporary and partial by nature. 

Our mind can only comprehend so much knowledge, and of all that there is to know, we know only a tiny sliver.

Thus, we know in part here and now in this life, but we have the hope of receiving a full knowledge from our Father when He calls us home. 

The Puritan preacher Matthew Henry speaks plainly and wonderfully on this text.

"Our best knowledge and our greatest abilities are at present like our condition, limited and temporary. Even the knowledge they had by inspiration was but in part. How little a portion of God, and the unseen world, was heard even by apostles and inspired men! How far short do others come of them! But these gifts were fitted to the present imperfect state of the church, valuable in themselves, but not to be compared with charity, because they were to vanish with the imperfections of the church, nay, and long before, whereas charity was to last forever."

1 Corinthians 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

This text has two applications. First, the perfect thing that will come must refer to the completion of the New Testament scriptures. 

In Paul's day the New Testament was not yet finished. The word "perfect" means made complete, brought to a finished state.

The last New Testament books were written by John around 90 AD. At that point the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation were completed. 

The second application of this text concerns our heavenly homegoing. When through death or the rapture, Christ calls us home to heaven things will change dramatically.

We will receive a new, glorified body (See Philippians 3:21). We will not have our "old man" nor the sin nature we inherit from Adam.

We will be a complete new person in Christ and lack nothing for eternal life in heaven with Christ. 

1 Corinthians 13:11-13  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. 

Paul speaks of the misuse of spiritual gifts as being a child in the faith. He reminds us that growing up, we all spoke like children. 

We saw the world through the eyes and mind of a child lacking knowledge in many different areas. 

When he grew into an adult, Paul put away childish things. It is like children growing up and one day putting away their toys to play with things more age appropriate, like basketball or some other sport. 

Paul uses a mirror through which we see our Lord and the things of God darkly, that is in a mirror. 

The reflection in a mirror appears to the eye to be behind the mirror, so that we see it through the mirror. 

Ancient mirrors were made of polished brass or other metals. They were not as clear or functional as modern mirrors are. 

The contrast is between an inadequate view of an object by seeing it reflected in a dim mirror as the ancient mirrors were, compared with the perfection of seeing the object directly.

One day in heaven, we will know our Lord Jesus Christ for we shall see Him in His glory. We will hear His voice declaring that He knows us and we will know Him.

Because this is truth, Paul closes by reminding us that faith, hope and love or charity are permanent spiritual gifts from God and that His love in us is the greatest of these three. 

Our walk with the Lord is given in similar terms as Paul telling us to put away childish things. 

The apostles tell us that we all begin as babes in Christ. 

We must desire the sincere milk of His Word so that we can grow in our faith and reach spiritual maturity. 

But, we are expected to move from the sincere milk of His Word to the strong meat of His Word (See 1 Peter 2:1-5)

God expects each Christian to study His Word so that we can learn of Him. We must feed our souls with God's Word so that we can love Him more each day and serve Him with all our being.

Let us listen to the voice of God's Word. 

The Psalmist tells us to taste and see the Goodness of Jehovah.

Psalm 34:8  O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 

The Lord Jesus Christ invites all who are weary to learn of Him.

Matthew 11:28-30  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29)  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30)  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

Paul reminds us that Bible study and seeking to know God better is our joyous duty. 

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

May the Lord bless His Word as it goes forth in the Bible study blog. 

May He strengthen our hearts, lift up our heads and help us walk through this life keeping our eyes upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Bob