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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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Spirit are exercised in the power of this inclusive love, edification of every member of the body of Christ will be the result. IV. T he P ermanency of L ove (1 Cor. 13:8-13). Love never fails (v. 8). No storms, drought, or frost alter or change love; it loses not its life principle. Prophecy one day will reach its complete fulfillment, tongues will one day unite in one univer sal language, and knowledge will one day merge into perfect revelation, but love will never fail, change, or pass away. Whatever is known now is known only in part, not fully (vs. 9-12). W e wait for that to come which is perfect. Now it is as though we were but children, having the vision of a child, unable to see spiritual things distinctly, seeing as “through a glass darkly,” dimly, hence only partially knowing the truth. Little does it behoove any of us to criticize another when we ourselves are still children, looking at things as “in a riddle” (R. V. margin). The exercise of all knowledge, faith, bene ficence, and sacrifice apart from love causes deadness, formality, or schism in the church which is the body of Christ. “And now abideth faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest o f these is love” (v. 13). Love is the greatest o f these because without it faith would fail and hope would die. We are told that “God is love,” not faith or hope; therefore, we are to covet the best gift, love. Hope implies a recognition of, a desire for, and an expectation of future good from God; faith implies a perfect dependence upon, confidence in, and obedience to God; and love implies a likeness to, agreement with, and service for God. Points and Problems 1. The thirteenth chapter o f 1 Corin thians is one o f the most seriously mis understood passages in the entire Bible. The name o f God does not appear once in the chapter, nor does the name of Jesus our Lord. This, doubtless, is one of the reasons why fallen man has seized upon this chapter and has tried to use it for the exaltation of himself apart from Christ. 2. But while the name of deity does not appear, nevertheless the chapter is full o f God and Christ. (The reader doubtless understands that the word “charity” should be rendered “love” throughout the chap ter.) Now what is this “love” which is mentioned in nearly every verse? Certain ly, it is not some purely human attainment. John writes that “God is love,” and there fore “love is of God” (1 John 4:7, 8). But how can we know and share this “ love” of which the Bible speaks? Again John has the answer: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Now if we would see this divine love, we are to look at Christ. He is Divine Love incarnate. This is the love of which Paul writes in 1 Co rinthians 13. It does not arise in fallen hu manity, but came down from heaven in the Son of God. And we have this love in us only as we have Christ in us. Looking at the chapter in this light, it is full of our blessed Lord. In fact, it would not be wrong to read the entire chapter with His name substituted for “charity” wherever it occurs. Let the reader try reading it thus, and the passage will take on a new glory. 3. “ Though I have all faith” (v. 2). This faith is not the faith which lays hold
Bible truth, we will not progress very far in learning other truths. The next color is red, and it reminds us o f the blood of Christ, which was shed for the remission of sins. “Without shedding o f blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:22). “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). W e have learned that we are sinners. Now the next truth that we should receive is that Christ died for sinners. The white color follows the red, for cleansing and righteousness come to those who accept Christ as Saviour. David said: “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psa. SI :7). Blue is the heavenly color which reminds us o f separation from the world and de votion to God. In Numbers 15, Moses was told to have a border of blue sewed on the bottoms of the garments o f the children Lesson T ext: Acts 18:1-4; 1 Cor. 13 il ls. Golden T ext: “ Now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” (1 Cor. 13:13). Outline and Exposition I. T he F ellowship of L ove (Acts 18:1-4). A x Corinth the Apostle Paul, Aquila, r \ and Priscilla were exiles, strangers ^-in a double sense. They were Jews in a foreign country, and being Christians they were pilgrims in the world. The bond o f fellowship in Christ drew these three together and united them in love (cf. 1 John 4:7; 5:1). Being of the same craft, Paul abode with them. II. T h e P reeminence of L ove (1 Cor. 13:1-3). In the foregoing chapter Paul has dis cussed the gifts given by the Holy Spirit. In this chapter he shows that the supreme motive for and the superior value of those gifts is found in “charity” (R.V., “ love” ) ; love is preeminent. The gifts are the mani festations of the Lord’s power, while love is the manifestation of the nature of the Lord Himself. Love is the great principle regulating all Christian life ; without it life is barren and the gifts are but mockeries. Though one might possess great elo quence, that gift, unless fused with love, would be but a discordant noise. Though one might have the gift o f prophecy, under stand all mysteries, possess all knowledge, have faith sufficient to remove mountains, and live a sacrificial life, all would be as nothing unless love permeated throughout. There are many people who seemingly possess no outstanding gift, who neither speak eloquently to the edification of others, nor have unusual faith. Nor are they able to give in abundance o f their means or possessions, nor is any spectac ular sacrifice their portion, but they may be accounted great with the greatness of the Lord Himself because they abound in love. III. T he P icture of L ove (1 Cor. 13 :4-7). Love “suffereth long, and is kind” (v. 4). Many people suffer long because of cir cumstances over which they have no con trol, but they exhibit no kindness during or
o f Israel to remind them that they were God’s people, separated unto Him. The next color is green, suggesting fruitfulness. God wants saved people to bear fruit for Him. The last color is yellow. God is prepar ing a city with golden streets for those who have been cleansed in the precious blood of Christ.
.OCTOBER 25, 1936 CHRISTIANITY AS LOVE A cts 18:1-17; 1 C o rin th ians 13
after the suffering. Love is patient under trial, it endures through sorrow, it is con siderate under injustice, it envies not a person nor the circumstances of others, it does not vaunt itself outwardly, and it is not filled with inward pride. Love is wholly unconscious of self. Love does not behave itself unseemly (v. 5). It acts with perfect considera tion and courtesy, with no artificial man ner but with a sincerity which can be felt by all with whom it comes in touch. Love seeks not its own; there is nothing it desires to gain except Christ. Love aims to give to others the Christ it gains.:In a day when others sought “their own,” Timothy sought Paul’s comfort (Phil. 2:19-21). Thus should the Christian today follow the exhortation, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Phil. 2 :4 ). Love is not easily provoked, but is patient in the pres ence of all irritations. It endeavors to ful fill the command to “consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Heb. 10:24). Love does not keep books of the wrongs and injuries it has suffered; it thinks no evil. Love does not misunder stand nor wrongly construct the speech or actions of another. Love rejoices not in unrighteousness but in the truth (v. 6). Love grieves over the accusations of Satan against the brethren and the progress of the truth. Paul says that love bears all things (v. 7), and believes all things; it does not know suspicion, but it is not easily deceived. Love hopes all things; it is optimistic in the face o f all adverse cir cumstances and appearances. Love endures all things; it is strong through all of the experiences and vicissitudes of life. Fourteen marks of love are given by Paul in this portion. If the gifts of the BLACKBOARD LESSON
THE S K Y L IN E IN THE CH RISTIAN S LIFE
THE SPIRE OF FAITH REACHES UP THE LIGHT OF HOPE R E A C H E S OUT THE TONER OF LOVE R E A C H E S EVERYW H ERE
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