Without love 2
Intro: Not all that long ago I remember hearing of someone who went around asking people on the street a question, “What is a Christian?” and there were a lot of different answers different descriptions and not all of them were all that wholesome or nice. Words like pushy, hypocrite among others were used.
What is a Christian? Throughout history there have been many different ones trying to find the way to show their Christianity, some through holiness, some through spiritual ways, and even some try to buy their way to heaven, while others try to find the easy way there.
But Gods word tells us plainly that we must have love for “he that knoweth not love knoweth not God for God is love”
Text:
1 Corinthians 13:1-8KJV
1 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.
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.
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.
1 Corinthians 13:13KJV
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
V1- Even though I speak with tongues of men and angels and have not charity or Love I am as noisy gong or clanging cymbal.
I am just making noise! The loudest and most fearsome sound that a lion will ever roar will be at or near the end of its life, when it has lost all its teeth! They will roar ferociously to try to scare anything away that might hurt it!!! Spiritual gifts are wonderful and necessary, but more important than anything is love!
V2 Love is worth more than even prophecies, knowledge, even great faith!
Matthew 7:22-23 (KJV)
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [1]
V3 - There are some who hope that large gifts to the poor, great acts of holiness, holiness will save you.
It was taught during the times in Rome when Christians were being martyred by feeding then to lions and other terrible ways that if you were killed for Christ’s sake you would immediately go straight into heaven. However Jesus said “I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.
Galatians 5:6 (KJV)
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. [2]
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (AMP)
4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth]. [3]
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[1] The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995. Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA
[2] The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995. Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA
[3] The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987. The Lockman Foundation: La Habra, CA