Essential To Implementation-2

ESSENTIAL to IMPLEMENTATION-II—1Corinthians 13:1-13

Attention/Need:

Valentine’s Day is upon us. “Love” can actually carry a variety of meanings in our society. Our society is confused about the meaning of love. Much of it focusing upon sentimentality & sexuality.

Paul highlighted/elucidated the necessity of agape love to the application of Christianity.

Agape love is essential to the implementation of Christian belief.

How is agape love essential to the Christian faith?

*Implementation of Christianity becomes mere/empty social reform without agape love.

Php. 2:12-13—“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear & trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will & to do for His good pleasure.”

1Pet. 4:8—“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

1Tim. 1:5—“Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, & from sincere faith,”

*This chapter is actually the definition for agaph love.

The umbrella of agape love presented here is neither romantic or sexual love(erov), nor is it sentimental(pleasant feeling about someone or thing), nor is it friendship or brotherly love(filia), nor charity(KJV) for the poor.—MacArthur

The supreme example of agape love is God’s love toward humanity.

Agape love is always giving &/or sacrificial love.

2— Agape love is essential to Christianity thru its...

PREEMINENCE/Maturity(:8-13)

Explanation:(:8-13)

‘Preeminence’— ‘Surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way.’

:8—“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.”

h agaph(See :4)— ‘This love’

*There neither is, nor was, nor ever will be an instance where Agape love fails.

*However, there are things which do fail, cease & vanish. Referring to the gifts in :2, the “prophesies,” “tongues,” & “knowledge,” so zealously sought by the Corinthians, there will be a time when such will no longer be active. So they are seeking that which is destined for disuse, & disregarding that which is destined to remain—Agape love.

:8a-“Fails”—ekpiptw—1) To fall out of, to fall down from, to fall off; 2) metaph.—2a) To fall from a thing, to lose it, 2b) To perish, to fall. Strong—To lose, become inefficient:--Be cast, fail, fall (away, off), have none effect.

:8b, d-“b-Fail & d-Vanish/Done away/Cease & Pass away/”(See :10)—katargew—1) To render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative; 2) To cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish.

“Tongues”(See :1)—glwssa—1) The tongue, a member of the body, an organ of speech; 2) A tongue—1a) The language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations.

“Cease/Stilled”—pauw—1) To make to cease or desist; 2) To restrain a thing or person from something; 3) To cease, to leave off; 4) Have got release from sin. Strong— To stop (transitively or intransitively), i.e. restrain, quit, desist, come to an end:-- Cease, leave, refrain.

“Knowledge”(See :2)—gnwsiv—Knowledge signified in general intelligence, understanding.

:9—“For we know in part & we prophesy in part.”

*Moreover, the above things, particularly prophecy & knowledge, even now give us only partial understanding regarding God’s will & desire. We declare what we are given & that is miniscule!

Isa. 55:8-9—““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

1Cor. 2:9(Isa. 64:4)—“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.””

Job 11:7-9—“Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than heaven--what can you do? Deeper than Sheol--what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea.”

Job 26:14—“Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, And how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?””

Ps. 139:6—“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.”

Col. 2:3—“in whom[Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom & knowledge.”

“For”—de—But, moreover, &, etc.

“In part” (See :10)—ek merouv—1) A part—1a) A part due or assigned to one, 1b) Lot, destiny; 2) One of the constituent parts of a whole. Also in 1Cor. 12:27.

:10—“But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”

“That which is perfect”—The eternal state.

“Perfect”—teleiov—1) Brought to its end, finished; 2) Wanting nothing necessary to completeness; 3) Perfect; 4) That which is perfect.

*When we exist in & are surrounded by God’s full undaunted intention for us & His creation.