“Summa Cum Laude”
“1 Corinthians 13:1-13”
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
You might want to know what my title means and why I chose this phrase for this sermon when it is not even graduation time. If you were to look up this phrase you would find that it is Latin and means “of highest distinction or worthy of highest praise.” Knowing that you can easily see why Paul declares that charity (love) is the “summa cum laude” the Christian graces. Henry Drummond, a preacher from a by-gone era called this love “the greatest thing in the world” and so it is! Dr. Warren Wiersbe provides some background for this chapter when he writes; “It is tragic when the world takes a chapter like this (as it does) and divorces it from its true Christian meaning.
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I. Love is Essential
a. The explanation
What is the meaning of this word? When we think of the word charity today we think of donations to the Goodwill or Salvation Army or something like that and don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with this kind of charity but this is not what is meant by this word. The Greek word agape (love) seems to have been virtually a Christian invention—a new word for a new thing (apart from about twenty occurrences in the Greek version of the Old Testament, it is almost non-existent before the New Testament). Agape draws its meaning directly from the revelation of God in Christ. It is not a form of natural affection, however, intense, but a supernatural fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). It is a matter of will rather than feeling (for Christians must love even those they dislike—Matt. 5:44-48). It is the basic element in Christlikeness. I don’t want us to get bogged down in a bunch of Greek definitions so I’m going to focus on this one word which is “agape” and means a selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love, the highest of the four types of love in the Bible. This Greek word and variations of it are found throughout the New Testament. Agape perfectly describes the kind of love Jesus Christ has for his Father and for his followers:
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
But the word charity is not just a powerful emotion, it is love in action and is much more demanding! For instance we are told to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and being and to love our neighbors and our friends but agape love moves beyond this and teaches us to love our enemies as well!
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Luke 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
b. The endowment
Two things can be said about this love that is such an important part of the Christian faith. First, it is not natural, it is supernatural and it’s source is the Holy Spirit!
Romans 5:5 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.
Barnes writes: “The Holy Spirit “…sheds abroad…” –it is diffused; is poured out; is abundantly produced ἐκκέχυται ekkechutai. This word is properly applied to water, or to any other liquid that is poured out, or diffused. It is used also to denote imparting, or communicating freely or abundantly, and is thus expressive of the influence of the Holy Spirit poured down, or abundantly imparted to people.”
Second, this love once “shed abroad” can grow and progress to become richer, fuller and sweeter!
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
It is a fruit that the Spirit produces in believers and the point is that this fruit can develop so that it becomes more and more like the love of Christ in every way short of perfection.
c. The evidence
The unsaved man can no more experience this kind of love than can a marble statue!” Only those who have experienced the new birth have agape love. In these first three verses Paul makes several points. He says that “tongues” apart from love is just noise, that “prophecy” without love is meaningless and this is also true of “knowledge” and “faith.” He does not minimize these gifts but he says that apart from love they are of no good effect. An individual might go so far as to suffer martyrdom but to do so without love is nothing. Paul’s point here is that it is possible to be involved in all types or religious activity, even something as extreme as martyrdom, and yet not possess the love of God which is the evidence of a real salvation experience!
Matthew 7:22 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.
2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
It is possible to have religion without relationship! The only way to possess this love that Paul describes is to have a relationship with Jesus.
II. Love is Effectual
a. Its builds
1 Corinthians 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
b. It blesses all
Here Paul gives an analysis of the qualities of true “agape” love.
a. Love is kind and patient; it rises above petty things and is generous in its treatment of others. It’s easy to love those we agree with but what about the “grace builders” in or outside the church. When we are attacked and injured in some way how do we respond?
b. Love is not jealous; it does not envy those who may receive benefits and blessings that we do not receive.
c. Love is not proud or boastful; “Puffed up” is a phrase that relates to an inward feeling and “vaunteth” describes the outward expressions of self-importance.
ILL - Oswald Chambers confessed, “If I work for God because I know it brings me the good opinion of those whose good opinion I wish to have, I am a Pharisee. If I love Jesus Christ, I will serve humanity, though men and women treat me like a doormat.”
d. Love is not rude or self-seeking; There is a gracious charm about those who possess the love of Christ. True Christian love only seeks the good of others.
e. Love is not provoked nor does it harbor evil thoughts;
c. It bares all
The real point of chapter 13 is that it lays bare the behavior of the Corinthians by exposing them for what they were, carnal and fleshly. They did not have patience with each other in the assembly (14:29-32); they envied the spiritual gifts that others possessed (14:1); they were proud and critical (12:31-36); they did not have modesty or grace in their behavior (12:2-16); they sought their own rights (chs. 8-10), even if it hurt others; they were easily provoked, and even sued one another (6:1-8); and they rejoiced at sin when they should have judged it (5:1-13).There are those in every church who display all of these behaviors and worse and yet they profess to know God and His love. The Pharisees of our Lord’s day professed to know God and they were very knowledgeable where religion was concerned but time and again Jesus pointed out their hypocrisy and the contradictions in their behavior.
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
III. Love is Eternal
a. The temporal
Those who do not display agape love almost always have something in its place. Paul very subtly infers that they are acting like spoiled, selfish, children. They wanted the passing spiritual gifts instead of the fruit of love. These other things would pass away; prophetic utterance would be replaced by the written Word of God; tongues would no longer be needed; gifts of special knowledge would step aside for the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit but love and the graces it produces would last forever.
b. The transparent
Paul uses the metaphor of a “looking glass” which Corinth was famous for, to make the point that it is time that we recognize that those who habitually display the negative character and personality traits that he outlined in verses 4-5 may not be acquainted with the love of God at all and in fact may not be saved. Jesus said that we could “…know a tree by the fruit it bears…” and this is a very important point.
John 5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
c. The transcendent
In verse 13 Paul states that the greatest of all gifts and graces is love. It is the “Summa Cum Laude” of all things. Faith, hope and love will abide forever; and the greatest of these is love for God is love!”
ILL - Love is the key. Joy is love singing. Peace is love resting. Long-suffering is love enduring. Kindness is love’s touch. Goodness is love’s character. Faithfulness is love’s habit. Gentleness is love’s self-forgetfulness. Self-control is love holding the reins.
Donald Grey Barnhouse
“The early Latin writer, Tertullian of Carthage, declared that the one thing that converted him to Christianity was not the arguments they gave him, because he could find a counterpoint for every argument they would present. “But they demonstrated something I didn’t have. The thing that converted me to Christianity was the way that they loved each other.”
(G. Curtis Jones. 1000 Illustrations For Preaching And Teaching. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1986, p. 220).
Love makes obedience a thing of joy!
To do the will of one we like to please
Is never hardship, though it tax our strength;
Each privilege of service love will seize!
Love makes us loyal, glad to do or go,
And eager to defend a name or cause;
Love takes the drudgery from common work,
And asks no rich reward or great applause.
Love gives us satisfaction in our task,
And wealth in learning lessons of the heart;
Love sheds a light of glory on our toil
And makes us humbly glad to have a part.
Love makes us choose to do the will of God,
To run His errands and proclaim His truth;
It gives our hearts an eager, lilting song;
Our feet are shod with tireless wings of youth!
—Hazel Hartwell Simon
