The LOVE Of GOD-I—1Corinthians 13:1-13
Attention:
Valentine’s Day is upon us, & our society is confused about the meaning of ‘love’, because it can carry a variety of meanings. In our society ‘love’ is most often portrayed thru books, movies, & television in a sentimental sense or a romantic & sexual sense. But it is also occasionally presented in a self-giving manner, which is closest to the biblical reality.
Need:
To know & apply God’s self-giving love, so as to prevent anything less from taking it’s place in our lives.
•“Self-giving”—Giving of yourself for the sake of another or others, rather than for yourself alone.
Paul highlighted the necessity of sacrificial love to the proper outworking of Christian living.
Sacrificial love is essential to true Christianity.
How is sacrificial love essential to the Christian faith?
*Without self-giving love, the implementation of Christianity becomes mere/empty social reform....Which the world eats-up like candy!
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 entire chapter actually describes & defines agaph love with it’s results.
The following is adapted from a ‘Study Guide for 1Cor. 13’ by David Guzik(2013) at blueletterbible.org :
The ancient Greeks had four different words we could translate as love in English.
i. Eros was a Greek word, which described erotic love. It refers to sexual love. This word is not used in the Greek Scriptures.
ii. Storge was another Greek word for ‘love’. It refers to family love, the kind of love there is between a parent and child, or between family members in general. Neither is word used in the Greek Scriptures. However it’s opposite is used to describe a family member who is hard-hearted toward their kindred, or someone who is unsociable, or ‘without natural affection.’ It was also compounded with the word filov to describe the mutual fondness of love between parents & children & wives & husbands.
iii. Filia is another Greek word for ‘love’ that speaks of a brotherly friendship & affection. It is the love of deep friendship & partnership. It might be described as the highest love of which man is capable, without God’s help.
iv. Agaph is the word Paul uses for love in 1Cor. 13. It is a love that loves without changing. It is a self-giving love that gives without demanding or expecting repayment. It is love that readily reaches out to the unlovable or unappealing. It is love that loves even when it is rejected. Agape love gives because it loves; it does not love in order to receive. Unfortunately men are also said to ‘agape’(‘love’) sin & the world(Jn. 3:19 & 1Jn. 2:15).?•So agape love can be defined as a sacrificial, giving, absorbing kind of love. The word has little to do with emotion; it has much to do with self-denial for the sake of another.”
The umbrella of agaph ‘love’ presented here(1Cor. 13:1-13) is neither romantic or sexual ‘love’(erov), nor is it sentimental(pleasant feeling about someone or thing), nor is it the same as friendship or brotherly ‘love’(filia), nor is it ‘charity’(KJV) for the poor.—John MacArthur
The supreme example of agaph love is God’s agaph love toward humanity & the world, all for the sake of humanity’s & the world’s betterment.
God’s love is agaph love, & it is always a self-giving &/or sacrificial love. It is best understood through God’s exercise of it.
1—As A Christian, the Love of God must...
HUMBLE My SPEECH(:1)
Explanation/Argumentation:(:1)
:1—“Though I speak with the tongues of men & of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
For the purposes of this sermon, ‘HUMBLE’—describes a spirit of deference & submission to God.
Ps. 34:18—“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.”
Ps. 51:17—“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken & a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise.”
Isa. 66:2—“For all those things My hand has made[creation], And all those things exist,” Says the LORD. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor & of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.”
•‘Contrite’—“Feeling or expressing remorse or repentance; affected by guilt.”
• ‘The beatitudes’ are all about humility in response to God’s desire, in the face of those who disregard God altogether.
Mat. 5:3-10—In the beatitudes, Jesus said,—“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger & thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Though I speak with the tongues of men & of angels,”
GENERAL:
It seems the Corinthian Christians put undue emphasis upon the spiritual gift of “tongues”, & so probably is why it is given first mention here. Paul devotes the entirety of chapter 14 to tongues.
Paul’s insists on a God-ordained unity of the body of Christ in Chapter 12 so that the congregation will not be ignorant of the God’s desire for the proper use of spiritual gifts(12:1ff.). And likewise, Chapter 13 focuses on the absolute necessity of ‘Agape love’ in the ‘godly’ use of spiritual gifts. So Chapters 12 & 13 are both integral to any serious discussion of all ‘spiritual gifts.’ Those chapters speak from to the misuse of “tongues” by the Corinthian Christians.
*Chapter 13 is Paul’s solution for the Corinthian Christians & the overall Church, that they might be “shown” “a more excellent way” to look at spiritual giftedness overall(cf.-12:31).
13:1—EXPLANATION:
“Though I speak with the tongues of men & of angels, but have not love,”...
Even if a child of God were able to speak all known human languages(“of men”), & even if one were able to communicate in the unknown ‘native’(?) language “of angels” themselves, such noteworthy & attention-producing abilities would be utterly useless(mere noise—“sounding, “clanging”(See 14:6-9)) IF they are employed without “love.”
Jn. 13:34-35—Jesus told His disciples—“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Remember that at the Lord’s Supper, Satan himself had entered Judas & Judas had just left to betray Jesus to the chief priests & Pharisees. Judas missed that part of the conversation(Jn. 13:34-35).
•To be graced with a gift of God’s love, & yet to put the gift into practice without ‘Agape love’ would be pointless & powerless. Because such a gift of God’s grace thru Christ, when put into practice IN & THRU “love”, is what releases the full & God-ordained potential of the combination—of God’s giftedness, working thru each of his children. And that God-ordained ‘potential’ includes the ‘language’s’ reason for existence in the first place...so communication with & from, & thru Almighty God might occur.
•The attitude of ‘Agape love’ in which any spiritual gift is offered, is just as much a part of that gift as is the gift itself! •Both the gift & the attitude in which the gift(s) is(are) employed dare not be separated thru men’s efforts.
“The greatest truths spoken in the greatest way fall short if they are not spoken in love.”—MNTC
“Though/If”(See :2)—ean—Conditional particle or Conjunction—1) If, in case. Strong—a conditional particle; In case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty.?From—ei—a primary particle of conditionality; If, whether, that, etc.—&—an—a primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty.
“Speak”—lalew—Verb—1) To utter a voice or emit a sound; 2) To speak—2a) To use the tongue or the faculty of speech, 2b) To utter articulate sounds; 3) To talk; 4) To utter, tell; 5) To use words in order to declare one's mind & disclose one's thoughts—5a) To speak. Strong—a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; To talk, i.e. Utter words.?Lalew means an extended or random harangue, while legw means to relate, in words[usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas epw & fhmi generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while rew is properly, to break silence merely].
“Tongues”(See :8)—glwssa—Noun Fem.—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. Strong—of uncertain affinity; The tongue; by implication--A language(specially, one naturally unacquired). Used 50X.
“Men/Man”—anyrwpov—Noun Masc.—1) A human being, whether male or female—1a) generically--To include all human individuals, 1b) To distinguish man from beings of a different order—1b1) Of animals & plants, 1b2) Of from God & Christ, 1b3) Of the angels, 1c) With the added notion of weakness, by which man is led into a mistake or prompted to sin, 1d) With the adjunct notion of contempt or disdainful pity, 1e) With reference to two fold nature of man, body & soul, 1f) With reference to the two fold nature of man, the corrupt & the truly Christian man, conformed to the nature of God, 1g) With reference to sex, a male; 2) indefinitely--Someone, a man, one; 3) in the plural--People; 4) Joined with other words, merchantman. Strong—Man-faced, i.e. A human being.?From—anhr—a primary word; A man(properly as an individual male)—&—wq(the countenance; from optanomai[to gaze (i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable]).
“Angels”—aggelov—Noun Masc.—1) A messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God. Strong—from aggellw[probably derived from agw[to lead; bring, drive, go, pass(time), or induce]; compare agelh[a drove]](to bring tidings); A messenger; especially--An "angel"; by implication--A pastor.
“Yet/About/But”—de—Conjunction—1) But, moreover, and, etc.. Strong—But, and, etc.; a primary particle(adversative or continuative).
“Have”(See :2)—ecw OR scew—Present Active Subjunctive 1st Sing.—1) To have, i.e. To hold—1a) To have(hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have(hold) possession of the mind (refers to alarm, agitating emotions, etc.), to hold fast keep, to have or comprise or involve, to regard or consider or hold as; 2) To have i.e. Own, possess—2a) External things such as pertain to property or riches or furniture or utensils or goods or food etc., 2b) Used of those joined to any one by the bonds of natural blood or marriage or friendship or duty or law etc, of attendance or companionship; 3) To hold one's self or find one's self so & so, to be in such or such a condition; 4) To hold one's self to a thing, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to—4a) To be closely joined to a person or a thing. Strong—including an alternate form scew; (used in certain tenses only); a primary verb; To hold(used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possessions; ability, continuity, relation, or condition).
“Not”—mh—Particle—1) No, not lest. Strong—a primary particle of qualified negation(whereas ou, ouk, ouc expresses an absolute denial); adverbially--Not, conjunctionally--Lest; also(as an interrogative implying a negative answer[whereas ou expects an affirmative one])--Whether.
“Love”(See :13)—agaph—Noun Fem.—1) Brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence; 2) Love feasts. Strong—Love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially(plural)--A love-feast. R.H. Mounce—Agaph is selfless love, which cannot be turned in on itself. J. MacArthur—‘...one of the rarest words in Greek literature, but one of the most common in the New Testament.’?•Used or implied thruout this chapter.
“...I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”
This verse highlights the ‘indistinction’(cf.-14:7-9) of the language when offered in the ABSENCE of ‘Agape love’
•1Cor. 14:7-9—“Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.”
What the apostle of our Lord is saying there about “speaking into the air”, is that your are wasting your breath, wasting your effort, & merely making noise...If you exercise God’s giftedness, for your own benefit.
One author exposes this “sounding brass or a clanging cymbal”in the following manner:—“People of little religion are always noisy; he who has not the love of God & man filling his heart is like an empty wagon coming violently down a hill: it makes a great noise, because there is nothing in it.” (Josiah Gregory, cited in Clarke)”
Not only does this verse highlight what is indistinction thru a lack of love, but it also highlights what is can be ‘distinct’ & enlightening thru the PRESENCE & CONTROL of ‘Agape love.’
Eph. 3:14-21—“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven & earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted & grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width & length & depth & height-- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever & ever. Amen.”
“Become”—ginomai—2ndPerfect(spelling variation) Active Indicative 1st Sing.—1)To become, i.e. To come into existence, begin to be, receive being; 2) To become, i.e. To come to pass, happen—2a) Of events; 3) To arise, appear in history, come upon the stage—3a) Of men appearing in public; 4) To be made, finished—4a) of miracles--To be performed, wrought; 5) To become, be made. Strong—a prolongation & middle voice form of a primary verb; To cause to be(“gen”-erate), i.e. reflexively--To become(come into being), used with great latitude(literal, figurative, intensive, etc.).?RWP—Here, “second perfect indicative in the conclusion’”...“it is vividly, ‘I am already become.”
“Sounding/Noisy/Resounding”—hcew—Present Active Participle Nominative Sing. Masc.—1) To sound—1a) Of the roaring of the sea(Lk. 21:25). Strong—To make a loud noise, i.e. Reverberate. Used 2X.
“Brass/Gong”—calkov—Noun Masc.—1) Brass; 2) What is made of brass, money, coins of brass(also of silver & gold). Strong—Copper(the substance, or some implement or coin made of it) Used 5X.
“Clanging/Tinkling”—alalazw—Present Active Participle Nominative Sing. Neuter—1) To repeat frequently the cry “alala” as soldiers used to do on entering into battle; 2) To utter a joyful sound; 3) To wail, lament; 4) To ring loudly, to clang. Alalazw is to wail in oriental style; to howl in a consecrated, semi-liturgical fashion. Strong—from alalh(a shout, “halloo”); To vociferate, i.e. by implication--To wail; figuratively--To clang. Used in Mk. 5:38 to describe a wail of grief. Used 2X.
“Cymbal”—kumbalon—Noun Neuter—1) A cymbal, i.e. A hollow basin of brass, producing when struck together, a musical sound. Strong—from a derivative of the base of kuma[from kuw(to swell [with young], i.e. bend, curve); a billow(as bursting or toppling)]; A “cymbal”(as hollow). Used 1X.
Argumentation:
Mat. 15:10-11, 18-19—“When He[Jesus] had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear & understand: “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.””.....“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, & they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”
•Matthew 12:35—“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, & an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”
When that which comes out of a person’s mouth is defiling...his/her mouth is speaking from the ‘BAD/EVIL’ treasure of their heart(bad, or worldly).
Likewise, when that which comes out of a person’s mouth is edifying/building up...his/her mouth is speaking from the ‘GOOD’ treasure of their heart(good or godly).
Lk. 6:37-38—“Judge not, & you shall not be judged. Condemn not, & you shall not be condemned. Forgive, & you will be forgiven. Give, & it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, & running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Eph. 4:14-16—“that we should no longer be children, tossed to & fro & carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined & knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
Col. 4:6—“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
Application:
?IS your SPEECH Humbled before God thru His Agape love working in you?
?As a Christian, does the Love of God keep you Humble?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Valentine’s Day confusion about ‘love.’
Action:
—As A Christian, the Love of God must Humble My...
1. SPEECH(:1)
Pt#1 only! presented 02/14/2021am(Valentine’s Day) to:
1BCCbelle
206 SE Ave. A(Storrs Ave.)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
