Salvation: preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss.
• In theology: Salvation is, deliverance from sin and its consequences, believed by Christians to be brought about by faith in Christ.
We know that our salvation is a gift of God’s love for us:
• We just sang the hymn: “Love Lifted Me” and we celebrate how God has lifted us up from the chains of our sin and have given us this wonderful assurance of everlasting life with Him through Christ Jesus.
I). But have you ever really thought about your salvation?
A). We also just heard 1st Corinthians 13 .
• Of course this comes right after 1st Corinthians 12 (duh)
• And that chapter is really about division.
B). There was some division in the church at Corinth at the time – and so the Holy Spirit – through the Apostle Paul address the problem head on.
• He doesn’t do it with name calling – or by pointing fingers – he doesn’t add fuel to the fire by talking about which side is wrong and which side is right.
• And we get to the end of chapter 12 and he reminds the church that not all of us have the same gifts – nor have we all been called to the same ministry.
• And so rather than fighting over all that stuff, he says in the very last verse (31), “But let me now show you a way of life that is best of all.”
C). And then he launches into 1st Corinthians 13
• What do we call this chapter of the Bible?
o We call it the love chapter.
• After all, it begins, “1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”
• And the word love is mentioned 9 times in the 13 verses of the chapter in the New Living Translation.
D). But this morning I want to redirect your thinking about this just a bit.
• I am not saying that it is wrong to call 1st Corinthians 13, “The Love Chapter” – it’s not wrong.
• That chapter is filled with words of love!
E). But 1st Corinthians 13 is an invitation to step back from that moment of conflict in chapter 12.
• It’s a time to stop and take a deep breath.
• And – most importantly – it’s a time for us to claim that wonderful gift that Christ came to this earth to give.
• 1st Corinthians 13 is about salvation.
II). Too many times in the Church – and from the pulpit we talk about what we are saved from:
A). First, we are saved from sin.
• We are saved from condemnation.
• We are saved from an eternity in Hell – an eternity of suffering and punishment.
• We are saved from an eternity without God.
B). And then we might even go on to mention individual sins and hardships that we have been saved from.
• Saved from an addiction.
• Saved from a life of crime.
• Saved from having a lousy, bad attitude.
• Saved from losing my family.
• And all of those are valid things – and we could probably list even more.
C). And sometimes we talk about the things that we have been saved for.
• We are being saved in order to go to Heaven.
• That’s the main reason for salvation for a lot of people.
• Let’s get our spiritual fire insurance!
III). But what does 1st Corinthians 13 tells us that we are saved for?
A). We are saved by Christ Jesus for love.
• Because of God’s great love for us – and for the love we are to show to everyone around us.
B). Remember the words of Jesus in Mark 12:29-31
• “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
• Then there’s what Jesus told His followers (us) in John 15: 12 “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”
C). So, we are saved for us to show the love of Christ Jesus!
• We are set free to love – we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to love – the same Spirit equips us to love – and we are now (through our relationship with God the Father) enabled to love.
• Remember this love is to all people.
• This is why I have said for years that too many of our churches are spending too much time on social & even justice issues (hear me out).
• If we would spend more time teaching, preaching and living out the love that we are to have – and to show others – in Christ Jesus – all of these social and justice issues would take care of themselves!
• Since “the greatest of these is love” and we are to “love everyone else the way we love ourselves” and Christians are to love one another with the “love of Christ” (which is even more than the love that we have for ourselves) how could these things not work out?
IV). But are we that loving? Let’s look at some of 1st Corinthians again:
1. “If I speak,” says Paul, “but I don’t love other, I am just making a loud noise.”
2. If I approach a “foe” on the other side of the aisle without love, then I am nothing.
3. If I look at someone who is different from me - a different race -a different orientation - a different culture or society, with anything other than love, then I am just flapping my jaws.
4. If I stand by in silent acceptance, while I or others are being wronged, then I am spinning my wheels and not getting anywhere.
5. Even if I give away everything I own – but I don’t love those who needed it the most – I haven’t gained a thing.
This is the way of life that is best of all, the Bible says.
• And it’s still the best way of life today.
But it can only be this way if we are living a life in a true with God.
• If you’re not honestly doing that - give it a try.
• After all – that’s what we’re saved for!
