LET’S TALK ABOUT LOVE, Part 5
Warsaw Christian Church, Richard M. Bowman, Pastor
Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
As we continue our study of that grand word, LOVE, we turn this morning to one of the best-known chapters in Scripture, 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. Our focus this morning will be limited to the first 3 verses. We note first the larger context of this chapter. Paul discusses at length spiritual gifts in 1 Cor. 12, a theme he picks up again in chapter 14. He places great emphasis on unity within the church. His overall purpose in chapter 13 is to remind us that the heart and core of the Christian life is love.
In 1 Cor. 12 Paul list 9 gifts the Holy Spirit gives to His people. Some of these gifts are markedly miraculous. He mentions gifts of healing, miracles, speaking in unknown languages, and the interpretation of those languages. Other gifts do not seem as overtly miraculous - - - gifts such a word of wisdom or knowledge. In all cases, however, these gifts are granted by the Holy Spirit. We learned in Bible study that this is just one of five lists of spiritual gifts in the New Testament. We do not decide which gifts we prefer to exercise in the church. The Holy Spirit makes that decision sovereignly (See Hebrews 2:4). Our task is to make ourselves open and ready to be used by God as He sees fit.
We can assume that there were those in Corinth who did not understand the centrality of love (agape) in the Christian life. Some apparently focused on the use of supernatural power as the main thing. Miraculous gifts are wonderful, and I frankly wish I saw more of them at work in the church. To see someone healed by a divine miracle is a grand blessing. I have had some personal experience with what is usually called “speaking in tongues,” and I have seen how that gift can bring great edification into a life.
The church historically has taken two very different positions regarding miraculous gifts. My ESV Study Bible summarizes these positions quite well. “The “cessationist” view is that miraculous gifts such as prophecy, healing, tongues, interpretation, and miracles were given to authenticate the apostles and their writings in the early years of the church, but those gifts “ceased” once the entire NT was written and the apostles died (c. a.d. 100). Others hold that Paul expected these gifts to continue until Christ returns, which will be the time when “the perfect” (v. 10) ways of speaking and knowing in the age to come replace the “in part” (v. 9) gifts of this age. Support for the second position is found in v. 12, which indicates that “then” (the time when these gifts shall cease) is the time of Christ’s return (p.2211). I respect both positions but prefer the latter viewpoint. I am familiar with good, solid Bible-believing Christians on both sides of this issue.
That is an aside, however, from the main point. One of the problems in Corinth seemed to be an overemphasis on miraculous gifts. One problem with such gifts is that those through whom they work may feel superior to Christians who do not possess such gifts. There are churches and entire denominations in Christendom today that place great emphasis on miracles. On the other hand, those who lack such gifts may feel pride that they are not fanatics like those weird Pentecostal and charismatic folks. In both cases, the more important principle of love is violated.
Paul stresses that if you can speak in tongues, for example, even if it is the language of angels, but you do it without love, your “gift” turns into an irritation - - - a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. A gift meant to bless the church becomes a virtual curse when love is absent. Even if you have faith that is supercharged by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit so that you can move mountains (literal or figurative), if love is absent, it is nothing. What an astonishing statement Paul makes! Wouldn’t we be impressed if someone in our midst could speak to one of our mountainous problems and the power of God would powerfully manifest itself? I would be deeply moved and impressed, but Paul says if love is absent, God is not impressed.
We must not make miracles the sign of a true church or a real Christian. If miracles come from time to time, I thank God. One of the problems with miracles is their source. The magicians in the court of Pharaoh were able to perform some awesome miracles, rivaling those performed by the hand of Moses. Do you remember what Jesus said on one occasion about miracles? “ For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible” (Matt, 24:24). Paul also gave us this warning: “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders” (2 Thess. 2:9) When we see miraculous signs as the heart of Christianity, we open ourselves to deception. Paul reminds us in very memorable terms that love is at the core of true Christianity. If you practice love as defined in Scripture, that is what marks you as an authentic Christian. If God also miraculously uses you, that is frosting on the cake.
Paul also warns us against loveless knowledge. If we believe we are supernaturally endowed with knowledge to the extent that we understand all the mysteries of the faith, yet love is lacking, it means nothing. Some churches turn away from obviously miraculous things and then overemphasize wisdom and knowledge. There are cerebral churches that assume that wisdom and knowledge are the heart and core of Christianity. Are wisdom and knowledge important? Of course they are. Are they the heart of the Christian faith? No, that honor goes to the word “Love.”
Do we want an educated pastor who understands the Bible, the biblical languages, and theology? Do we want an educated laity? The answer must be a qualified yes. There is certainly no virtue in ignorance and superstition. Paul himself was a highly educated man. His point is that when wisdom and knowledge are divorced from love, they become useless. If you understand all mysteries but lack love, you come across as an arrogant egghead! Loveless intelligence amounts to nothing more than spiritual stupidity. Yes, use your gray matter to the fullest, but make sure it is bathed in love.
The presence of miraculous spiritual gifts and supernatural wisdom and knowledge are not the core of our faith. Surely, the real core is the good work we do. As we saw last week, James said that faith without works is dead, so if I am doing good things that makes me a good Christian, right? Not necessarily, says Paul. He mentions the giving away of finances to help others. Even if we give away every dime we have, but we do it with a loveless spirit, Paul says we gain nothing. Why does Scripture say that God loves a cheerful giver? Because a cheerful giver is also a loving giver. Those who give only out of obligation, and who give as little as they think they can get by with are persons who give without love.
We don’t do high-pressure fundraising in this church. If you have to pressure people into giving, laying guilt on them, what good is it? I assume that those who love God and love people will joyfully open their wallets and purses to promote the advancement of God’s Kingdom on earth.
Paul even suggests that if you offer yourself in sacrifice for the cause of Christ, if it is done without love it amounts to nothing. Many Christians over the years have been burned at the stake. They offered their bodies to be burned. Even that act of sacrifice is nothing unless done with love.
As I mentioned last week, this congregation does many good works. We support this church financially, we support several missionaries, we support Christmas for kids, we pray, we read the Bible, we invite others to attend our church, we give to the poor, etc. and all of this is good. However, Paul says it is only good in God’s eyes when love is the motive moving us to act. Take love out of the equation and our good deeds amount to nothing.
I was listening to a Joyce Meyer sermon on CD recently and she hit the nail on the head. She said that our God is a God of the heart. That is, when He looks at us what He sees is our hearts - - - the motive that lies behind our actions. He is looking for one motive in particular - - - a heart of love. If God miraculously uses me, it must be done in love. If God grants me supernatural wisdom and knowledge, it must be expressed in love. If I have great faith to move mountains, it must be done in love. If I do an abundance of good works, they must be done in love.
In three short verses Paul, an inspired Apostle, has taken several items that we may regard as central to the Christian life. He moves them off to the side so we can gaze clearly at the real center, a loving heart. Christians are persons who trust God through His beloved Son, Jesus, the Christ. Who is this God? John tells us, “God is love.” Who is Jesus? He is the express image of the Father. He is love incarnate. He is love wrapped up in human form. Where true faith is present, love is also present as a central motive. Remove love from the equation and you have nothing left but an empty profession of faith.
I read an article recently about why some men do not come to church. The main point seemed to be that our message is too girly. All this love talk may appeal to women, but not to real men. Men want a God who is a real he-man. A loving Jesus strikes some men as effeminate. Well, dudes, Jesus is a powerful he-man. He spoke the universe into existence. With a word, He raised Lazarus from death to life. He spoke to the winds and waves and they obeyed Him. He is a powerful Son of God.
If you don’t like the love part, too bad for you. God’s almighty power is mostly definitely manifested in His love. Why did He send a Savior for us? Because God so loved the world. Divine love is not a weakness, nor are men showing weakness when they operate from a motive of love. I don’t think we would like it if almighty God was unloving. We have seen in history that power without love is destructive.
Christianity indeed manifests itself in our acts, in music, color, sound, ritual, good deeds, and the like. Such acts are the outward manifestations of our faith, but they are not the soul. Without love at our core, our acts mean nothing. Indeed, they are an offense unto God. Make love you aim and you will walk with God. Without love, we walk alone.
Our expanding definition of Christian love can now be stated as follows: Christian love is the voluntary expression of goodwill toward all, friend and foe alike. It is motivated by our love for Christ and acts in harmony with His commandments. Love is always opposed to sin while maintaining good will toward persons who are living in rebellion against God. Love is always active and efficient, but good acts, even miraculous acts, performed without love do not please God. May the love of Christ abound in our church.
