Without Love
I Corinthians 13:1-3
Preached Sunday, January 19, 2003 – AM Service
Introduction:
True agape love cannot be manufactured. It is the outward evidence of inward surrender to the convicting and leading of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. All too often we try to evaluate our spiritual walk in non-spiritual terms. Rather than searching our hearts as to the quality of our love toward God and toward others, we value the quantity of something we produce – whether it is professions of faith, time spent in service, or money sacrificed. Today we will see that the significance of these actions fade away if they are done without love.
I. It is possible to be a witnessing Christian, yet lack love
1 Corinthians 13:1 - Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
A. Purpose of tongues
1. Reach the lost in their own language
Acts 2:5-11 - 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
2. Tongues are a sign to unbelievers
1 Corinthians 14:22 - Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
3. These special sign gifts passed away when Scriptures were completed
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 - 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
Revelation 22:18-19 - 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
4. Tongues, then, were simply the God-given ability to cross barriers and give people the good news of the Gospel of Christ
B. It is possible to preach the Gospel without love
Philippians 1:15-16 - 15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
1. Some preach out of envy
2. Some preach out of strife
C. We should preach the Gospel in love
1. By looking with compassion upon the harvest field
Matthew 9:36-38 - 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
2. Without love, your Gospel message is just loud and annoying noise!
II. It is possible to be a "deep" Christian, yet lack love
1 Corinthians 13:2 - And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
A. You could understand mysteries, but lack love
1. Mystery = "that which, being outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, can only be known by divine revelation"
2. These mysteries are revealed to believers by the indwelling Holy Spirit
Matthew 13:11 - He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
1 Corinthians 2:14 - But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Timothy 3:16 - And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
B. You can gain knowledge, but lack love
1. Knowledge = seeking to know through inquiry and investigation
2. This kind of knowledge can fan the flames of pride, if there is no love present
1 Corinthians 8:1 - Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
C. You can have all kinds of faith, but lack love
1. Faith can move mountains without love
Matthew 17:20 - And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Matthew 21:21 - Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
2. One could do great works without love
Matthew 7:22-23 - 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.
D. The person possessing these "deep" qualities, let lacking love is viewed by God as nothing
1 John 4:8,20-21 - 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
III. It is possible to be a sacrificial Christian and yet love
1 Corinthians 13:3 - And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
A. You could sacrifice your possessions and yet lack love
1. For the praise of men
John 12:43 - For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
2. For political gain
B. You could sacrifice your body, yet lack love
1. Out of obligation
2. Because of reputation
C. Sacrifice without love will not produce any results
Matthew 6:1-4 - Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15 - 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Conclusion:
How is your love life? Are you a soulwinner? Great! Do you preach the Gospel out of your love for Christ and for the lost, or merely out of a sense of duty or political savvy? How is your love life? Are you a "deep" Christian? Do you understand deep spiritual mysteries? Do you possess great biblical knowledge? Do you exhibit great faith? Amen! But if you have those "deep" qualities without a love for Christ, the lost, and the brethren, you are nothing. How is your love life? Are you a sacrificial Christian? Have you given your money and even your physical strength for the cause of Christ? Amen! But if you did so for any other motivation than love, you will not earn the reward. God help us to live our lives dedicated to loving Christ, His sheep, and the lost.
