Monday 11/7 twelve, verse 31, Paul says, But earnestly desire hypocrisy. Love one another warmly in brotherly the greater gifts. And yet I show to you a way of love, vying with one another in showing honor. Then excellence. The way of excellence is love. Thus, in verses 12 and 13 he says, Rejoicing in hope, 1 Cor. 13:1-3 chapter thirteen presents this excellent way. enduring in tribulation, persevering in prayer, In chapter twelve Paul emphasizes speaking, communicating to the needs of the saints, pursuing 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels the Spirit, the Body, and God s administration. hospitality. All these, along with love, are spoken but do not have love, I have become sounding Now in chapter thirteen we have love as the fifth of in a chapter concerned with gifts. Therefore, we brass or a clanging cymbal. emphasis. Speaking ushers us into the Spirit, the may say that love is at least on the border of the 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy and know all Spirit brings us into the Body, and the Body gifts. mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all preserves us in the Spirit. Furthermore, the Body is Paul s word in 1 Corinthians 13:8 may also faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have for God s administration. Paul s fifth emphasis, the indicate that love is a gift and not merely a way: Love love, I am nothing. matter of love, is the way to use the gifts, the way never falls away; but whether prophecies, they 3 And if I dole out all my possessions to feed to be in the Body, and the way to be for the Body. shall be done away; or tongues, they shall cease; or others, and if I deliver up my body that I may Chapter thirteen is not an isolated section of 1 knowledge, it shall be done away. Here Paul lists boast, but do not have love, I profit nothing. Corinthians. Rather, it comes between chapters love along with the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and John 13:34-35 twelve and fourteen and with them forms a portion knowledge. There is no doubt that to prophesy, 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you in this Epistle dealing with the gifts. Therefore, we speak in tongues, and teach with the word of love one another, even as I have loved you, that should never consider chapter thirteen as if it stood knowledge are gifts. Although prophecies will be you also love one another. by itself. No, it is a continuation of chapter twelve done away, tongues will cease, and knowledge will 35 By this shall all men know that you are My and leads into chapter fourteen. The first verse of be done away, love will never fall away. disciples, if you have love for one another. chapter fourteen indicates this: Pursue love, and I have pointed out that there are certain desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that you brothers and sisters who apparently do not have 1 John 4:7-11 may prophesy. The last verse of chapter twelve any gifts. However, they are absolutely for the 7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love brings us into chapter thirteen, and the first verse of Body. To be for the Body is a matter of love, and to is of God, and everyone who loves has been chapter fourteen concludes chapter thirteen and care for the members of the Body requires love. If begotten of God and knows God. brings us into chapter fourteen. In 12:31 Paul we do not have love, how can we care for others? 8 He who does not love has not known God, speaks of the excellent way to exercise the gifts, in Love is necessary to care for the members so that because God is love. chapter thirteen he presents love as this excellent the Body may be built up. Thus, love is the greatest 9 In this the love of God was manifested among way, and in 14:1 he advises us to pursue love and gift. Nothing edifies people as much as love does. us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the desire earnestly the spiritual gifts, especially that Love is a spiritual antibiotic. If there is love in a world that we might have life and live through we may prophesy. Thus, these chapters make up local church, there will be no need to worry about Him. one unit, with chapter thirteen continuing chapter spiritual diseases. Love is the best medicine to cure 10 Herein is love, not that we have loved God twelve and chapter fourteen continuing chapter such diseases. Love is a gift, even the greatest gift. but that He loved us and sent His Son as a thirteen. It is not difficult to have the gift of love. There propitiation for our sins. Is love only a way, or is it also a gift? is no need to fast for love or pray to receive it. 11 Beloved, if God has loved us in this way, we According to Romans 12, there is ground to say Furthermore, there is no need to imitate, pretend, or also ought to love one another. that love is a gift. In Romans 12:6-8 Paul says that perform. Love is within us. As long as you have we have gifts that differ according to the grace the divine life through regeneration, you also have given to us and that we should exercise them love, for love is the expression of life, another form accordingly. According to verse 8, even the of life. Life-Study of 1 Corinthians, Message 60, First Corinthians 13 is the direct continuation showing of mercy is a gift. Then in verses 9 and 10 Pg. 535-537 of chapter twelve. In the last verse of chapter Paul goes on to say, Let love be without Living Stream Ministry, 2016, used by permission 1
Tuesday 11/8 Paul takes a whole chapter to emphasize the and every part of my inner being were dealt with. crucial matter of love. His first emphasis, on Then the Lord healed me not by a gift in power, but speaking, occupies just three verses; his second by grace in life. That healing was thorough and 1 Cor. 13:4-5 emphasis, on the Spirit, occupies nine or ten verses; absolute. I draw on my experience to point out that 4 Love suffers long. Love is kind; it is not and the third and fourth matter he emphasizes, the to receive healing by means of a gift has nothing to jealous. Love does not brag and is not puffed Body and administration, occupy sixteen verses do with life. However, there is a healing by grace up; and three verses respectively. But when Paul comes in life. 5 It does not behave unbecomingly and does not to the crucial matter of love, he devotes an entire I appreciate the gifts in life much more than seek its own things; it is not provoked and does chapter to it. This shows how important love is. the miraculous gifts. I have seen some believers not take account of evil; Love is a matter of life. Certain gifts are also who genuinely received certain miraculous gifts related to life, for they are developed from the 1 John 4:16, 20-21 only to later turn from the Lord in unbelief. What initial gifts: the Holy Spirit and the divine life. 16 And we know and have believed the love we need is life and love, the best gift, which However, other gifts, especially miraculous gifts which God has in us. God is love, and he who ministers life to others. such as speaking in tongues, interpretation of abides in love abides in God and God abides in As those who love the Lord, who are tongues, works of power or miracles, and healings, him. absolute with Him, and who are seeking the are not developed out of life. For this reason, Paul building of His Body so that He may have the 20 If anyone says, I love God, and hates his opens chapter thirteen by saying, If I speak in the instrument to carry out God s administration on brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I earth for the accomplishment of God s eternal brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, have become sounding brass or a clanging purpose, we must pursue love. Elders and coworkers, you need love. Brothers and sisters, you whom he has not seen. cymbal. Sounding brass and clanging cymbals 21 And this commandment we have from Him, give sounds without life. This is a genuine that he who loves God love his brother also. illustration of tongue-speaking. In chapters twelve all need love. Only love builds up the Body. Prov. 10:12 and fourteen Paul places tongues and interpretation Moreover, according to chapter thirteen, the gift of tongues last. But here he mentions tonguespeaking first, but in a negative way that indicates divine life and is the expression of God, the of love is everlasting, for it is constituted of the 12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions. that it is not a matter of life. expression of eternal life. Therefore, we all Col. 3:12-14 In the same principle, divine healing may not should pursue love. 12 Put on therefore, as God s chosen ones, holy be a matter of life. There is a healing which comes In 13:2 and 3 Paul says, And if I have and beloved, inward parts of compassion, by gift and a healing which comes by grace. This prophecy and know all the mysteries and all kindness, lowliness, meekness, long-suffering; latter kind is of life, even of resurrection life. knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove 13 Bearing one another and forgiving one During my Christian life I have experienced the mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And another, if anyone should have a complaint gift of healing. But I wish to testify that many if I dole out all my goods, and if I deliver up my against anyone; even as the Lord forgave you, so times I have enjoyed healing by grace. For two and body that I may boast, but have not love, it also should you forgive. a half years, from September, 1943, until the spring profits me nothing. To deliver up the body in 14 And over all these things put on love, which of 1946, I was seriously ill with tuberculosis. For verse 3 is to die as a martyr. Instead of that I is the uniting bond of perfectness. many months I was confined to bed. Every day I may boast, some manuscripts read that I may prayed to the Lord and was dealt with by Him. I be burned. Life-Study of 1 Corinthians, Message did not pray for the church or for the work, but for 60, Pg. 537-538 my own situation. Eventually what mattered most V. THE EXCELLENT WAY FOR was not that I would be healed, but that I would be EXERCISING THE GIFTS thoroughly cleansed and purified. I can testify that A. The Need of Love during that period of time, my motives, intentions, Living Stream Ministry, 2016, used by permission 2
Wednesday 11/9 is kind. Love is the expression of life, which Gospels regarding the incident where some is the element of God. Hence, God is love (1 people broke up a roof in order to bring a John 4:16). God as life is expressed in love. certain sick man to the Lord Jesus. They made 1 Cor. 13:6-7 All the fifteen virtues of love listed in verses 4 a hole in the roof and then lowered the man to 6 It does not rejoice because of unrighteousness, through 7 are the divine virtues of God s life. the place where the Lord was (Mark 2:4). This but rejoices with the truth; Such a life differs from the outward gifts listed Greek word means to make a hole in 7 It covers all things, believes all things, hopes in chapter twelve. The Corinthians were after someone s roof. We may do this by gossiping all things, endures all things. the outward gifts, but they neglected love, the about others. As we talk about them, we make Prov. 24:17 expression of life. Thus, they were still fleshy, a hole in the roof over them; that is, we 17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do fleshly, or soulish (3:1, 3; 2:14). They needed uncover them. However, love covers all things; not let your heart exult when he is overthrown; to grow in life, expressed by love, by pursuing it does not make a hole in anyone s roof. 3 John 3-4 love, not the outward gifts, so that they might If we consider the fifteen virtues of love 3 For I rejoiced greatly at the brothers coming be spiritual (2:14). listed in these verses, we shall realize that love and testifying to your steadfastness in the truth, In verse 4 Paul says that love does not is nothing other than God Himself. Who other even as you walk in truth. brag. Bragging is somewhat different from than God could have all these virtues? We 4 I have no greater joy than these things, that I boasting. To brag is to boast of one s self in a cannot endure all things or believe all things. hear that my children are walking in the truth. way to damage others. It is a kind of boasting Neither can we truly have longsuffering. Only which depreciates others and puts them down. God has all these virtues. Hence, the love 1 Tim. 2:4 Love certainly does not brag. described here is God Himself. Furthermore, 4 Who desires all men to be saved and to come In verse 5 Paul points out that love does the Bible elsewhere says clearly that God is to the full knowledge of the truth. not take account of evil. The Greek word here love (1 John 4:16). God is also life. Life is 1 Peter 4:8 indicates that love does not keep a record like a God s essence, and love is God s expression. 8 Above all, have fervent love among yourselves, bookkeeper. This means that if you love In Himself God is life, but God expressed is because love covers a multitude of sins. others, you will not keep a record of their love. The love which is God Himself with His mistakes. divine essence as life has these fifteen virtues. Verse 6 says, Does not rejoice over This is the reason that in 1 Corinthians Paul B. The Definition of Love unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. charges the believers to grow in life. They In 13:4-7 Paul gives us the definition of The totality of unrighteousness is Satan, and were short of life, short of love. In other words, love. This definition includes fifteen virtues of the totality of truth is God. Love as the they were short of God and needed to grow in love: suffering long, being kind, not being expression of the divine life does not rejoice life. Life-Study of 1 Corinthians, Message 60, jealous, not bragging, not puffed up, not over Satan s unrighteousness, but rejoices with Pg. 538-540 behaving unbecomingly, not seeking its own God s truth. Love does not rejoice over things, not provoked, not taking account of anyone s unrighteousness; instead, it rejoices evil, not rejoicing over unrighteousness, with the truth. rejoicing with the truth, covering all things, According to verse 7, love covers all believing all things, hoping all things, and things. The Greek word, also used in 9:12, can enduring all things. be rendered bears. Literally, it means to In verse 4 Paul says, Love suffers long, and contain (as a vessel), to conceal; hence, to cover (as a roof). This word is used in the Living Stream Ministry, 2016, used by permission 3
Thursday 11/10 shall be done away; or tongues, they shall cease; or mature believers will become men, and all the knowledge, it shall be done away. For love never childish gifts, especially the least ones, tonguespeaking and its interpretation, will be done away. to fall away means that it survives everything, 1 Cor. 13:8-10 holds its place forever. Love never fails, never However, we can have a foretaste of the next age 8 Love never falls away. But whether prophecies, fades out or comes to an end. It is like the eternal by living a life of love in this age. Love matures us they will be rendered useless; or tongues, they life of God. All the gifts, whether prophecies, or in life; gifts keep us in childhood. will cease; or knowledge, it will be rendered tongues, or knowledge, are means for God s In verse 12 Paul goes on to say, For now we useless. operation; they are not life to express God. Hence, see by means of a mirror obscurely, but then face 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; they shall cease and be done away. They are all to face; now I know in part, but then I shall fully dispensational. Only life, which love expresses, is know as also I was fully known. The word now 10 But when that which is complete comes, that eternal. According to the following verses, all gifts refers to this age. Concerning the expression by which is in part will be rendered useless. are for the immature child in this age. They will all means of a mirror obscurely, J. N. Darby says in John 15:9-11 be done away in the next age. Only love is of a his New Translation, That is, through some 9 As the Father has loved Me, I also have loved mature man and will last for eternity. When we live medium which, in degree, hinders vision. The word you; abide in My love. and act by love, we have a foretaste of the next age means also a mirror, but it is used for window, 10 If you keep My commandments, you will and of eternity. made, not of clear transparent glass, as now, but of abide in My love; even as I have kept My Nothing can shake love or remove it. All the semi-transparent materials. The word then in Father s commandments and abide in His love. other gifts, including prophecy, will eventually be verse 12 refers to the next age. 11 These things I have spoken to you that My done away with, but love remains. It never falls In verse 13 Paul concludes, But now abide joy may be in you and that your joy may be away. In the coming age there will be love, but faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of made full. there will be no tongues, interpretation, or these is love. The word but here indicates a 1 Cor. 8:2-3 prophecy. Both tongues, the most childish of the contrast between verse 13 and the preceding verses. 2 If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he gifts, and prophecy, a more mature gift, will be Faith receives the divine things (John 1:12) and has not yet come to know as he ought to know; done away. realizes the spiritual and unseen things (Heb. 11:1). 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by In verses 9 and 10 Paul continues, For we Hope reaps and partakes of the things realized by Him. know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when faith (Rom. 8:24-25). Love enjoys the things that which is complete comes, that which is in part received and realized by faith and partaken of by 1 Cor. 14:1-3 (1, 3) shall be done away. In this age we know and hope for nourishing ourselves, building up others 1 Pursue love, and desire earnestly spiritual gifts, prophesy only in part, not in full. The word when (1 Cor. 8:1), and expressing God, thus fulfilling the but especially that you may prophesy. in verse 10 refers to the next age, the kingdom age. entire law (Rom. 13:8-10). Such a love causes us to 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak The word complete also means mature, in grow in life for the development and use of the to men but to God; for no one hears, but in his contrast with childish in the following verse. spiritual gifts, and is the excellent way to have the spirit he speaks mysteries. Furthermore, that which is in part refers to such greater gifts. Hence, it is the greatest of the three 3 But he who prophesies speaks building up and things as prophecies and knowledge, as mentioned abiding virtues. So we must pursue it (1 Cor. 14:1). encouragement and consolation to men. in verse 8. Love cares for the Body and builds up the Verse 11 says, When I was a child, I spoke as Body. First love unites the Body and then builds it a child, I thought as a child, I reasoned as a child; up. Therefore, we focus our attention on the love when I became a man, I did away with childish which builds up the Body. We should pursue love C. The Excelling of Love things. In this age the believers are children, and remain in the Body to enjoy the Spirit. Life- In 13:8-13 Paul speaks concerning the having the childish gifts. The word child here Study of 1 Corinthians, Message 60, Pg. 540-542 excelling of love. In verse 8 he declares, Love means an immature one. To reason as a child is to never falls away; but whether prophecies, they take account of things as a child. In the next age the Living Stream Ministry, 2016, used by permission 4
Friday 11/11 1 Thes. 1:3 3 Remembering unceasingly your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father; Col. 1:4-5 4 Because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have unto all the saints 5 Because of the hope laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 1 Cor. 13:11-13 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, I reasoned as a child; since I have become a man, I have done away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror obscurely, but at that time face to face; now I know in part, but at that time I will fully know even as also I was fully known. 13 Now there abide faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love. Eph. 4:14-15 14 That we may be no longer little children tossed by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching in the sleight of men, in craftiness with a view to a system of error, 15 But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ, Exo. 33:11 11 And Jehovah would speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his companion. And Moses would return to the camp, but his attendant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart out of the tent. 1 John 3:2 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been manifested what we will be. We know that if He is manifested, we will be like Him because we will see Him even as He is. VI. LOVE BUILDS UP First Corinthians 8:1b says, Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Teaching without love may puff us up. We may listen to the messages of the ministry and become puffed up with mere knowledge. This does not build up. Love builds up. VII. LOVE BEING THE GREATEST Love is not jealous, is not provoked, does not take account of evil, covers all things, endures all things, never falls away, and is the greatest (1 Cor. 13:4-8, 13). Jealousy is in our nature. When a new child is born in a family, the other child may become jealous. Jealousy is also present in the church life. One sister may be jealous of another sister because she receives many amens from the saints when she prays or prophesies. Some brothers may be jealous when they see that another brother has been appointed into the eldership. After being in the church life for over sixty years, I can testify that one of the hardest things is to appoint the elders. We realize that if we appoint a certain brother, another brother whom we do not feel to appoint may be stumbled because of jealousy. If a certain sister is asked to take the lead in a sisters house, the others may become jealous, but love is not jealous. Also, love is not provoked. People are easily provoked because of the shortage of love. Regardless of how much we are rebuked, we will not be provoked if we are filled with the divine love. Love does not take account of evil. We have to confess that we have taken account of other people s evil. Some wives have a record, an account, of their husband s failures and defects. This record may not be written but it is in their mind. They are taking account of their husband s evil. The elders need to realize that in their shepherding, they have to cover others sins, not to take account of others evils. Love covers all things, not only the good things but also the bad things. Whoever uncovers the defects, shortcomings, and sins of the members of the church is disqualified from the eldership. Our uncovering of the members under our eldership, our shepherding, annuls our qualification. Love also endures all things and never falls away. First Corinthians13 concludes by saying, Now there abide faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love. Living Stream Ministry, 2016, used by permission 5
VIII. LOVE BEING THE CONCLUSION teach others. Love is the most excellent Some of the churches, however, are OF ALL SPIRITUAL VIRTUES AND THE way for us to be anything or do anything. police stations to arrest the sinful ones and FACTOR OF FRUIT-BEARING Love prevails. We should love everybody, law courts to judge them. Paul s attitude Love is the conclusion of all spiritual even our enemies. If the co-workers and was different. He said, Who is weak, and I virtues and the factor of fruit-bearing that elders do not love the bad ones, eventually am not weak? (2 Cor. 11:29a). When the supplies us bountifully with the rich they will have nothing to do. We must be scribes and Pharisees brought an adulterous entrance into the kingdom of Christ (2 Pet. perfect as our Father is perfect (Matt. 5:48) woman to the Lord, He said to them, He 1:5-11). by loving the evil ones and the good ones who is without sin among you, let him be IX. THE BODY BUILDING ITSELF without any discrimination. We must be the first to throw a stone at her (John 8:7). UP IN LOVE perfect as our Father because we are His After all of them left, the Lord asked the The Body of Christ builds itself up in sons, His species. This is most crucial. sinful woman, Woman, where are they? love (Eph. 4:16). The phrase in love is used How can we be a co-worker and an elder? Has no one condemned you? She said, repeatedly in the book of Ephesians (1:4; It is by love in every way. We must love No one, Lord. Then Jesus said, Neither 3:17; 4:2, 15-16; 5:2). God predestinated us any kind of person. The Lord Jesus said do I condemn you (vv. 10-11). Who is unto sonship before the foundation of the that He came to be a Physician, not for the without sin? Who is perfect? Paul said, To world in love, and the Body of Christ healthy ones, but for the sick ones. The the weak I became weak that I might gain builds itself up in love. The growth in life Lord said, Those who are strong have no the weak (1 Cor. 9:22). This is love. We is in love. In the last few years we have need of a physician, but those who are ill should not consider that others are weak appreciated the Lord s showing us the high (Matt. 9:12). but we are not. This is not love. Love peak of the divine revelation. My concern The church is not a police station to covers and builds up, so love is the most is that although we may talk about the arrest people or a law court to judge excellent way for us to be anything and to truths of the high peak, love is absent people, but a home to raise up the do anything for the building up of the Body among us. If this is the case, we are puffed believers. Parents know that the worse their of Christ. The Vital Groups, chapter 8, sections 3- up, not built up. The Body of Christ builds children are, the more they need their 4 itself up in love. raising up. If our children were angels, they XVI. LOVE BEING THE MOST would not need our parenting to raise them EXCELLENT WAY up. The church is a loving home to raise up the children. The church is also a hospital The end of 1 Corinthians 12 reveals that to heal and to recover the sick ones. love is the most excellent way (v. 31b). Finally, the church is a school to teach and How can one be an elder? Love is the most edify the unlearned ones who do not have excellent way. How can one be a co-worker? much understanding. Because the church is Love is the most excellent way. a home, a hospital, and a school, the coworkers and elders should be one with the How do we shepherd people? Love is the most excellent way. Love is the most Lord to raise up, to heal, to cover, and to excellent way for us to prophesy and to teach others in love. Living Stream Ministry, 2016, used by permission 6
Saturday 11/12 12 For now we see in a mirror obscurely, but at that time face to face; now I know in 1 Cor. 13:1-13 part, but at that time I will fully know even 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of as also I was fully known. angels but do not have love, I have become 13 Now there abide faith, hope, love, these sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. three; and the greatest of these is love. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I dole out all my possessions to feed others, and if I deliver up my body that I may boast, but do not have love, I profit nothing. 4 Love suffers long. Love is kind; it is not jealous. Love does not brag and is not puffed up; 5 It does not behave unbecomingly and does not seek its own things; it is not provoked and does not take account of evil; 6 It does not rejoice because of unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 It covers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never falls away. But whether prophecies, they will be rendered useless; or tongues, they will cease; or knowledge, it will be rendered useless. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 10 But when that which is complete comes, that which is in part will be rendered useless. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, I reasoned as a child; since I have become a man, I have done away with childish things. Living Stream Ministry, 2016, used by permission 7
Lord s Day 11/13 1 Thes. 1:1-10 1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 2 We thank God always concerning all of you, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 Remembering unceasingly your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father; 4 Knowing, brothers, beloved of God, your selection; 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, even as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 So that you became a pattern to all those who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded out; not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but in every place, your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need of saying anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us what kind of entrance we had toward you and how you turned to God from the idols to serve a living and true God 10 And await His Son from the heavens, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath which is coming. Living Stream Ministry, 2016, used by permission 8