1 Faith Hope Love Series 1 Corinthians 13:9-13 Love March 25, 2018 When we began this series a couple of weeks ago we saw a couple of people and events that claimed in some way to be the greatest. If you were with us you may remember, Mohammad Ali, P.T Barnum, the Great Chicago Fire, or what was dubbed the greatest spectacle in racing. But our scripture tells us that there is only one thing that endures as the greatest. Let us look at our passage, 1 Corinthians 13:9-13 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect come, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. NASU How do you preach a sermon on the love of God? It is so vast and multifaceted that we will be here probably not just for hours but weeks. So what I would like to do is to highlight 7 Aspects of the Love of God. Are there only 7 things about the love of God? NO! But in Biblical numerology seven (7) is the known as the perfect number because it is the combination of the numbers
2 representing God and Humanity. For God the number is 3 (meaning the trinity Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and the number representing humanity is 4 (we are made up of the body, soul, mind, and spirit). The first (1) aspect of God s love is that God loved us long before we were ever born. As we seen in Romans 5:6-9 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. Notice some key words in this passage at the right time. God s timing is always perfect and many times it does not seem to correspond to our timing. But we, as Christians, need to learn to trust and wait on the right timing of God. Looking again at this passage, God made the way possible for us to be reconciled (made right, restored relationship) with Him. A relationship that was broken by our sin and rebellion. Yes, sin came into the world through Adam but we are so good at it also that we also break the fellowship (communion-relationship) with God. However,
3 God made the way possible for us to have a restored relationship with Him. That restoration was made possible by Jesus Christ paying the price for our sin and rebellion. We have been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. Because of the plan of God and the provision provided by Jesus Christ becoming the sacrifice for us. We see the second (2) aspect of God s love Nothing can ever separate us from God s love. In the Scripture passage of Romans 8:31,35-39 we see What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 35. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36. Just as it is written, FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED. 37. But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
4 You can see that verses 38 and 39 pretty well covers it. The writer of Romans can say that NOTHING will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Notice in that list, it concludes with the words nor any other created thing I like that, I know that I am a created being, created by God. So it means that even I cannot separate myself from the love that God has for me. I think that we have a glimpse of what this means because there are times when our children can be quite exasperating or frustrating and it can put quite the strain on our relationship. But I know in my children s case, and it is probably the same for you and your children no matter how put out we can be with them we still love them. I think that is why you will often see in a news interview, when a parent is talking about their child who has been caught doing a horrible deed, you will hear the parent (or relative) say, I don t understand how they could have done that, they are such a good kid. And that is only a poor human illustration of how much God loves us. Because of God s love for us, we know that God wants His best for us and we see a third (3) aspect of God s love God causes all things to work for good for those who love Him. In the same chapter of Romans 8:28 we are told that
5 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Many times this verse is cut short when it is quoted and it is misread as, And God causes all things to work together for good (stop-period-end of verse). But that is not true, God is not the Heavenly Grandparent that makes everything right. I believe that the verse is teaching us that, (if we can look at this verse from the last part first, then put in the first part to read) To those who are called according to His purpose, God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God. It does not mean that God makes everything work out right (no difficulties no problems). But for those who are living out God purposed lives and are loving God that God will take even those difficult times and times that just don t look like anything good could come out of them and make something good come from them. An example: In 1994 the restaurant chain Denny s was involved in a classaction law suit for racial discrimination. It paid out $54 million dollars as a result of the suit. A year later company CEO James Adamson came on board and rolled out a couple of new ad campaigns aimed at African-Americans and Hispanics. The employees underwent extensive training aimed at non-discrimination. As a result
6 of this effort the company was turned around and in 2013 and 2014 was ranked by Fortune Magazine as one of the top 10 companies for ethnic minorities in America. There are also many personal examples of how lives are changed and the direction that one was heading was changed from bad to good. Because of the above mentioned aspects of God s love toward us (and others from the Scriptures), we are required to move to action. The next 4 Aspects of God s Love deal with our responsibility to love others. So let us look at what we are supposed to do about the love with which God loves us. The fourth (4) aspect of God s love Love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself. God loves us and made provisions for us and because of that we have some responsibilities toward God and others. In the passage that goes with this aspect of God s love, Jesus has been assailed by the religious leaders in order to get something against him. After having silenced the Sadducees the Pharisees come to trap him on some other issue of the law. In the Jewish mind every law is important so the Pharisees ask him in verse 36 Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law? The standard response would be that they are all great commandments and are to be kept.
7 But Jesus answers them a little differently, Matthew 22:37-39 And he said to him, YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. 38. This is the great and foremost commandment. 39. The second is like it, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. Jesus answer shocked them because they did not challenge it but immediately posed another question to try to trap him. As we look at Jesus answer, although it was not the expected response it was very much a correct response. For the first four of the 10 Commandments deal with our relationship with God (no other gods, no idols, not take the name of the Lord in vain, and remember the Sabbath). The last six deal with our relationship with one another (honor father and mother, not commit murder, not commit adultery, not steal, not bear false witness, and not covet neighbors possessions). So the love that God loves us is to be directed back at God and toward others. Which brings us to the fifth (5) aspect of God s love love is not just to be said but shown to others. The previous aspect tells us that we are to love God and to love one another. This aspect of God s love takes the love of God another step further for not only are we supposed to love one another but we are to
8 act on that love. In other words we are to live out the love that we are given by God. John tells us in 1 John 3:16-18 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17. But whoever has the world s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18. Little children, let us not love in word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. John reminds us about love as we saw James tell us last week regarding faith it must be demonstrated (lived out). It is not enough to say, I have love or I love you. We know that in families that it means so much more to have our love for one another shown to each other than to simply be told that you are loved. Our passage tells us that God loves us and showed us His love by Christ dying for us. John goes on to tell us that we ought also to love one another to the degree that we would lay down our lives for others. BUT, John continues that if another has a need and you have the ability to meet that need and you do not reach out to that person in love to meet that need. HOW CAN YOU HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD IN YOU? Because the love of God acts (does).
9 We can see the progression of God s love not only does God love us, He acted on that love and sent Christ to die for us, He loves us enough to work in us to bring about His good for us, therefore we are to love God and one another, and live out that love by showing it to others. But for the Christian who have accepted and received the love of God we are to take our love for one another beyond demonstrating that love. Our Sixth (6) aspect of God s love Stir up love in one another. We are to encourage others to have and show the love of God. Hebrews 10:23-25 says Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24. and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25. not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. The part of the passage I want us to focus on is verse 24. and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. I like the unique wording of this passage. Let us consider not just let it cross your mind but take time to concentrate on (to make it your focus or goal). What are we to consider how to stimulate stir up or encourage one another? What are we to stir up or
stimulate others to do? love and good deeds. We are responsible to find ways of helping other people to grow in their love for God and one another. 10 Finally, Christians one who have experienced and accepted God s love we have another aspect of God s love seventh (7) aspect of God s love Children of God love their enemies. The first six aspects seem to build upon the one before as we have seen. This seventh one is not an add-on or separated from the others- but it takes place even as we are working on the others. Our passage is Matthew 5:43-48 where we read You have heard that it was said, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, AND HATE YOUR ENEMY. 44. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you; 45. In order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax gatherers do the same? 47. And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48. Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Jesus in his teaching takes the love of God a step further than the Jewish leaders were ready to take it. They were willing to love those who love us, our
11 friends, who help us, who are good to us. But if someone does not love us they are our enemy and they thought that it would be alright not to love them. But Jesus says, wait a minute. As one who has experienced and has with them the love of God we have the responsibility to show God s love even to those who do not love us. - As the theme passage of this series states now abide these three: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. Faith is what brought us into relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Hope is what we hang on to awaiting the culmination of the age when we will be united with God. But love runs all through both of the other aspects. God provided the way to renew the relationship broken by sin because of love. God is eager to be with us because of his love for us.