The Excellence of Love |
Written by Dr. John E. Russell Sr |
Text: 1 CO 12:31b-14:1 12:31 …And now I will show you the most excellent way.
Definitions: Agape is God's love—that God-given motivation to seek the best for the beloved on the highest moral plane. Eros is romantic, sexual love. Philia is friendship love. Storge is family love. Throughout 1 Corinthians 13, the word agape is translated "charity" in the King James Version. Agape is translated "love" in the New International Version and The Amplified Bible. Paul defines agape in verses 4-7. The Amplified gives a more detailed definition: 4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy; is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. 5 It is not conceited—arrogant and inflated with pride; it is not rude (unmannerly), and does not act unbecomingly. Love [God's love in us] does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it—pays no attention to a suffered wrong [italics mine]. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. 7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances and it endures everything [without weakening] (1 CO 13:4-7, AMP)
Introduction: Jesus commanded us to love everyone with God's love (agape). He commanded us to love (agape) other Christians: 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35, KJV). Jesus commanded us to love (agape) God, others and ourselves: 34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus commmanded us to love (agape) even our enemies: 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love (agape) your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. (Matthew 5:43-44, KJV) Jesus also demonstrated his love for us when he was crucified: ". . . Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."(LK 23:34, KJV). He practiced what he preached!
1 Love is the Pinnacle (1Corinthians 13:1-3) Paul does not depreciate the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives His gifts because he loves us.
2. Love is Pure (1Corinthians 13:4-7) By knowing Paul's description of love, we can know whether or not we are walking in love or in the flesh.
3. Love is Perpetual (1Corinthians 13:8-13) When our salvation is complete, prophecy will be fulfilled and there will be no need for it.
4. Love is Possible God has commanded us to do a humanly impossible thing. We are to love as He loves. However, He would never command us to do something that he would not give us the ability to do. Dr. Mendell Taylor said many years ago, "With the commandment comes the enablement." God has supernaturally given us the abilty to love. He has given us His love nature through the new birth. God has given us the greatest riches. He has given us His love. In all our getting and grasping in this materialistic world, let us never forget this. Let us continually be grateful for His precious gift of love: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love (agape) of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (RO 5:5, KJV). 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11 And of which of you that is a father shall his son ask a loaf, and he give him a stone? or a fish, and he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or [if] he shall ask an egg, will he give him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:9-13, KJV). 16 And so we know and rely on the love (agape) God has for us. God is love (agape). Whoever lives in love (agape) lives in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16, NIV). Every Christian believer has been born again by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit imparts to us the love nature of our Heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit then indwells those whom he gives the new birth. Agape is a concomitant of the Holy Spirit—apart from the Holy Spirit, agape does not exist. It is not native to fallen humanity. In short, the Holy Spirit brings with Him the love of God and gives us the ability to love as God loves.
Paul states that love is "the most excellent way" in 1 CO 12:31. Paul also says to "Follow after charity (agape)" in 1 CO 14:1. How do we love? Love is a choice. Tertullian said, about AD 200, "The heathen are wont to exclaim with wonder, 'See how these Christians love one another . . . and how they are ready to die for one another.'" To "follow after love" means that we must make a commitment to love everyone as God does. This commitment is a deliberate choice (or premeditation) to love everyone regardless of whom the person is or regardless of the circumstances. As we exercise the love that God has already given us, he will increase our capacity to love more. Let us obey Christ and love one another: A song is no song <><© John E. Russell 2005 In Essentials: Unity; In non-essentials: Liberty; In all things: Charity—Peter Meiderlin 1626.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 07 August 2011 16:17 |