(“A More Excellent Way”)

I Corinthians 12:27 - 14:1 (NASU)

“Earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way … Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts …” (I Corinthians 12:31; 14:1a)

(A) A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

(1) This morning we are beginning a new series of messages entitled, “Love Is” – based primarily (although not exclusively) on First Corinthians Chapter Thirteen.

(2) As many of you know, the Greek language of the New Testament had at least four words to describe various kinds of love, two of which – “phileo” (c.f. Romans 12:10) and “agape” (c.f. Romans 13:10) – are found in Scripture.¹ We will touch on the brotherly love described by the word “phileo” during this series – but we will be more interested in the self-sacrificing love described by the word “agape”, since that’s the word used throughout the Thirteenth Chapter of First Corinthians.

(3) Scripture addresses the subject of love from several different perspectives – including God’s love for us (c.f. I John 4:10) – our love for Him (c.f. Matthew 22:37) – and our love for one another (c.f. John 13:34-35). It’s nearly impossible to talk about one without also talking about the other two – nor we will attempt to do so – nevertheless, our primary focus will be on the horizontal love we Christians are to have for each other and others.

(4) The content of First Corinthians Chapter Thirteen is well known, even to many non-Christians. The context, however, is often forgotten, even by many Christians. Just as the three basic rules for selling real estate are “location, location, location”² – so three basic rules for correctly interpreting any passage of Scripture are “context, context, context”. Hence, we’re going to start this series by reintroducing ourselves to the context from which Paul wrote his inspired expose on love.

(B) THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE CHURCH IN CORINTH

(1) To begin with, there are at least three things we need to remember about the church in first-century Corinth – the first being that it was a fractured, divided, unloving church. This is evident almost immediately, when Paul says in chapter one: “Now I exhort you, brethren … that … there be no divisions among you … for I have been informed … there are quarrels among you” (c.f. I Corinthians 1:10-11).

As the letter unfolds we learn this church was filled with “jealousy and strife” – that many of the Corinthians were spiritually immature (c.f. I Corinthians 3:1-3) – that the church and its leadership were tolerating a case of incest (c.f. I Corinthians 5:1-2) – that believers were filing lawsuits against each other (c.f. I Corinthians 6:1-8) – that there were problems regarding marriage and divorce (c.f. I Corinthians 7:1-24), as well as abuses associated with the Lord’s Supper (c.f. I Corinthians 11:17-34) – and, that the people within this church were deeply divided over the use of spiritual gifts (c.f. I Corinthians 12-14).

Regarding that last point, it’s important to keep in mind that Paul’s inspired comments about what love is and what it is not come right in the middle of a three-chapter-discourse on the correct use of spiritual gifts.

(2) The second thing we need to remember is, that despite all their problems, Paul said they were “not lacking in any gift” (c.f. I Corinthians 1:7) – i.e. all the available Gifts of the Spirit were present in this church. The problem was most of the Christians in Corinth were “unaware” (c.f. I Corinthians 12:1) of the basic purpose and/or proper use of spiritual gifts. Hence, even though they were eager to use their gifts (and rightly so), they often used them in selfish unloving ways that ended up dividing the church, rather than edify its members.

Hence, we need to remember Paul’s inspired essay on what love is and is not applies first and foremost of all to the proper exercise of the Gifts of the Spirit.

(3) Third, we need to remember that despite all their problems, the church in Corinth was a true church! (which is a truly amazing thing!) One reason we know this is because Paul constantly referred to them as “brethren” (c.f. I Corinthians 1:10-11; 12:1; 14:6, 20, 39) – another is his acknowledgement that there were many genuine manifestations of spiritual gifts in their midst (c.f. I Corinthians 1:7; 12:1). These are things which Paul – who was not given to flattering people, or saying things he knew to be false – would not have said if he thought the Corinthians were pseudo-Christians.

(C) FOUR THINGS PAUL STRESSED IN FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER TWELVE

It should be obvious, then, even to a casual reader that First Corinthians Chapter Twelve is the immediate backdrop against which Paul’s discourse on love in Chapter Thirteen is written. And, since that’s the case, it’s important to remember some of the things Paul stressed in that Twelfth Chapter, and how they relate to the matter of love.

(1) For one thing, he stressed God’s sovereignty in distributing the Gifts of the Spirit as He (i.e. the Holy Spirit) saw fit – and in placing each individual member of the Body of Christ exactly where He wanted them (c.f. I Corinthians 12:11, 18).

(2) Paul also stressed the fact that there are a variety of spiritual gifts (as well as ministries and effects) (c.f. I Corinthians 12:4-6), which means all Christians do not have the same gifts – or as he said in our Scripture lesson: “all are not prophets … all are not teachers … all do not speak with tongues” … etc. (c.f. I Corinthians 12:29-30).

(3) In addition, the apostle stressed the fact that because there are a variety of gifts – and because not everyone has the same gifts – and because it is God the Holy Spirit who determines who has what gifts – therefore, no Christian should ever behave in an unloving manner toward a brother or sister by belittling them for not having a certain Gift of the Spirit (like tongues). Nor should any Christian ever unlovingingly think that because they have a certain spiritual gift they can get along without those who don’t have the same gift (c.f. I Corinthians 12:15-21). The fact Paul would labor to make such a point indicates these kinds of unloving things were going on in the Corinthian church!

(4) Paul also reminded the Christians in Corinth that even though some gifts are “greater” than others (c.f. I Corinthians 12:31a), all the Gifts of the Spirit “are necessary” (c.f. I Corinthians 12:22) if the church is to function to its fullest potential – which means every Christian is important to the overall life and ministry of the church. He even said a special (loving) effort should be made to honor and/or encourage those who do not have one of “the greater gifts”, so there will be “no division(s) (with)in the body (of Christ)” (c.f. I Corinthians 12:22-25).

(D) A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER THIRTEEN

(1) As we said, First Corinthians chapter twelve forms the backdrop against which chapter thirteen was written. Hence, Paul closes chapter twelve by saying: “But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I (will) show you a still more excellent way” (c.f. I Corinthians 12:31) – after which, without any break in his train of thought, he immediately moves onto chapter thirteen, saying (in part): “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 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. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing” (c.f. I Corinthians 13:1-3).

(2) We have all undoubtedly heard sermons and/or read books on love based on First Corinthians chapter thirteen. I wonder, though, how many of us remembered this description of love doesn’t stand in isolation – that it comes right in the middle of a three-chapter discourse on the Gifts of the Spirit. Many times those who preach or teach from First Corinthians chapter thirteen do so without any reference to the larger context³ – and, while the truths about love found here can and do apply to other situations (i.e. like marriage) – the fact is, this love chapter opens and closes with an exhortation to, “earnestly desire the greater gifts (of the Spirit)”, as the verses I’ve chosen for our text clearly show (c.f. I Corinthians 12:31; 14:1).

This great chapter on love, then, is set within the larger context of how the Gifts of the Spirit are to be used within Christ’s Church – which is another way of saying it’s set within the larger context of how Christians ought to relate to and/or minister to one another. So, this morning we’re going to do an overview of what Paul says about how love relates to the use of spiritual gifts. Then, in subsequent messages we will look at what Paul says about how love relates to other areas of our life together as a church family.

(3) In verses one through three, then (which we read a moment ago), Paul used a literary device called hyperbole – i.e. deliberate/intentional exaggeration⁴ – to make the point that any loveless use of one’s spiritual gift is unprofitable⁵ for all concerned (c.f. I Corinthians 13:1-3).

(a) For example, without love the gift of tongues is just a lot of harsh, unpleasant noise (c.f. I Corinthians 13:1). Even if a person has been gifted to speak the language of angels (a hyperbolic example, since we don’t know what kind of language angels speak⁶) – (even if a person has the gift of being able to speak the language of angels) unless their speech is motivated by the kind of love described in First Corinthians Chapter Thirteen, such eloquence is of no spiritual benefit to the speaker or his hearers.

(b) Likewise, without agape-love (i.e. the kind of unselfish, sacrificial love Christ has for those He died to save) (without this kind of love), a person with the gift of prophecy, or the gift of knowledge, or the gift of faith is “nothing” (c.f. I Corinthians 13:2).

In the next chapter (i.e. I Corinthians 14), Paul will hold up the gift of prophecy as one of the greater gifts – greater even than the gift than tongues, because it’s better suited to build up the church. But here in chapter thirteen he says that even if a person has one of the greater gifts, and does not use it in a loving manner, they are nothing. To put it another way, without love the person with the prophetic gift is of little or no value to the Body of Christ. They may think they are of great value – but without love they aren’t – in part because without love neither they nor their gift are of any edifying benefit to others.

(c) In verse three Paul says a person can give everything they have to feed the poor – or they can go up in flames as a martyr – but unless their actions are motivated by agape-love, their efforts will be profitless (c.f. I Corinthians 13:3)! Without love, the only motivation left is one of self-glorification – and we all know that anything done to draw attention to ourselves, no matter how good or noble it may appear on the outside, will not gain us any eternal reward!

(d) To sum up the first three verses, then (which we will take a closer look at in coming weeks), the person who exercises their spiritual gifts without Christ-like-love, produces nothing – is nothing – and gains nothing⁷ – at least so far as God is concerned. To put it another way, without love all our righteous deeds amount to nothing in God’s sight (c.f. Isaiah 64:6)!

(4) In verses four through seven Paul describes what agape-love is, and is not – with greater emphasis on what it is not (c.f. I Corinthians 13:4-7).

(a) On the positive side Paul says love is patient and kind (v 4a) – that love rejoices in the truth (v 6b) – and that love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, (and) endures all things” (v 7).

Applied to the use of spiritual gifts, this could mean that Christ-like love is long-suffering⁸ toward those who have not yet learned to use their gifts for the edification of the church (c.f. v 4a) – or that agape-love is considerate and thoughtful of those whose gifts different from ours, especially as they look for ways to put their gifts to use in the church (c.f. v 4a) – it could also mean love delights in any true manifestation of the Gifts of the Spirit, rather than any false display of such gifts (c.f. v 6b).

It might also mean agape-love restrains itself from ridiculing others for how they use their gifts (“bears all things”) – that it’s not suspicious or cynical⁹ of the motives others have for using their gifts (“believes all things”) – that it anticipates in God’s timing, each brother and sister will come to learn how to use their gifts for the edification of the church (“hopes all things”) – and that it perseveres in these attitudes, even though the final result may be long in coming (“endures all things”) (c.f. v 7).

(b) On the negative side, Paul says love is “not jealous” (v 4c) – which might mean, for example, that we are not envious of those who have one of the greater gifts, or of those whose ministry is more effective than ours.

Likewise, love “does not brag and is not arrogant” (v 4d), just because (for example) we have one of the greater gifts (like prophecy) and others don’t.

Love also “does not act unbecomingly” (v 5a), which could mean (among other things) that agape-love cares enough about others not to act rudely or impolitely¹⁰ (as the Corinthians were prone to do during their worship services) (c.f. I Corinthians 14:26-38).

Furthermore, Christ-like love “does not seek its own” (v 5b) – which means love does not insist on having its own way. Hence, a person controlled by love will use their gifts to build up the church,¹¹ rather than promote themselves. Nor will they insist that everyone should have their gift – or if they do have the same gift, that others use it the same way they do.

Love “is not provoked” (v 5b) – meaning love does not give way to outbursts of anger when things don’t go as they had hoped. Hence, a person motivated by love will not become upset if/when others don’t appreciate them or their gift – or when those with other gifts receive more attention.

It follows, then, that love “does not take into account a wrong suffered” (v 5c). The Greek word used here is a bookkeeping term that refers to keeping a ledger which can be consulted whenever needed. Sadly, some Christians keep a ledger of all the wrongs they believe others have done – especially to them.¹² Christ-like love, however, doesn’t keep such lists – rather, love follows the Savior’s example of erasing wrongs from life’s ledger, in part by refusing to bring past offenses up again and again and again and again!

Finally, love “does not rejoice in unrighteousness” (v 6a) – which, when applied to spiritual gifts, means (among other things) that Christians do not take secret delight in seeing a brother or sister misuse their gifts.

(c) So, in summing up this section we can say that agape love is the corrective or preventative needed to keep Christians from abusing each other through the selfish and/or unloving use of their spiritual gifts.

(5) In verses eight through thirteen Paul compares the permanent nature of love to the temporary nature of the Gifts of the Spirit (c.f. I Corinthians 13:8-13).

(a) And, he specifically mentions the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge – saying that at some point all three of these spiritual gifts will cease or be done away with (c.f. v 8). Exactly when this will happen is not made as clear as we might like – however, the point is clear – namely that love will never fail, or cease to exist.

For example, when all predictive prophecies have been fulfilled, and there is no longer any need for the gift of prophecy, there will still be a need for love. When the purpose for which the gift of tongues was given has come to an end, there will still be a need for exercising agape-love. When our knowledge has been made complete, and we know fully just as we have been fully known, there will still be a need for the practice of Christ-like-love.

Hence, the exercise of love is superior to the exercise of any and/or all Gifts of the Spirit, because love (unlike the gifts) is eternal! As redeemed people we won’t always need to speak in tongues – but we will always need to exercise love! We won’t always need gifts of healing – but we will always need love. We won’t always need to manifest the various Gifts of the Spirit – but we will always need to manifest the Fruits of the Spirit – especially love (c.f. Galatians 5:22a)! Therefore, as our text indicates, not only should we purse the greater gifts (like prophecy), we should also be pursuing the virtues of faith, hope and love – of which love is said to be the greatest (c.f. I Corinthians 12:31; 14:1a).

(b) In verses eleven and twelve Paul draws upon two analogies to illustrate his point about the permanent nature of love verses the temporary nature of spiritual gifts.

[1] First, he uses the analogy of a child and an adult – saying that when people grow up they stop speaking, thinking, and reasoning like children (c.f. v 11). To put it another way, things that interested us when we were children no longer have the same attraction for us when we become an adult. That’s not to belittle the talking, and thinking, and activities of children – but, it is to say that as we mature spiritually, everything should take on a more accurate and/or “adult-like” perspective.

Because of their spiritual immaturity (c.f. I Corinthians 3:1-3), many of the Corinthians were attracted to gifts they childlessly judged to be more exciting and scintillating – while despising gifts they judged to be less sensational. As they matured in their faith, however, they would hopefully come to see the value of those gifts they now wrongly thought of as uninteresting and/or unimportant.

[2] The other analogy Paul used was that of looking into a dim mirror (c.f. v 12). Mirrors in those days were not like the ones we have now – in Paul’s day a mirror was often nothing more than a piece of polished metal,¹³ which truly gave off a dim reflection.

By way of application, as the Corinthians’ spiritual vision became clearer, they would realize the gifts they put so much emphasis on now were not nearly as important as the eternal virtue of love – for the purpose of spiritual gifts is transitory at best, while the purpose of love is eternal. Hence, Paul indicates in verse thirteen that love will “abide” long after the Gifts of the Spirit have fulfilled their purpose and/or ceased to function (c.f. I Corinthians 13:13).

(E) THE POINT OF THIS OVERVIEW

(1) So, the point of taking time to do this overview of First Corinthians chapter thirteen this morning is at least two-fold.

(a) First, I wanted us to get reacquainted with the flow of the larger context – i.e. to see that one reason the Corinthians were “unaware” of the purpose and/or correct use of spiritual gifts was because they had failed to see the importance of exercising those gifts from a heart of love (c.f. I Corinthians 12:1) – to see that all the gifts of the Spirit are to be exercised for the common good of the larger Body of Christ, but unless we love our Christians brothers and sisters nothing we do will be of any lasting value (c.f. I Corinthians 12:7) – to see that we are to use the gifts the Holy Spirit gives us to lovingly minister to others (c.f. I Corinthians 12:11) – to see that if a Christian truly loves his brothers and sisters in Christ, he won’t belittle them and/or make them feel like second-class citizens in the kingdom of God just because they don’t have a particular gift (c.f. I Corinthians 12:15-21) – to see that the best way to show honor to those who do not have the greater gifts, the best way to keep spiritual gifts from becoming divisive, the best way to show genuine care for one another, is to exercise the Gifts of the Spirit in love (c.f. I Corinthians 12:22-25)!

(b) Second, I wanted to give us an opportunity to refresh our minds regarding the larger context of First Corinthians chapter thirteen because so often that context is overlooked when the passage is studied. Too often First Corinthians chapter thirteen is treated as though it exists in isolation from the chapters that come before and after. Too often this wonderful chapter on love is extracted from its context, and applied to other situations – nor is that to say these truths about love cannot be applied to other situations – but it is to say that we should always know what the primary application of a passage is first, before making secondary applications – and in this case, the primary application is Paul’s larger discourse on the loving use of spiritual gifts!

(2) So, as we work our way through this series of messages entitled, “Love Is …”, remember that nothing we do – whether it involves the direct use of spiritual gifts or not – (nothing we do) will edify ourselves or others unless it is accompanied by a Christ-like agape-love.

Join me in praying, then, that Almighty God – whom Scripture says, “is love” (c.f. I John 4:8) – will show us the “more excellent way” (c.f. I Corinthians 12:31) to deal with and/or minister to others, by showing us what love is and what it is not. And that He will then graciously enable us to love each other as He has loved us in/through His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ!

¹Berry: Gems for the Original; p. 100.

²RealEstateABC.com.

³Parrott: Love Is … (an example of no reference being

made to the immediate context).

⁴MacArthur: I Corinthians; p. 330.

⁵The NGSB: Footnote on I Corinthians 13:1-3; p. 1810.

⁶Kistemaker: NTC - I Corinthians; p. 453.

⁷MacArthur: Ibid; p. 336.

⁸IBID; p. 338.

⁹IBID; p. 353.

¹⁰IBID; p. 343.