another shortened manuscript on 1 Corinthians 13

THE VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY TRAGEDY REVEALS THE ABSENCE OF AGAPE
FAITH, HOPE, LOVE REMAIN BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE. 1 Cor. 13

1 YOUNG MAN- 32 DEAD: WHY?
ἔρως – Passionate, sensual. Known by the world
φιλία –Love as strong bond. Known by the world too.
ἀγάπη- God’s Love. Hardly known by the world.
στοργή – Affection (family) known by the world also.

1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

LOVE IN 1 CORINTHIANS 13
AGAPE- GOD’S LOVE THAT MUST ALSO BE THE BELIEVER’S LOVE FOR GOD AND FOR OTHERS.
BECAUSE AGAPE IS GOD’S LOVE, IT CAN ONLY BE OURS WHEN IT IS GIVEN TO US.
THEREFORE, AGAPE IS ALSO A GIFT OF GOD TO US
PAUL CONTENDS THAT LOVE IS NOT ONLY THE GREATEST WHEN COMPARED WITH FAITH AND HOPE; IT IS ALSO THE GREATEST OF ALL GIFTS

An important note On the Corinthian Church
Very gifted
Very disunited. Factions were based on biased against some leaders.
Very tense situation between men and women leadership.
HERE IS A BASIC PRINCIPLE: Each believer is a spiritually gifted person
1 Cor 12:7-11. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ….11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
EACH BELIEVER HAS BEEN GIVEN A GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR THE COMMON GOOD; THAT IS, FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE GOOD OF THE CHURCH.

All gifts can be divided or classified into 3 groups.
Gifts are interrelated and so designed for a specific purpose: To reveal God and His specific
I- THE POWER GIFTS DEMONSTRATE GOD’S POWER THROUGH YOU
TONGUES
PROPHECY
FAITH THAT CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS
VOLUNTARY AND SACRIFICIAL POVERTY
WILLING MARTYRDOM
WITH ALL THESE BUT WITHOUT OUT LOVE: WE ARE NOTHING

II- THE PERSEVERANCE GIFTS DEMONSTRATE GOD’S PRESENCE IN YOU
FAITH: TO BELIEVE IN GOD AND HIS ABIDING FAITHFULNESS EVEN WHEN REALITY SAYS OTHERWISE.
HOPE: TO HAVE AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW OF THE FUTURE EVEN IF REALITY SAYS OTHERWISE.
WITHOUT LOVE: YOU ARE NOTHING

III- THE PARAMOUNT GIFT (LOVE) DEMONSTRATE GOD’S CHARACTER THROUGH YOU
When provoked- patience
When confronted with a need- kindness
When not having what others have- gratitude instead of envy
When blessed with what others do not have- does not boast
When dealing with others of less importance- not rude

When dealing with needs – not self-seeking
When dealing with frustrations- not easily angered
When dealing with offenders- not keeping a record of wrongs
When seeing someone affected by evil- grieves and does not rejoice
When confronted with a choice: protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres

A warning and a reminder:
Power gifts are good but as long as these reveal God’s power through you
Perseverance gifts are good when these reveal god’s presence in you
The Paramount gift is good when it reveals God’s character through you.
APPLICATION:
THE SIGN OF A PERSON HAVING POWER GIFTS WITHOUT LOVE IS THAT HE PROMOTES TROUBLE AND DISUNITY
THE SIGN OF A PERSON HAVING PERSEVERANCE GIFTS WITHOUT LOVE IS THAT HE IS PERSONALLY FAITHFUL AND HOPEFUL BUT DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE TO UNITY AND JOY OF OTHERS
THE SIGN OF A PERSON WITH THE PARAMOUNT GIFT IS THAT HE GIVES GLORY TO GOD AND PROMOTES UNITY OF PEOPLE

The Challenge/ Response: What do you have and what do you do?
I- THE POWER GIFTS without love or with love? Is God revealed?
II- THE PERSEVERANCE GIFTS without love or with love? Is God revealed?
III- THE PARAMOUNT GIFT (LOVE) Is God revealed?

Note: We post this to be used freely by anyone. What is more important is how we developed this. If you want to learn how its done, let us know. Leave a comment.