Love God Love People

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

 

There are four sure forms of love used in the New Testament, Agope– a God produced supernatural love. The love that God has for us and the love we strive to have for God. This is only made possible through a relationship with Jesus. The second type of love, Philia– is a brotherly love. This is the love we have for other mankind. The last love is Eros– romantic love. Storge– empathic bond, love of family. We see that God commands us to love in 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 first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

The Mark of a True Believer (vv.1-3) John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”, Romans 12:9-10 “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Paul mentions this to the Romans as a mark of a true believer, 1 John 3:14 “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.”

a. Spiritual gifts without love equals nothing. (vv. 1-2).
b. Good deeds without love gains nothing. (v.3).

 

The Manner of True Love (vv.4-8)

a. True love is patient. (v.4) Patient means to be longsuffering, slow to anger, slow to punish

-Patient with those who need to grow.

-Patient with the imperfections of others.

-Patient when mistakes are made.

b. True love is kind. (v.4) This is a demonstration of love. (1 John 3:18) “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (Prov. 31:20)  She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
c. True Love Defends. (v.7) It protects and preserves. (Prov. 10:12) “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.” (1 Pet 4:8) “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
d. True Love believes and commits (v.7) (1 John 3:16) “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
e. True Love trusts (v.7) Trust means assuming the best about Someone, not the worst. (Heb.5:9) “Beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
f. True love perseveres and endures (v.7, 8) To endure, to preserve: under misfortunes and trials (Job 13:15) “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.” (2 Timothy 2:10) “Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” (Gen 29:20) “So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.”

Endurance means a refusal to give up or give in.

The Mistake of Not Having True Love (vv.4-6)

a. envy
b. pride
c. arrogance
d. rudeness
e. irritability
f. resentfulness
g. rejoicing in wrong doing

 

The Master of True Love (vv. 8-13) There are a few confusing statements here, but it ultimately ends up showing that when the “perfect comes”, Christ this will all be seen clearly. Another mention along this same direction is seen in the phrase, “now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.” Mirrors were polished bronze, so they were dim, but one day we will see the master of true love, Christ.

 

How do we have true love?

We must have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ!

We must practice loving others before ourselves.

(show love meter)

A true gauge for how much you love God is how much you love people.

– PS Moore

 

Application:

Love is Submissive (Ephesians 5:22) Wives

Love is Sacrificial (Ephesians 5:25) Husbands

Love is Secure (Ephesians 6:1-4) Family

Love is Sincere (Ephesians 6:5-7) The Workplace