Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
– 1 Corinthians 1:7 (NIV)
The more “excellent way” is (agape) (12:31-13:1)
If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love (agape)… – 1 Corinthians 13:1 (NASB)
“For God so loved (agape) the world, that He gave His only begotten Son… – John 3:16 (KJV)
Love: agape – generosity, kindly concern, devotedness; (MCED)…it is God’s willful direction toward man. It involves God doing what He knows is best for man and not necessarily what man desires. John 3:16 (CWSBD)…an attitude of appreciation and care for someone…especially as resulting from a conscious evaluation and choice; used of divine and human love, loving concern, high regard (ALGNT)
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. – 1 Corinthians14:14 (NASB)
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. – 1 Corinthians13:3 (NIV)
Paul’s Point: Gifts do make me more
Agape Love Defined: (vv.4-7)
Paul warns against (v.4)
not arrogant (NASU) proud (NIV) puffed up (KJV) doesn’t have a swelled head (Mess)
fusiooo: to inflate, blow up, blow out, to cause to swell up (Thayer’s)
(v.5)
It is not rude (unbecomingly NASB95), it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs
– 1 Corinthians 13:5 NIV
Rude/unbecomingly: refers to activity in defiance of social and moral standards (NIV Life App Comm)
Sometimes agape love means I have to ,
but it also means I don’t
…it keeps no record of wrongs – 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)
Unlike spiritual gifts, agape love is (v.8)
Love (agape) never ends… – 1 Corinthians 13:8 (ESV)
Spiritual gifts are but will continue until the comes (vv.8-10)
Who or what is the “Perfect”?
What will be different when the Perfect comes? (v.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. – 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NASB)
When The Perfect/Jesus comes we will
See to (v.12)
Know (v.12)
Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
– 1 Corinthians 1:7 (NIV)
My Personal Spiritual Maturity Test:
is patient, is kind and is not jealous; does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; does not seek his/her own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – 1 Corinthians 13:4 -7 (NASB95)