Agape Love - Part 3
1 Corinthians 13v8-12
8th July 2022
We're looking at 1 Corinthians 13, which talks about agape love, the love of God shown in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and given to Christians through the Holy Spirit. In verse 1-7 Paul's told us that agape love is fundamental to Christian character and life, and he's told us what agape love is like. He now explains that agape love is eternal, but spiritual gifts will end:
1 Corinthians 13v8-12
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.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
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.
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.
When Paul says, "Love never fails", he doesn't mean "love can do anything". Love can't change a fuse, or cook dinner or mow the lawn. He means love never dies, never comes to an end. God's love for you is eternal, and the love He's put in your heart is also eternal.
Spiritual gifts like prophecy, speaking in tongues and word of knowledge are valuable, and important in the life and mission of the church. But they're temporary. We don't know exactly what heaven will be like, but we do know that we won't need prophecy in heaven. God will be standing right there, and we'll all hear him for ourselves. Our prayer life will be so good that we won't need to pray in tongues. We won't need special revelation through words of knowledge, because we'll know everything we need to know.
Being a Christian in heaven will be different from being a Christian on earth, just as being an adult is different from being a child. We'll have grown up into Christ. We see something of the nature of God now, but when we're with Him in heaven, we'll see Him face to face. We have some understanding of ourselves now, but then we'll understand perfectly. We'll understand everything that matters perfectly, for ever.
I'm very grateful to God for spiritual gifts. They've helped me, and my church, enormously. God has healed my body and my soul through gifts of healing, and has given me correction and direction through prophecies and words of knowledge. But spiritual gifts are temporary. We should give most of our focus to eternal things (Colossians 3v1).
I retired as minister of Stubbington Baptist Church last week. Nothing proves the vital importance of agape love, and nothing demonstrates the damage done when Christians fail to show agape love, like life in a local church. No church is perfect, but Stubbington Baptist Church is a wonderful group of kind and gentle Christian people. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each one of them for their love and support.