LOVE GOD (1 OF 3)
by Tim Melton
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, Matthew 7:21-23, Revelation 2:2-5
This content is part of a series.
Love God (1 of 3)
Series: The Three Essentials of theFaith
Tim Melton
1 Corinthians 13:1-8, Matthew 7:21-23, Revelation 2:2-5
Have you ever experienced a car that ran out of gas, or a phone that ran out of battery, or seen an athlete who was dehydrated. In all three cases the car, phone or athlete, had many of the traits that were needed to function but they lacked something essential to truly thrive. It is the same with a Christian life that has no love. We read about it in the Apostle Paul's letter to the troubled church in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 13:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
It is likely that there were some in this church in Corinth who counted themselves as spiritual because of their religious activity, their spiritual gifts or their service, but Paul is taking it beyond actions and pointing them to the condition of the heart.
Paul is giving extreme examples to make his point clear. Even if one can communicate with many people and even angels, if he doesn't have love, his words are nothing but useless noise. Even if one has the gift of prophecy and can understand all mysteries and knowledge, and if he has faith to move mountains, but is not loving, all of these gifts are worth nothing. Even if he makes the ultimate sacrifice and gives away his money and even his life, but has not love, he gains nothing.
Doing religious deeds is not the true indicator that a person is walking with Christ. Having the best theology is not the true indicator that a person is walking with Christ. Having love indicates that one is walking with Christ. Some will find this surprising, but we must look to scriptur ...
Series: The Three Essentials of theFaith
Tim Melton
1 Corinthians 13:1-8, Matthew 7:21-23, Revelation 2:2-5
Have you ever experienced a car that ran out of gas, or a phone that ran out of battery, or seen an athlete who was dehydrated. In all three cases the car, phone or athlete, had many of the traits that were needed to function but they lacked something essential to truly thrive. It is the same with a Christian life that has no love. We read about it in the Apostle Paul's letter to the troubled church in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 13:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
It is likely that there were some in this church in Corinth who counted themselves as spiritual because of their religious activity, their spiritual gifts or their service, but Paul is taking it beyond actions and pointing them to the condition of the heart.
Paul is giving extreme examples to make his point clear. Even if one can communicate with many people and even angels, if he doesn't have love, his words are nothing but useless noise. Even if one has the gift of prophecy and can understand all mysteries and knowledge, and if he has faith to move mountains, but is not loving, all of these gifts are worth nothing. Even if he makes the ultimate sacrifice and gives away his money and even his life, but has not love, he gains nothing.
Doing religious deeds is not the true indicator that a person is walking with Christ. Having the best theology is not the true indicator that a person is walking with Christ. Having love indicates that one is walking with Christ. Some will find this surprising, but we must look to scriptur ...
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