EXPOSITION OF I CORINTHIANS 13 – Part 3
February 20, 2010
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I Corinthians 13:2 – And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that
I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
AND THOUGH I HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY, AND ALL MYSTERIES, AND ALL KNOWLEDGE;
Although the word “prophecy” applies more frequently to simply proclaiming the word of God, in this context it refers more to proclaiming future events. The teaching of the future events revealed by God are certainly a part of the book of God’s love we call the Bible, but it is not in any way superior to the teachings of the Bible that cause the believer to grow in the love of God. Some believers are prophecy nuts, and thrive on it, but are sadly lacking in the love of the one who gave the very prophecies they seem to thrive on.
It is the love of God manifested in all these prophecies that is the spirit
of prophecy, the mystery of prophecy, and the knowledge gained from prophecy, and the thing we should seek from them.
It is the love of God that causes us to watch, to desire, and to hope for his coming. It is not the time of his coming that is most important, it is that he IS coming, and that we hope
it is soon. If our motivation in wanting to understand the prophecies of God is based on a love to reveal them to others, so they may be used to establish them in the love that is in Christ
Jesus, then our presentation of prophecy has the right motive. The primary motive behind prophecy presentation should always be to build up the local body of Christ in love for “the obedience of the faith.”
Romans 16:25-27 – Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, [26] But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: [27] To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever.
Amen.
Ephesians 3:21 – Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
AND ALL MYSTERIES, AND ALL KNOWLEDGE;
Love is superior to great knowledge and understanding. This involves inspiration and prophecy, which was the work of the prophets. Had they not been filled w ith the love of God, they could not have wr
itten it, so it always leads back to God, who is love. All the true knowledge, prophecy, and understanding we possess, we have only because God, in his great love, chose to reveal it to us.
AND THOUGH I HAVE ALL FAITH, SO THAT I COULD REMOVE MOUNTAINS, AND HAVE NOT CHARITY, I AM NOTHING.
Whatever it is that we have, which can be classified as acceptable to God, we received from God, and his love in us is his very nature, and the greatest gift of all, for all the others stem out of it.
John 3:27 – John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be GIVEN him from heaven.
Romans 12:3,4 – For I say, through the grace GIVEN unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath DEALT to every man the MEASURE OF FAITH. [4] For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Ephesians 2:22 – In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
John 13:34,35 – A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
This new commandment is superior and is the law of Christ. It is this commandment that is to be the reason, the motivation, for our service to Christ, and this is the motivation
that Christ seeks to implant in our hearts.
Galatians 6:2,3 – Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. [3] For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
The main point that Paul puts forward in I Corinthians 13 is
that worship in the local church is to be based on love, not individual gifts the members were excelling in, such as prophecy, knowledge, understanding, or faith, or any other thing except love for the brethren. We were born from above for that purpose – unfeigned love of the brethren.
I Peter 1:22,23 – Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: [23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Romans 5:5 – And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which
is GIVEN unto us.
I Corinthians 13:13 – And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.