TRUE LOVE

 

The True Value of Love – Feb 16, 2014

 

1.      Paul has revealed through this chapter what love is all about.  First that if a person does not love the way God loves or wants us to love.  Three things happen.

 

1. We receive nothing of real value.
2. We produce nothing of real value.
3. We are of no real value.

 

2.     Fifteen attributes of love.  Love is first is longsuffering, kind, does not envy, is not conceited or puffed up.  It is not rude or seeks its own, not easily provoked, thinks no evil and does not rejoice in sin. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things.  Love never fails.

 

3.      What we know in part and prophesy in part will be done away because that which is perfect will come.  It is Jesus Christ. 

4.      Paul then says when he was a child he thought and acted as a child but now that he is a man he has put away childish things.

5.     Verse 12, says that we see through a glass darkly but one day we shall see Him face to face.  What a promise.  I will know in part but then I will know and be known.  You will see, know and become all that God intended when Jesus comes back.  

 

Part 2

 

1. Paul then focuses on the way of love.  Faith and hope are based in love. 
2. Your faith is based in the love of God which was given you by His grace when He extended His mercy to you.  Faith is a gift given to you by God and is built by the word of God.

 

a.      Faith has been given to every person.  There is natural faith that allows us to believe in people, nature and the world around us.  Then there is saving faith that allows us to connect with the eternal God.  This faith is the one that believes that God exists and that is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.  Faith is the substance of things hope for and the evidence of things not seen.  Faith in its simplest form is trusting God for your present and eternity.  Faith is an expression of love. 

b.      Hope is the belief that you have a future. When you know that God is on your side and working on your behalf you have hope.  You know God will never leave you or forsake you have hope, you know that all things work together for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose you have hope.  God has good thoughts for you.  He has given you a hope and a future.  All this is based in the fact that you know God loves you.  Hope is a manifestation of love’s belief in the future. 

c.      God is love.  He loves you. He loved you so much that He sent Jesus Christ to die in your place.  Jesus loved you so much that He was willing to die for you and the Holy Spirit loves you so much that He drew you to Christ, empowered you and regenerated you to get saved.  You know that love is the most excellent way.  Love is the mark of a true believer.  The mark of a true Christian is because we have learned the excellent way and that is love. 

1.       The true value of love is knowing that only through love will you receive, produce and be of   

        value.  You give without expecting anything to receive.  It is in your nature to love because God   

        first love you. 

2.       You display the 15 attributes of love.  Gifts and knowledge will fail when Jesus comes and we see

3.       Him face to face.  You shall see Him as He is and we shall be like Him.  You may see things darkly right now but one day you will know all things. 

4.       Walk in faith which is the way of love and hope which is the manifestation of love.  We all need to be loved.  It meets our need for significance, self worth and security.  Jesus gives us significance, He completes our self worth and He is our security.