Bethel Sunday School Online 26 JULY 2020
Text: 1 Corinthians 13:8 – 13

COMPARING LOVE WITH SPIRITUAL GIFTS
(1 Corinthians 13:8)

1. Love never fails

a. The word “fail” here has the idea of “falling down”

b. The spiritual virtue of love will never “fall down”

c. The love of God poured into our hearts will never fail us!

2. The spiritual gifts that will fail…cease…vanish away

a. Three spiritual gifts highlighted

i. Prophecies

ii. Tongues

iii. Knowledge

b. “They will fail…they will cease…it will vanish away”

i. This is in contrast to the virtue of love that will never fail

ii. These spiritual gifts were not meant to be permanent gifts

iii. They were given for a special purpose

iv. Once that purpose is fulfilled, they will cease by themselves

v. Love on the other hand is different, it is a gift that is to be permanent and cultivated deeply!

“But when that which is perfect has come”
(1 corinthians 13:9 – 10)

1. This verse is often cited to argue for the permanence of the mentioned spiritual gifts

a. Prophecy

b. Tongue speaking

c. Revelation of knowledge of God

2. “The perfect has come” has been interpreted as:

a. A reference to the Second Coming of Christ

b. A reference to heaven

3. The problem with these interpretations

a. It does not fit the context of 1 Corinthians 13

b. The word “perfect” suggest a number of things

i. That which grows into full maturity

ii. Something that has been fully developed and completed

c. Therefore, it cannot be a reference to the Second coming of Christ or heaven

4. The only interpretation that would fit this context correctly is concerning the Word of God!

a. The spiritual gifts highlighted has to do with the Word of God

i. Revealed

ii. Communicated

b. The word of God may be described as something that grows to full maturity

i. God has sent His prophets to reveal His word

ii. God has sent His Son to reveal deep knowledge of Himself

iii. God has sent His Apostles to communicate and explain His word effectively

The Great Challenge To Grow In Spiritual Maturity

1. In knowing the word of God (1 Corinthians 1:11 – 12)

2. In cultivating spiritual virtues deeply in our life (1 Corinthians 11:13a)

a. Faith

b. Hope

c. Love

3. The greatest of these virtues is love! (1 Corinthians 11:13b)

a. The greatness of God’s love seen in Christ Jesus!

b. Those who have cultivated love deeply will be filled with the fullness of God! (Ephesians 3:19)