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"The greatest of these is love."

Text: 1 Corinthians 13:13

THREE OUTSTANDING THINGS

Paul had personally experienced or had seen the following qualities in those who were greatly blessed by the Lord. Three things stood out to him.

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13

1. “And now abide”

a) The word “abide” means “to continue”.

b) This word was used deliberately.

i) To offer a comparison and contrast.

ii) Between these spiritual virtues and the spiritual gifts.

c) Paul was aware that the spiritual gifts would not abide forever.

d) One day when the Word of God was completely revealed and given to the church, some of these gifts would vanish away.

e) But not these three spiritual qualities.

2. Faith

a) Subjective faith expresses the personal response of the believer to the Lord and His Word.

b) Faith is well-described as “the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

c) Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

3. Hope

a) This is “the twin of faith”.

b) Hope is put into our hearts by God (Romans 5:5).

c) Hope in God will never cause us to feel disappointed (Romans 5:8).

4. Love

a) Paul esteems this gift of love as the greatest of all the virtues and gifts.

b) He was of course describing God’s kind of love poured into our hearts (Romans 5:5).

i) It is gloriously expressed when God gave us His Son to bring us salvation (John 3:16).

ii) It is something that the Lord God has commanded us to give to Him (Deuteronomy 6:5-6).

iii) It is also commanded by the Lord Jesus to love one another.

c) The virtues of this love have already been discussed (1 Corinthians 13:1-8)

d) It is a virtue that is permanent, in contrast to the other ministerial gifts such as the power to perform miracles, tongues and interpretation which are but temporary gifts!