Bible Studies
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 – A Better Way
Key Verses: (NIV)
- 1: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” – Paul continues his lesson on Spiritual Gifts but now his focus shifts from the gift itself to how the gift is used.
- 2: “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” – We can be gifted, talented, intelligent, even beautiful, but if we do not love God and those around us, all these special attributes are a waste.
- 4-7: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs…” – Paul lists the characteristics of love. It is easy to tell when love is present.
- 8: “Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” – All things we deem important will pass. Only love persists.
- 12: “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror, then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” – We should keep a heavenly perspective in mind.
- 13: “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
- Do you love?
Promises of the Gospel:
God is love. So, when we see true love, as Paul describes it, in our lives, we then see God. God created us out of love. He created us so that we would love Him. He wants us to love Him, but, more importantly, He created within us a need to love Him. As we grow in our faith, as we advance ever so slowly towards being the devoted Christians He is calling us to be, the more clearly the world begins to see a reflection of God’s love in us. We may always be “but a poor reflection as in a mirror” as we struggle with our human tendencies towards self-righteousness and self-centeredness. However, the better way that Paul describes abides as a pathway to follow: “faith, hope, and love.” Our destination is love.
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