WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:20.879 Well, happy Father's Day. 00:00:21.080 --> 00:00:21.600 Am I on? 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:22.219 Hello? 00:00:22.859 --> 00:00:23.920 Happy Father's Day. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:29.400 I wore this this morning because I got it yesterday for my kids. 00:00:29.399 --> 00:00:30.479 I hope you don't mind. 00:00:31.019 --> 00:00:34.280 It was my Father's Day present, so what can I say? 00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:36.899 It's what I got. 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:52.560 You know, when I was a kid growing up, I discovered somewhere along the way that I was one of those hopeless romantics at times. 00:00:53.320 --> 00:01:04.540 This will date me terribly, but I listened to Air Supply and Chicago and a little later Celine Dion a little bit. 00:01:05.540 --> 00:01:12.180 And I watched movies like Say Anything and Sleepless in Seattle. 00:01:12.180 --> 00:01:16.700 And I wish Pastor Nick were here to translate that for all of you who are under 35. 00:01:16.700 --> 00:01:31.280 But there's a lure out there, a vision in our popular culture that there is a love that is everlasting, a love that will lift us up where we belong. 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:38.040 There is a love that will capture our hearts and transport us forever into some eternal bliss. 00:01:38.040 --> 00:01:47.640 And there's something that we long for in that that is right and good. 00:01:47.640 --> 00:02:01.719 And yet, if you've lived a little bit longer than my 15 years when I was captured by all these things, you realize that love is not always that easy, is it? 00:02:01.719 --> 00:02:07.780 I think I've told this story before, but it's worth telling again. 00:02:08.259 --> 00:02:09.060 You may know it. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:20.120 Robertson McQuilkin was the president of Columbia International University, a strong Christian university that sent missionaries all over the world. 00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:40.400 And it became clear that she was descending into Alzheimer's disease and the effects of it. 00:02:41.060 --> 00:02:48.560 As she slowly lost her ability to think, to plan, to recognize people. 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:53.120 It was his presence that brought her the most peace. 00:02:53.800 --> 00:03:06.939 She desired so much to be with him, in fact, that she would at times walk from their house, which was a mile away from campus, up to 10 times a day simply to physically be present with him. 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:13.099 Because that was where she found peace and hope. 00:03:13.099 --> 00:03:26.680 And so, after 22 years, he stepped down from his position and wrote a moving letter and a powerful testimony of what he did. 00:03:27.079 --> 00:03:27.740 He said, 00:03:27.740 --> 00:03:31.980 I know that she's happier when I'm with her than when I'm not. 00:03:34.180 --> 00:03:36.020 It's not that my work is done. 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:40.600 There are many plans still on the board, ready to be accomplished. 00:03:40.840 --> 00:03:43.659 There are many dreams that will be laid aside for this. 00:03:43.659 --> 00:03:47.240 But she has served me for 40 years. 00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:53.240 And if I served her for 40 years from this day, I would still be in her debt. 00:03:53.859 --> 00:04:00.960 And he stepped away from that position to serve her for the next 10 years. 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:16.800 When she didn't know who he was, when she lost her ability to speak, when he spent day in, day out with this woman who, in terms of their daily interactions, was no longer who she used to be. 00:04:18.600 --> 00:04:21.660 Love can be hard, can't it? 00:04:21.660 --> 00:04:51.640 Love can be hard, can't it? 00:04:51.660 --> 00:05:21.640 Love can be hard, can't it? 00:05:21.660 --> 00:05:40.100 It's hard because it costs us, our very self, our preferences, our desires, our time, our energy, our agendas, our hopes and dreams, may be laid aside in order to love the people that God has put into our lives. 00:05:41.800 --> 00:05:43.220 And it's exhausting. 00:05:43.220 --> 00:05:47.960 It's exhausting to keep dying to self. 00:05:48.900 --> 00:05:53.800 It's exhausting to do that through the seasons of marriage. 00:05:54.600 --> 00:06:00.520 It's exhausting to do that as you raise your child from infancy to adulthood. 00:06:01.220 --> 00:06:09.300 It's exhausting to love your church when they're imperfect and when they've disappointed and hurt you. 00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:20.400 It's exhausting to love your friend when life circumstances change and what used to be very close is now more distant. 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:25.979 When they get married and you think, what happens now to our friendship? 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:33.479 In so many different ways, love is hard to endure in, isn't it? 00:06:33.480 --> 00:06:42.100 The Corinthian church struggled with this. 00:06:43.100 --> 00:06:48.100 They wanted love to be something that gave them return. 00:06:48.379 --> 00:06:59.740 They wanted their service that they would say would be done in love to result in something for them where they could see a tangible result in a short period of time. 00:06:59.740 --> 00:07:02.699 I wonder if we do that too. 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:18.460 And so it leaves us with the question, how is it that we can endure in love, to persevere in love, to keep loving for the rest of our life? 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:22.000 Well, this leads us to our passage this morning. 00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:26.740 We're continuing in our service, in our series in 1 Corinthians 13. 00:07:26.740 --> 00:07:27.300 1 Corinthians 13. 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:31.660 Well, we're going through the whole book and we're in 1 Corinthians 13. 00:07:31.840 --> 00:07:34.360 It's page 960 in your pew Bible. 00:07:34.519 --> 00:07:38.160 If you want to look there with me, we're going to read it in just a second. 00:07:39.780 --> 00:07:49.639 As we close this chapter up, this great chapter on the nature, the necessity, and today the permanence of love. 00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:57.139 We're going to look today at verses 8 through 13. 00:07:57.479 --> 00:08:01.879 So let's look at that together. 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:10.339 Love never ends. 00:08:10.919 --> 00:08:13.719 As for prophecies, they will pass away. 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:16.079 As for tongues, they will cease. 00:08:16.579 --> 00:08:18.779 As for knowledge, it will pass away. 00:08:18.779 --> 00:08:22.819 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:27.079 But when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:31.639 When I was a child, I spoke like a child. 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:33.139 I thought like a child. 00:08:33.539 --> 00:08:35.379 I reasoned like a child. 00:08:36.039 --> 00:08:39.659 When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:45.659 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. 00:08:45.659 --> 00:08:47.500 Now I know in part. 00:08:48.199 --> 00:08:53.319 Then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 00:08:53.959 --> 00:08:57.600 So now faith, hope, and love abide these three. 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:01.659 But the greatest of these is love. 00:09:02.259 --> 00:09:03.439 Please pray with me. 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:06.120 Lord, we thank you for your word. 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:09.760 And we thank you that in it you have spoken to us. 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:14.000 You have spoken with clarity and with timeless truth. 00:09:15.220 --> 00:09:18.780 Lord, I pray today that you administer to our hearts. 00:09:19.820 --> 00:09:25.400 That, Lord, we would be ready to receive with soft hearts what you have to say to us this morning. 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:28.759 We pray, Lord, that you administer to our minds. 00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:33.019 That we would know and understand and think rightly about you. 00:09:34.139 --> 00:09:37.799 Who you are and what it is that you have called us to in Christ. 00:09:39.379 --> 00:09:46.559 God, I pray that as we look into this passage this morning, that you would enable me to speak your words. 00:09:47.939 --> 00:09:51.460 Lord, that we all would be taught by you and by your spirit this morning. 00:09:51.579 --> 00:09:53.899 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:09:53.899 --> 00:09:54.459 Amen. 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:57.139 Amen. 00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:06.879 The fundamental idea that I want you to go away with this morning, the principle that Paul is presenting in this passage is this. 00:10:07.480 --> 00:10:12.340 That we can endure in love because God has made love eternal. 00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:16.539 We, that sounds really cheesy, doesn't it? 00:10:16.579 --> 00:10:18.379 It kind of sounds like a Hallmark card. 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:23.240 But it's, I hope we will see by the end that it's much more significant than that. 00:10:23.240 --> 00:10:25.740 That we can persevere in love. 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:31.039 Because God himself has made love an eternal thing. 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:34.459 So we're going to look at this passage. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:35.599 We're just going to walk through it. 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:38.259 The principle is introduced in verses 8 through 10. 00:10:38.419 --> 00:10:41.360 The principle is illustrated in verses 11 and 12. 00:10:41.539 --> 00:10:44.939 And then the principle is brought home in verses 12 and 13. 00:10:45.539 --> 00:10:47.219 So that's what we're going to do. 00:10:47.219 --> 00:10:49.980 If you're following along with notes, there's your outline. 00:10:49.980 --> 00:10:51.659 First of all, the principle. 00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:55.700 God has made love forever introduced in verses 8 through 10. 00:10:55.779 --> 00:10:57.639 Look again with me at the passage. 00:10:58.659 --> 00:11:07.360 And as we look at it, remember that the Corinthian, in this letter, Paul has been talking in this section in 1 Corinthians 12 through 14. 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:10.800 He's talking about how do we gather together. 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:14.960 What does it look like for Christians to gather together for worship? 00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:25.120 And specifically, how is it that spiritual gifting, that is particular ways that God by his spirit works through us to bless one another. 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:33.279 How is it that those things are meant to exhibit themselves in a godly fashion in our context? 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:39.100 And at the center of it, as we've said before, is this chapter on love. 00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:43.720 That love is the context. 00:11:44.079 --> 00:11:45.319 Love is the engine. 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:51.939 And love is the thing that determines the goal of how it is that we exercise these spiritual gifts. 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:54.399 How it is that we are to treat one another. 00:11:55.539 --> 00:12:02.659 And he's contrasting it, seemingly, with the way the Corinthian church grabbed onto gifts and exalted themselves 00:12:02.659 --> 00:12:05.699 because they said, well, I have this, so I'm important. 00:12:05.839 --> 00:12:07.039 Or you don't have that. 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:08.379 What's wrong with you? 00:12:08.959 --> 00:12:14.159 This sort of divisive character of their community. 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:16.019 Paul says, no. 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:20.620 Love is at the center of how you ought to do these things. 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:23.360 And we've seen that in verses 1 through 3. 00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:25.259 It said, it doesn't matter what you do. 00:12:25.419 --> 00:12:29.720 If you don't have love, there is no benefit for you in it. 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:32.079 There is nothing to puff yourself up in it. 00:12:32.659 --> 00:12:38.579 And then in verses 4 through 7, as I said earlier, we saw the nature of love. 00:12:39.019 --> 00:12:49.600 That love as a self-giving for the good of another is tender and is truthful and is tenacious. 00:12:49.600 --> 00:13:03.139 And Paul starts here again by beginning to transition out of what seems like an almost esoteric discussion of love back to his topic of gifts. 00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:06.220 So we see in 8 through 10 a contrast, don't we? 00:13:06.560 --> 00:13:09.460 He says, love never ends. 00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:13.740 But, and then he begins to talk about the gifts. 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:15.400 And he says, do you see what he does? 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:17.320 He says, there are three gifts he picks on. 00:13:17.400 --> 00:13:21.740 He says, as for prophecy, it will pass away. 00:13:22.900 --> 00:13:23.300 Right? 00:13:23.460 --> 00:13:31.040 And prophecy, as we'll see in chapter 14, is the thing that Paul's going to say may be the most beneficial for the gathered congregation. 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:33.339 In terms of spiritual gifting. 00:13:33.459 --> 00:13:36.539 He's going to say, this is the one I really want you to do well. 00:13:37.319 --> 00:13:38.279 He says, but you know what? 00:13:38.319 --> 00:13:39.360 It's going to pass away. 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:42.240 And then he says, and you know what else is going to pass away? 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:45.039 Tongues will cease. 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:48.000 Knowledge will pass away. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:58.299 These spiritual gifts that are word-based gifts that are meant to help the gathered congregation increase in their knowledge of God and their understanding of God. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:02.720 And Paul says, none of these things will last forever. 00:14:03.700 --> 00:14:04.759 Love will. 00:14:05.259 --> 00:14:06.700 The gifts will not. 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:08.000 Why is that? 00:14:08.460 --> 00:14:10.039 Look with me at verse 10. 00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:11.059 Nope, 9. 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:12.200 Verse 9. 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:14.759 For we know in part. 00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:18.700 And we prophesy in part. 00:14:21.160 --> 00:14:28.820 But when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 00:14:29.640 --> 00:14:32.240 Now, what does he mean by in part by this? 00:14:33.820 --> 00:14:38.280 I think what he means is that there is this growing. 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:43.779 It actually could be translated part by part or bit by bit is how we would say it today. 00:14:44.179 --> 00:14:46.399 For we know bit by bit, a little more. 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:50.299 He's not saying we don't know anything or we're destined to ignorance. 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:59.120 But what he does say is that these things, we may have incremental growth in our knowledge of God through the exercise of these gifts. 00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:02.339 And yet it will always be insufficient. 00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:13.220 It will never reach to the fullness or the perfection or the completeness of what they're destined to do. 00:15:13.280 --> 00:15:15.800 Which is that we would know God fully. 00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:20.360 He says, but there will be a day when that will come. 00:15:21.180 --> 00:15:23.720 There will be a day when the perfect will come. 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:31.860 And when it will, these imperfect means, these partial means that are not bad in and of themselves. 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:33.580 Paul is not denigrating them. 00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:39.259 He's simply saying they're not going to last forever because they're pointing to something else. 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:41.600 They will become obsolete. 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:52.779 As one commentator put it, at the coming of Christ, the final purpose of God's saving work in Christ will have been reached. 00:15:53.560 --> 00:16:00.860 At that point, those gifts now necessary for the building up of the church in the present age will disappear. 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:04.440 Because the complete will have come. 00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:08.000 To cite Bart's marvelous imagery. 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:13.620 Because the sun rises, all other lights are extinguished. 00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:15.720 Isn't that a beautiful picture? 00:16:16.520 --> 00:16:22.760 Your flashlights and your candles that you're holding out in the darkness of this partial knowledge. 00:16:23.160 --> 00:16:30.300 When the sun arises, will suddenly be no longer necessary. 00:16:30.299 --> 00:16:35.139 Because all the light that you ever could have wanted is abundantly yours. 00:16:36.459 --> 00:16:42.219 And when Christ comes and finishes his work, when he establishes fully his kingdom, 00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:45.219 and we'll see later more about what this means, 00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:48.419 these gifts are no longer necessary. 00:16:48.699 --> 00:16:50.899 They simply become overcome. 00:16:51.439 --> 00:16:54.519 They're overcome by what God will do. 00:16:54.519 --> 00:17:01.699 Now, let me address for just a minute, and I want to do this with all humility and gentleness. 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:06.700 There are some who have read these passages through particular lenses. 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:14.480 They have thought that the perfection that is to come is not the future coming of Christ 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:16.339 and the full establishment of his kingdom. 00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:20.519 But at some point, they saw that Paul was looking ahead to something different. 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:29.420 To the perfection of the church as it established itself ecclesiologically and organizationally. 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:35.680 Or some see it as the perfect is the coming of the scriptures and the writing of the scriptures 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:42.200 such that when those things came, then suddenly these gifts would pass away 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:43.779 and would no longer be necessary. 00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:49.119 This is an argument that would say that these gifts of prophecy and tongues and knowledge 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:52.459 are no longer valid in the church today. 00:17:54.859 --> 00:18:04.000 Let me just say humbly that I think that it misses the flow of thought to say it that strongly. 00:18:05.899 --> 00:18:10.459 I believe that this passage and what we have seen already in chapter 12 00:18:10.459 --> 00:18:12.279 and what we will see in chapter 14 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:16.859 is arguing that these gifts are meant to be a part of church life today. 00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:21.679 And Paul is going to give very specific instructions on how they can be good and profitable. 00:18:23.159 --> 00:18:26.539 And let me acknowledge that there are many ways in which 00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:30.500 under the name of these gifts, 00:18:30.899 --> 00:18:33.559 people have done all sorts of really crazy things 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:36.539 that have very little to do with the gospel or the kingdom. 00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:42.319 And especially because they've often lacked the love that Paul is emphasizing here. 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:50.279 But I think it's a mistake to read these verses to suggest that these gifts have ceased. 00:18:51.139 --> 00:18:59.859 I think that they properly expressed are meant to be an ongoing part of the partial bit by bit growth 00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:06.740 of the church in their knowledge of God in this present age while we yet await that future age. 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:14.299 which as we'll see later will bring a place where we will know fully just as we are fully known. 00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:18.099 So Paul says, 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:20.880 these gifts are like signposts. 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:24.220 They are pointing to a knowledge that is yet to come. 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:27.799 And he's contrasting it with love 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:33.139 because the love that he's expounding upon and commending to us, 00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:36.740 that love is not a signpost to something else. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:38.059 It is a foretaste. 00:19:38.879 --> 00:19:43.299 It is in continuity with what will happen in the future. 00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:47.440 So that's what he's, 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:49.779 that's the explanation that he's trying to give. 00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:52.399 Love is permanent and these sign things, 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:56.019 these things that you are taking hold of and making so important, 00:19:56.940 --> 00:20:00.940 they are ultimately temporary and not eternal. 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:04.980 And then he goes on in the next couple of verses 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:07.059 and he gives some great illustrations. 00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:08.599 Some pictures. 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:11.419 Look with me again at verses 11 and 12. 00:20:11.420 --> 00:20:14.240 Let's read this together. 00:20:15.620 --> 00:20:15.900 Woo! 00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:16.539 Here we go. 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:18.300 Got to get my spectacles back on. 00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:19.700 When I was a child, 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:21.080 I spoke like a child. 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.420 I thought like a child. 00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.660 I reasoned like a child. 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:24.880 When I became a man, 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.800 I gave up childish ways. 00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:32.680 I love it when Paul gives us these really clear analogies. 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:34.000 But it always raises the question, 00:20:34.120 --> 00:20:35.460 what is he actually talking about? 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:37.340 Some people have read this 00:20:37.340 --> 00:20:38.700 and particularly in light of, 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:40.920 if you go back to 1 Corinthians 3, 00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:44.400 Paul uses the picture of infancy 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:46.900 as a sign of spiritual immaturity. 00:20:48.320 --> 00:20:49.759 And so he picks that. 00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:51.019 Back then he says, 00:20:51.420 --> 00:20:53.259 to be like an infant or to be like a child 00:20:53.259 --> 00:20:54.539 is to be immature. 00:20:55.320 --> 00:20:56.240 And in a derogatory, 00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:58.720 or in a negative sense, 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:01.480 to lack the maturity that you ought to have. 00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:04.160 Some people have read that into this 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:05.660 and think that Paul is talking about 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:07.480 the immaturity of the Corinthian church, 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:09.500 but that the maturity would be 00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:11.660 a different kind of exercise 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:14.200 that they could do in this age. 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:16.920 But again, I think that's missing the point. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.839 I think what Paul is saying is, 00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:19.700 when I was a child, 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:21.099 I did the things that children do. 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:22.660 There's nothing wrong with that. 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:24.660 Because that's what they do. 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:26.259 That's what it means to be a child. 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:29.019 But then I grew up and I became an adult. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:32.120 And I didn't continue in the childish ways 00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:35.140 because that's no longer the season that I'm in. 00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:38.340 And what Paul is saying is similarly for the church. 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:40.960 You now have these gifts 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:44.060 because of the partial nature of what you have. 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:46.360 And that's appropriate for now. 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:47.360 It's a good thing. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:51.220 But recognize that what maturity, 00:21:51.580 --> 00:21:52.600 what adulthood, 00:21:52.800 --> 00:21:54.280 what the next age, 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:55.340 the next season, 00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:57.620 the next stage for you will be, 00:21:57.800 --> 00:21:59.400 what eternity will look like, 00:21:59.580 --> 00:22:01.500 it's not going to have these things anymore. 00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:04.300 You're going to be in a different place 00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:06.379 and you're going to have different things 00:22:06.379 --> 00:22:09.019 that characterize you. 00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:12.440 And so, 00:22:12.639 --> 00:22:16.220 he uses this analogy of the difference 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:18.000 between childhood and adult 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:19.440 to talk about this difference 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:22.379 between the present age and the age to come. 00:22:22.919 --> 00:22:24.759 And it's okay to have these gifts now, 00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:26.019 but recognize, again, 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:28.779 don't exalt them to this eternal state 00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:30.799 or to this ultimate value in your life. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:34.379 Because when you become an adult, 00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:35.579 they will no longer be here. 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:38.220 When Jesus comes and establishes his kingdom, 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:39.440 you will no longer need it. 00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:43.220 He then goes on and uses an imagery, 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:45.480 an image of a mirror. 00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:46.759 Verse 12. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:49.799 For now we see in a mirror dimly, 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:52.759 but then face to face. 00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:53.619 Now, 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:57.440 I will admit that this one's a little harder 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:59.379 for a number of reasons. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.039 One is, 00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:00.859 when you look in a mirror, 00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:01.539 who do you see? 00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:03.740 Yourself, 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:04.240 right? 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:06.000 That's what you use a mirror for 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:06.660 in our culture 00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:07.420 and in our world. 00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:10.539 That is not the point of this analogy. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:12.579 It's not about looking at ourselves 00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:13.480 and thinking about 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.819 what do I know about myself 00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:17.160 and whether my mirror gives a good reflection 00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:18.180 of that or not. 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:20.620 And I will say this too, 00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:23.779 the translation of dimly 00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:26.440 is a really tricky word to translate. 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.299 If you look at other, 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:28.840 maybe you have other Bibles here 00:23:28.840 --> 00:23:29.660 and you look at it and say, 00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:31.259 it might mean that 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:32.940 other translations would be 00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:35.160 a reflection as in a mirror, 00:23:35.340 --> 00:23:36.460 a reflection of something 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.759 where you're maybe seeing 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:39.340 like around a corner 00:23:39.340 --> 00:23:40.920 because you're looking in a mirror. 00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:43.380 Or another translation is 00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:44.960 through a glass darkly. 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:46.539 So you're not looking at yourself, 00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:48.200 but you're looking through something, 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:50.599 but there's an opaqueness to it 00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:53.740 or a lack of clarity. 00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:56.019 In fact, 00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:58.420 the word could be translated 00:23:58.420 --> 00:24:00.220 a vision or a riddle. 00:24:00.859 --> 00:24:02.879 For now we know in a vision 00:24:02.879 --> 00:24:04.960 or in a riddle, 00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:07.659 which is kind of an odd phrase. 00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.819 But I think that what he, 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:11.960 at the core of what Paul is saying 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:14.759 with this is that 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:20.539 now we see in a mediated sense 00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.240 something. 00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:22.039 That is, 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:24.180 there is something between us 00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:26.000 and the thing that we want to see 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.259 and want to look at. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.259 Right? 00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.500 And so, 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:32.180 so we see that indistinctly 00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:33.960 because there's something in between 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:35.340 that we have to have. 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:37.420 So if I'm looking around a corner, 00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:38.740 I have to look at the mirror 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:41.180 to get the reflection around the corner. 00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:43.240 Or, 00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:44.859 it's possible that Paul 00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:45.799 is actually meaning, 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:46.759 so, 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:48.240 what you're getting 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:49.519 is things and visions 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.579 and riddles 00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:52.440 that are words 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:54.120 that are trying to speak truth to you, 00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:55.640 but you're not going to get it 00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:57.019 clearly right now. 00:24:58.900 --> 00:25:00.440 So it's indistinct 00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:01.440 or indirect 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:04.579 is what this image is pointing to 00:25:04.579 --> 00:25:06.079 of what we have now. 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:07.419 And part of the reason 00:25:07.419 --> 00:25:08.099 why I say that 00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:09.399 is because it's so clear 00:25:09.399 --> 00:25:10.579 with the contrast. 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.919 What is the contrast with? 00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:12.599 Right? 00:25:12.899 --> 00:25:13.379 Now, 00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:15.359 we see indistinctly 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:16.179 or indirectly. 00:25:17.199 --> 00:25:17.919 Then, 00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:19.079 how will we see it? 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:22.740 We will see it face to face. 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.639 The difference between 00:25:25.639 --> 00:25:27.000 knowing about someone 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:28.220 by reading a bio 00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:32.599 and knowing them in person. 00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:33.839 The difference between 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:35.019 an online chat 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:36.299 and a coffee date. 00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:37.839 The difference between 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.679 a photograph 00:25:38.679 --> 00:25:40.579 and being 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:42.059 on the south rim 00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:43.459 of the Grand Canyon. 00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:45.980 What we have now 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:47.579 is all mediated. 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:49.019 But friends, 00:25:49.159 --> 00:25:49.659 one day, 00:25:50.199 --> 00:25:51.579 one day we will see 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.859 face to face. 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:55.199 One day we will actually be 00:25:55.199 --> 00:25:57.299 in an unmediated way, 00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:59.379 able to see 00:25:59.379 --> 00:26:01.079 the things that we most long for 00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:02.019 and most want. 00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:05.480 and in that we will have 00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:07.700 both the personal knowledge 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:09.559 and the complete knowledge, 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:11.779 the experiential knowledge 00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:14.680 of that which we long most to have, 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.859 which is God himself. 00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:19.180 And Paul then takes this 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.839 and he brings the principal home. 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:24.019 The end of verse 12 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.879 and in 13, 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:26.460 he says, 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:28.680 then I will know fully 00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:30.800 just as I 00:26:30.800 --> 00:26:32.800 am fully known. 00:26:33.540 --> 00:26:34.040 Friends, 00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:35.500 do you see what this verse is saying? 00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:36.680 He's saying, 00:26:36.860 --> 00:26:37.560 one day 00:26:37.560 --> 00:26:39.320 we will know 00:26:39.320 --> 00:26:40.620 everything about God 00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:42.320 that we need 00:26:42.320 --> 00:26:43.240 and want to know, 00:26:43.340 --> 00:26:44.220 that we are capable 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:44.840 of knowing. 00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:46.600 We will know everything 00:26:46.600 --> 00:26:48.040 about God. 00:26:50.040 --> 00:26:51.560 And you know what it's like? 00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:54.220 It's like how God knows us. 00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:56.679 It's like how the God 00:26:56.679 --> 00:26:57.240 who knows, 00:26:57.619 --> 00:26:58.659 who created the world 00:26:58.659 --> 00:26:59.759 and everything in it, 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:01.279 who knows our frame, 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:02.599 who knit together 00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:03.579 the atoms 00:27:03.579 --> 00:27:04.339 and the molecules 00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:05.700 and who breathed life 00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:06.480 into us, 00:27:06.839 --> 00:27:07.940 who knows every hair 00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:08.419 in our head, 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.720 who knows every thought 00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.579 and intention 00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:11.539 of the heart. 00:27:12.419 --> 00:27:13.859 God knows us 00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:15.019 that well. 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:16.899 Now. 00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:19.460 And he says, 00:27:19.540 --> 00:27:19.940 one day 00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:21.160 we will know God 00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:23.560 to the full extent 00:27:23.560 --> 00:27:24.360 of our capacity 00:27:24.360 --> 00:27:25.120 to do so. 00:27:25.300 --> 00:27:26.180 We will know God 00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:27.560 because we will see him 00:27:27.560 --> 00:27:28.780 face to face. 00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:30.060 There will no longer be 00:27:30.060 --> 00:27:31.360 an indistinction. 00:27:31.560 --> 00:27:32.380 There will no longer 00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:33.440 be a mediation. 00:27:33.820 --> 00:27:35.100 But we will actually 00:27:35.100 --> 00:27:35.880 see him. 00:27:39.540 --> 00:27:40.840 And this is why 00:27:40.840 --> 00:27:41.580 these gifts 00:27:41.580 --> 00:27:43.240 are temporary. 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.580 This is why 00:27:44.580 --> 00:27:45.160 these gifts 00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:46.519 are only for now 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.900 and not for eternal. 00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:48.819 This is why 00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.359 the gifts 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:50.619 are not worth 00:27:50.619 --> 00:27:51.960 building our identity 00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:52.879 and exalting 00:27:52.879 --> 00:27:53.859 and puffing ourselves 00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:54.680 up over. 00:27:57.879 --> 00:27:59.319 Because one day 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:00.480 they will pass away 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:02.139 and we will see 00:28:02.139 --> 00:28:03.579 our God 00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:05.240 face to face. 00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:10.319 And this, friends, 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:12.259 is why he turns 00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:13.200 at the end of the chapter 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:14.059 to this verse 00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:15.119 that is so well known. 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:16.699 faith, hope, 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:17.319 and love. 00:28:17.419 --> 00:28:18.659 These three abide 00:28:18.659 --> 00:28:20.119 or these three remain. 00:28:20.919 --> 00:28:21.659 But the greatest 00:28:21.659 --> 00:28:22.279 of these 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:22.899 is love. 00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:24.699 You know, 00:28:24.719 --> 00:28:25.279 it's funny when 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.439 we were talking about 00:28:26.439 --> 00:28:27.259 this last week 00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:27.919 with the pastors. 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:28.959 I said, 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:29.359 well, yeah, 00:28:29.459 --> 00:28:30.219 clearly because 00:28:30.219 --> 00:28:32.119 faith doesn't last. 00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:32.639 Right? 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:33.559 Because, 00:28:33.679 --> 00:28:34.459 as we see 00:28:34.459 --> 00:28:35.319 in Hebrews 1, 00:28:35.679 --> 00:28:36.319 faith is 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:38.000 seeing things 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:39.079 that we don't yet see 00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:40.399 and hoping for things 00:28:40.399 --> 00:28:41.119 that we have not, 00:28:41.219 --> 00:28:42.219 that have not yet 00:28:42.219 --> 00:28:42.899 come about. 00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:43.640 Right? 00:28:43.840 --> 00:28:44.620 And so faith 00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:45.060 and hope 00:28:45.060 --> 00:28:45.660 are inherently 00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.920 things of this age 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:48.120 just like the gifts 00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:48.920 and they're not 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:49.519 for the future. 00:28:49.580 --> 00:28:50.360 And that's what I thought. 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.420 And there's some 00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:53.540 validity to it 00:28:53.540 --> 00:28:54.440 in some sense 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.780 because Hebrews 1, 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.700 Hebrews 11, 00:28:56.820 --> 00:28:57.780 1 does say that 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:59.360 or Romans 8, 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.740 24 does talk 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:02.000 about the way 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.180 that hope 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:04.440 that is seen 00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:05.320 is not hope 00:29:05.320 --> 00:29:05.960 at all. 00:29:06.100 --> 00:29:06.980 It's knowledge. 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:08.000 It's something else. 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:10.559 But as I read 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:11.339 through this passage 00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:12.380 again and as I thought 00:29:12.380 --> 00:29:12.720 about it, 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.599 that's not actually 00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.500 Paul's point 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.380 in saying 00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:16.500 these three remain. 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.720 What he's going to 00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:20.660 is he's reminding 00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.339 the Corinthians 00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:22.720 of the very foundation 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.579 of their faith. 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:25.039 Faith, hope, 00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:25.559 and love 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:27.220 is almost shorthand 00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:27.940 for Paul 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:29.680 to the very core 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.900 of what it is 00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:31.779 to be a Christian. 00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:33.779 It is to believe 00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:35.240 that Jesus died 00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:35.900 on the cross 00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:36.640 for our sin 00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:37.960 and to entrust 00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:39.140 our eternal salvation 00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:39.700 to that. 00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:41.040 It is to hope 00:29:41.040 --> 00:29:42.420 that because of that 00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:44.640 we who have been 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:45.940 forgiven of our sin 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:47.100 will be raised 00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:48.820 to new and eternal life 00:29:48.820 --> 00:29:50.000 with Jesus 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:51.360 and that this life 00:29:51.360 --> 00:29:52.480 is not all there is 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.520 and we are not abandoned 00:29:53.520 --> 00:29:54.700 to the grave 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.500 but that Jesus 00:29:55.500 --> 00:29:56.920 will raise us with him. 00:29:57.420 --> 00:29:58.460 Faith, hope, and love 00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:59.120 and love 00:29:59.120 --> 00:30:00.340 which is the beginning 00:30:00.340 --> 00:30:00.980 and the end 00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:02.860 of this work of salvation. 00:30:03.540 --> 00:30:04.920 God who has loved us 00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:06.560 and God who has called us 00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:07.220 in love 00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:08.299 to love the world. 00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:10.119 This is the very core 00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:10.599 and he's saying 00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:12.599 these things remain. 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:13.639 Right? 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:14.759 The gifts, 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:15.679 they pass away. 00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:17.379 These things will remain. 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.259 If faith means 00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:20.399 a trusting in God, 00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.379 even in eternity, 00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:22.200 we will do this. 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.460 If hope means 00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:24.440 that the future 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:26.019 has a certainty 00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.980 of God's goodness, 00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:28.259 we will continue 00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:29.079 to believe that 00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:29.579 in heaven. 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:31.480 So he says, 00:30:31.639 --> 00:30:32.940 these things remain 00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:35.860 but the greatest 00:30:35.860 --> 00:30:36.559 of these 00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.539 is love. 00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.420 Think about it, 00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:41.799 friends, 00:30:42.340 --> 00:30:43.539 how wonderful 00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:44.299 this is. 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:47.400 What is the greatest 00:30:47.400 --> 00:30:48.120 commandment? 00:30:48.860 --> 00:30:49.980 To love the Lord 00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:50.440 your God 00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:51.299 with all your heart 00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:52.080 and all your mind 00:30:52.080 --> 00:30:52.759 and all your soul 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.580 and all your strength. 00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:55.200 And the second one 00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:55.860 is like it. 00:30:56.080 --> 00:30:57.400 To love your neighbor 00:30:57.400 --> 00:30:58.400 as yourself. 00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:00.860 Love is the very shape 00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:02.679 of our Christian life. 00:31:04.139 --> 00:31:05.839 Love is at the very center 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:07.199 of our salvation. 00:31:08.419 --> 00:31:09.500 Romans 5.8 00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:11.199 God demonstrated 00:31:11.199 --> 00:31:12.399 his love for us 00:31:12.399 --> 00:31:13.059 in this. 00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:15.099 While we were yet sinners, 00:31:16.099 --> 00:31:18.219 Christ died for us. 00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:22.699 Friends, 00:31:22.699 --> 00:31:26.419 we can fight hard 00:31:26.419 --> 00:31:27.859 against the mushiness 00:31:27.859 --> 00:31:30.099 and the sentimentality 00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:33.719 and the emptiness 00:31:33.719 --> 00:31:35.599 of air supply 00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:37.740 and the craziness 00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.639 of our culture 00:31:38.639 --> 00:31:40.359 in terms of what love 00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:41.099 really means. 00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:44.539 But let us not forsake 00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:46.059 the centrality of love 00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:47.240 in the kingdom of God. 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:50.579 God so loved the world 00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:51.579 that he gave 00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:52.859 his only son. 00:31:55.139 --> 00:31:56.379 That whoever believes in him 00:31:56.379 --> 00:31:57.279 should not perish 00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:59.180 but have eternal life. 00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:02.980 The work that God 00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:03.819 has done 00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:04.980 has been done 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.859 in love. 00:32:06.099 --> 00:32:07.180 It is an overflow 00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:09.819 of his fatherly care 00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:10.960 for his creation. 00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:12.579 It is the overflow 00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:14.740 of his kingly care 00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:16.579 for his people. 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:20.279 He has shown his love 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:22.639 by sending his son Jesus 00:32:22.639 --> 00:32:24.220 to die on that cross 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:26.200 and to rise from the dead 00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:27.480 so that we 00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:28.180 who were dead 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:28.799 in our sins 00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:29.840 who are alienated 00:32:29.840 --> 00:32:31.900 and outside of love 00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:33.660 can be brought in. 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:39.680 He has shown love 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.779 that is giving 00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:41.860 and love 00:32:41.860 --> 00:32:42.759 that is costly 00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:44.140 and love 00:32:44.140 --> 00:32:44.980 that is enduring 00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:46.700 to us 00:32:46.700 --> 00:32:47.819 in our salvation. 00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:50.080 The very things 00:32:50.080 --> 00:32:51.059 that we struggle 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:51.799 to do 00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:53.100 he has done 00:32:53.100 --> 00:32:53.940 for us 00:32:53.940 --> 00:32:55.580 in our salvation. 00:32:57.900 --> 00:32:58.680 But friends 00:32:58.680 --> 00:32:59.559 the greatest of these 00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:00.059 is love 00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:00.840 not only because 00:33:00.840 --> 00:33:01.640 it is the shape 00:33:01.640 --> 00:33:02.559 of the Christian life 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:03.759 not only because 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:05.720 it is the very engine 00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:06.840 of our salvation 00:33:06.840 --> 00:33:09.620 but because God 00:33:09.620 --> 00:33:10.220 himself 00:33:10.220 --> 00:33:11.259 is love. 00:33:12.140 --> 00:33:12.820 Have you ever thought 00:33:12.820 --> 00:33:13.400 about this? 00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:15.420 God is not faith. 00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:16.820 He is faithful 00:33:16.820 --> 00:33:18.180 but God himself 00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:19.140 is not faith. 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:20.820 Nor is God hope 00:33:20.820 --> 00:33:22.100 though he is trustworthy 00:33:22.100 --> 00:33:23.600 and dependable 00:33:23.600 --> 00:33:24.720 and sovereign 00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.519 and good. 00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:29.840 But the Bible says 00:33:29.840 --> 00:33:31.180 the Bible actually says 00:33:31.180 --> 00:33:32.060 that God is spirit 00:33:32.060 --> 00:33:32.920 God is light 00:33:32.920 --> 00:33:34.400 and God is love. 00:33:34.860 --> 00:33:36.140 Those are three things 00:33:36.140 --> 00:33:37.300 that says God is 00:33:37.300 --> 00:33:38.040 essentially. 00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:43.220 because God is love 00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:45.619 his steadfast love 00:33:45.619 --> 00:33:46.619 endures forever. 00:33:47.119 --> 00:33:48.299 Because God is love 00:33:48.299 --> 00:33:49.920 everything that he has done 00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:51.420 from the nature 00:33:51.420 --> 00:33:52.399 of his relationship 00:33:52.399 --> 00:33:53.440 within the Trinity 00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:54.759 before the creation 00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.519 of the world 00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:57.379 to the very act 00:33:57.379 --> 00:33:58.139 of creation 00:33:58.139 --> 00:33:59.720 to his patience 00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:01.139 with a fallen world 00:34:01.139 --> 00:34:02.059 that has rebelled 00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:03.059 and rejected him 00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:04.180 to his act 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:04.859 of salvation 00:34:04.859 --> 00:34:06.159 to reaching into it 00:34:06.159 --> 00:34:07.240 to his patient 00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:07.759 kindness 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:08.739 and not bringing 00:34:08.739 --> 00:34:09.340 justice 00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:10.980 and ending this world 00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:11.900 but continuing 00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:14.420 to endure 00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:15.380 and loving 00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:17.639 as he showed 00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:18.619 in the book of Hosea 00:34:18.619 --> 00:34:19.619 this love 00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:21.099 for a wayward people 00:34:21.099 --> 00:34:22.420 in a wayward world 00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.559 he has endured 00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:24.480 in his kindness 00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:25.780 so that he might 00:34:25.780 --> 00:34:26.579 save more 00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:27.340 so that he might 00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:28.519 do more good 00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:29.840 in this world 00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:31.699 and in his love 00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:32.300 he will come 00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:33.119 and make all things 00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:33.940 right one day 00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:34.940 and he will make 00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:35.920 all things new 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:37.440 and it will be beautiful 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:38.180 and it will be 00:34:38.180 --> 00:34:39.440 as it was meant to be 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:40.840 from the very beginning 00:34:40.840 --> 00:34:42.159 and in that day 00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:43.200 we will see him 00:34:43.200 --> 00:34:44.240 face to face 00:34:44.240 --> 00:34:46.059 and we will be changed 00:34:46.059 --> 00:34:47.920 we will see him 00:34:47.920 --> 00:34:48.940 face to face 00:34:48.940 --> 00:34:50.220 and we will no longer 00:34:50.220 --> 00:34:52.340 need the mediated gifts 00:34:52.340 --> 00:34:53.800 that God has given us 00:34:53.800 --> 00:34:54.280 now 00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:55.500 as we in part 00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:57.420 strive to know him more 00:34:57.420 --> 00:35:00.619 because we will be 00:35:00.619 --> 00:35:01.639 in his presence 00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:03.339 and we will see him 00:35:03.339 --> 00:35:04.159 and know him 00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:05.639 as the God of love 00:35:05.639 --> 00:35:07.359 and our hearts 00:35:07.359 --> 00:35:08.319 having been redeemed 00:35:08.319 --> 00:35:08.920 by Christ 00:35:08.920 --> 00:35:09.879 will respond 00:35:09.879 --> 00:35:11.539 in heartfelt 00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:13.319 overflowing 00:35:13.319 --> 00:35:15.219 loving devotion 00:35:15.219 --> 00:35:16.420 and worship 00:35:16.420 --> 00:35:17.159 to him 00:35:17.159 --> 00:35:23.000 this is how we can endure 00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:26.039 in loving others 00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:28.259 because this is the kind 00:35:28.259 --> 00:35:28.820 of God 00:35:28.820 --> 00:35:29.779 that we know 00:35:29.779 --> 00:35:32.199 because he has shown us 00:35:32.199 --> 00:35:33.659 what it looks like 00:35:33.659 --> 00:35:35.480 and because he has given us 00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:36.759 his love 00:35:36.759 --> 00:35:38.199 with which to love 00:35:38.199 --> 00:35:39.500 one another 00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:44.440 there is nothing 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:46.779 that you can do 00:35:46.779 --> 00:35:50.179 that will have greater purpose 00:35:50.179 --> 00:35:51.000 and significance 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:53.759 than pursuing a life 00:35:53.760 --> 00:35:55.580 of loving others 00:35:55.580 --> 00:35:58.220 for the sake of Christ 00:35:58.220 --> 00:36:00.960 there is no gifting 00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:02.360 that you can exercise 00:36:02.360 --> 00:36:04.140 there is no success 00:36:04.140 --> 00:36:04.880 or achievement 00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:06.040 you will accomplish 00:36:06.040 --> 00:36:08.520 there is no version 00:36:08.520 --> 00:36:09.860 of perfection 00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:11.580 that you think you 00:36:11.580 --> 00:36:12.540 will bring about 00:36:12.540 --> 00:36:13.500 in this life 00:36:13.500 --> 00:36:16.840 there is no duty 00:36:16.840 --> 00:36:18.120 that you can perform 00:36:18.120 --> 00:36:20.900 there is no romantic 00:36:20.900 --> 00:36:22.180 high to chase 00:36:22.179 --> 00:36:24.299 or chest heaving moment 00:36:24.299 --> 00:36:25.539 to grasp for 00:36:25.539 --> 00:36:30.460 that will have 00:36:30.460 --> 00:36:32.699 any weight 00:36:32.699 --> 00:36:34.199 compared to pursuing 00:36:34.199 --> 00:36:36.359 a life of loving 00:36:36.359 --> 00:36:37.919 for the sake 00:36:37.919 --> 00:36:39.299 of Jesus Christ 00:36:39.299 --> 00:36:40.940 friends 00:36:40.940 --> 00:36:42.440 this is what he calls us to 00:36:42.440 --> 00:36:45.299 and you know 00:36:45.299 --> 00:36:47.419 in light of the events 00:36:47.419 --> 00:36:48.379 of the past week 00:36:48.379 --> 00:36:49.599 and the media 00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:51.119 there are some 00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:51.799 who say 00:36:51.799 --> 00:36:53.839 well gosh 00:36:53.839 --> 00:36:54.380 the church 00:36:54.380 --> 00:36:54.980 doesn't look 00:36:54.980 --> 00:36:55.719 very loving 00:36:55.719 --> 00:36:58.039 friends 00:36:58.039 --> 00:36:58.839 let us 00:36:58.839 --> 00:37:01.199 live such 00:37:01.199 --> 00:37:02.279 good lives 00:37:02.279 --> 00:37:03.900 such lives 00:37:03.900 --> 00:37:04.679 of love 00:37:04.679 --> 00:37:06.299 among the Gentiles 00:37:06.299 --> 00:37:07.119 that though 00:37:07.119 --> 00:37:08.159 they may hate 00:37:08.159 --> 00:37:09.539 what we believe 00:37:09.539 --> 00:37:10.380 and what we 00:37:10.380 --> 00:37:11.400 stand for 00:37:11.400 --> 00:37:12.819 they will see 00:37:12.819 --> 00:37:13.400 the love 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:14.219 in our hearts 00:37:14.219 --> 00:37:16.239 and they will glorify 00:37:16.239 --> 00:37:16.639 Jesus 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:17.960 on that last day 00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:20.960 friends 00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:21.440 let us 00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:22.220 outdo 00:37:22.220 --> 00:37:23.159 one another 00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:24.280 in love 00:37:24.280 --> 00:37:28.199 let us 00:37:28.199 --> 00:37:28.679 think about 00:37:28.679 --> 00:37:29.380 how we can be 00:37:29.380 --> 00:37:29.780 tender 00:37:29.780 --> 00:37:31.500 and how we can 00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:32.220 be truthful 00:37:32.220 --> 00:37:34.059 and how we can 00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:34.440 be 00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:36.000 patiently 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:36.740 enduring 00:37:36.740 --> 00:37:37.840 tenacious 00:37:37.840 --> 00:37:38.880 in our love 00:37:38.880 --> 00:37:43.900 let us 00:37:43.900 --> 00:37:44.280 do that 00:37:44.280 --> 00:37:44.860 as we gather 00:37:44.860 --> 00:37:45.500 together 00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:46.679 today 00:37:46.679 --> 00:37:48.539 think about 00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:49.639 who is it 00:37:49.639 --> 00:37:50.199 that you 00:37:50.199 --> 00:37:51.960 need to 00:37:51.960 --> 00:37:52.500 persevere 00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:53.119 in love 00:37:53.119 --> 00:37:54.239 this morning 00:37:54.239 --> 00:37:55.699 who has 00:37:55.699 --> 00:37:56.380 hurt you 00:37:56.380 --> 00:37:57.920 who is 00:37:57.920 --> 00:37:59.320 hard for you 00:37:59.320 --> 00:38:00.239 to love 00:38:00.239 --> 00:38:01.239 who have you 00:38:01.239 --> 00:38:02.280 given up on 00:38:02.280 --> 00:38:03.780 in love 00:38:03.780 --> 00:38:15.460 writer 00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:15.860 john 00:38:15.860 --> 00:38:16.280 puts it 00:38:16.280 --> 00:38:16.780 this way 00:38:16.780 --> 00:38:17.380 beloved 00:38:17.380 --> 00:38:17.880 let us 00:38:17.880 --> 00:38:18.260 love 00:38:18.260 --> 00:38:18.460 one 00:38:18.460 --> 00:38:18.860 another 00:38:18.860 --> 00:38:19.560 for love 00:38:19.560 --> 00:38:19.840 is of 00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:20.160 god 00:38:20.160 --> 00:38:21.360 and 00:38:21.360 --> 00:38:21.580 whoever 00:38:21.580 --> 00:38:22.200 loves 00:38:22.200 --> 00:38:22.640 has been 00:38:22.640 --> 00:38:22.920 born 00:38:22.920 --> 00:38:23.480 of god 00:38:23.480 --> 00:38:24.140 and 00:38:24.140 --> 00:38:24.480 knows 00:38:24.480 --> 00:38:24.900 god 00:38:24.900 --> 00:38:25.960 anyone 00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:26.400 who does 00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:26.620 not 00:38:26.620 --> 00:38:26.920 love 00:38:26.920 --> 00:38:27.160 does 00:38:27.160 --> 00:38:27.400 not 00:38:27.400 --> 00:38:27.620 know 00:38:27.620 --> 00:38:28.080 god 00:38:28.080 --> 00:38:28.760 because 00:38:28.760 --> 00:38:29.100 god 00:38:29.100 --> 00:38:29.380 is 00:38:29.380 --> 00:38:29.820 love 00:38:29.820 --> 00:38:31.060 in 00:38:31.060 --> 00:38:31.360 this 00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:31.740 love 00:38:31.740 --> 00:38:31.900 of 00:38:31.900 --> 00:38:32.140 god 00:38:32.140 --> 00:38:32.340 was 00:38:32.340 --> 00:38:32.600 made 00:38:32.600 --> 00:38:33.120 manifest 00:38:33.120 --> 00:38:33.460 among 00:38:33.460 --> 00:38:33.700 us 00:38:33.699 --> 00:38:34.419 that god 00:38:34.419 --> 00:38:35.000 sent his 00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:35.599 only son 00:38:35.599 --> 00:38:36.039 into the 00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:36.299 world 00:38:36.299 --> 00:38:36.699 so that 00:38:36.699 --> 00:38:37.000 we 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:37.359 might 00:38:37.359 --> 00:38:37.980 live 00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:38.339 through 00:38:38.339 --> 00:38:38.779 him 00:38:38.779 --> 00:38:40.359 in 00:38:40.359 --> 00:38:40.739 this 00:38:40.739 --> 00:38:40.939 is 00:38:40.939 --> 00:38:41.299 love 00:38:41.299 --> 00:38:41.579 not 00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:41.779 that 00:38:41.779 --> 00:38:42.000 we 00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:42.179 have 00:38:42.179 --> 00:38:42.419 loved 00:38:42.419 --> 00:38:43.000 god 00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:43.699 but 00:38:43.699 --> 00:38:43.899 that 00:38:43.899 --> 00:38:44.239 he 00:38:44.239 --> 00:38:44.659 loved 00:38:44.659 --> 00:38:45.000 us 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:45.159 and 00:38:45.159 --> 00:38:45.379 sent 00:38:45.379 --> 00:38:45.619 his 00:38:45.619 --> 00:38:46.000 son 00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:46.819 to be 00:38:46.819 --> 00:38:46.980 the 00:38:46.980 --> 00:38:47.679 propitiation 00:38:47.679 --> 00:38:48.000 for 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:48.339 our 00:38:48.339 --> 00:38:48.759 sins 00:38:48.759 --> 00:38:49.539 beloved 00:38:49.539 --> 00:38:49.799 if 00:38:49.799 --> 00:38:50.219 god 00:38:50.219 --> 00:38:50.719 so 00:38:50.719 --> 00:38:51.219 loved 00:38:51.219 --> 00:38:51.679 us 00:38:51.679 --> 00:38:53.339 we 00:38:53.339 --> 00:38:53.739 also 00:38:53.739 --> 00:38:54.059 ought 00:38:54.059 --> 00:38:54.279 to 00:38:54.279 --> 00:38:54.719 love 00:38:54.719 --> 00:38:55.059 one 00:38:55.059 --> 00:38:55.460 another 00:38:55.460 --> 00:38:56.859 no 00:38:56.859 --> 00:38:57.119 one 00:38:57.119 --> 00:38:57.399 has 00:38:57.399 --> 00:38:57.819 seen 00:38:57.819 --> 00:38:58.219 has 00:38:58.219 --> 00:38:58.519 ever 00:38:58.519 --> 00:38:58.899 seen 00:38:58.899 --> 00:38:59.379 god 00:38:59.379 --> 00:39:00.339 if 00:39:00.339 --> 00:39:00.500 we 00:39:00.500 --> 00:39:00.859 love 00:39:00.859 --> 00:39:01.079 one 00:39:01.079 --> 00:39:01.439 another 00:39:01.439 --> 00:39:01.859 god 00:39:01.859 --> 00:39:02.439 abides 00:39:02.439 --> 00:39:02.719 in 00:39:02.719 --> 00:39:03.119 us 00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:04.159 and his 00:39:04.159 --> 00:39:04.759 love 00:39:04.759 --> 00:39:06.579 is perfected 00:39:06.579 --> 00:39:07.279 in us 00:39:07.279 --> 00:39:09.460 first john 00:39:09.460 --> 00:39:10.599 chapter 4 00:39:10.599 --> 00:39:11.819 verses 7 00:39:11.819 --> 00:39:12.420 through 12 00:39:12.420 --> 00:39:13.839 let's pray 00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:22.800 lord as 00:39:22.800 --> 00:39:23.280 we listen 00:39:23.280 --> 00:39:23.720 to this 00:39:23.720 --> 00:39:24.160 text 00:39:24.160 --> 00:39:24.680 we are 00:39:24.680 --> 00:39:25.700 convicted 00:39:25.700 --> 00:39:27.740 of how 00:39:27.740 --> 00:39:29.620 unstable 00:39:29.620 --> 00:39:31.380 how 00:39:31.380 --> 00:39:32.960 wavering 00:39:32.960 --> 00:39:34.019 how 00:39:34.019 --> 00:39:35.160 inconstant 00:39:35.160 --> 00:39:36.100 our love 00:39:36.100 --> 00:39:36.720 can be 00:39:36.720 --> 00:39:38.640 though we 00:39:38.640 --> 00:39:39.340 may rise 00:39:39.340 --> 00:39:40.160 to occasions 00:39:40.160 --> 00:39:40.960 in heroic 00:39:40.960 --> 00:39:42.380 action 00:39:42.380 --> 00:39:43.740 lord how 00:39:43.740 --> 00:39:44.260 hard it 00:39:44.260 --> 00:39:44.619 is for 00:39:44.619 --> 00:39:44.980 us to 00:39:44.980 --> 00:39:45.420 love 00:39:45.420 --> 00:39:47.260 over 00:39:47.260 --> 00:39:48.059 and over 00:39:48.059 --> 00:39:48.740 and over 00:39:48.740 --> 00:39:49.200 again 00:39:49.200 --> 00:39:50.880 how 00:39:50.880 --> 00:39:51.300 hard it 00:39:51.300 --> 00:39:51.660 is for 00:39:51.660 --> 00:39:51.980 us to 00:39:51.980 --> 00:39:52.519 die to 00:39:52.519 --> 00:39:53.019 self 00:39:53.019 --> 00:39:54.660 and to 00:39:54.660 --> 00:39:55.280 all the 00:39:55.280 --> 00:39:55.780 things that 00:39:55.780 --> 00:39:56.360 come to 00:39:56.360 --> 00:39:56.880 our ego 00:39:56.880 --> 00:39:57.700 and to 00:39:57.700 --> 00:39:58.019 our 00:39:58.019 --> 00:40:00.039 self 00:40:00.039 --> 00:40:00.780 understanding 00:40:00.780 --> 00:40:03.800 or to 00:40:03.800 --> 00:40:04.420 die to 00:40:04.420 --> 00:40:05.220 those things 00:40:05.220 --> 00:40:05.960 so that we 00:40:05.960 --> 00:40:06.940 might truly 00:40:06.940 --> 00:40:07.539 love 00:40:07.539 --> 00:40:09.140 others for 00:40:09.140 --> 00:40:09.840 your sake 00:40:09.840 --> 00:40:11.860 to seek 00:40:11.860 --> 00:40:12.600 their good 00:40:12.600 --> 00:40:13.420 as you 00:40:13.420 --> 00:40:14.400 define it 00:40:14.400 --> 00:40:18.059 lord we 00:40:18.059 --> 00:40:18.760 confess as 00:40:18.760 --> 00:40:19.140 well that 00:40:19.140 --> 00:40:19.360 there are 00:40:19.360 --> 00:40:19.900 times when 00:40:19.900 --> 00:40:20.200 we are 00:40:20.200 --> 00:40:21.079 confused 00:40:21.079 --> 00:40:23.620 uncertain as 00:40:23.620 --> 00:40:24.100 to how to 00:40:24.100 --> 00:40:24.620 do that 00:40:24.620 --> 00:40:25.740 lord we 00:40:25.740 --> 00:40:26.300 praise you 00:40:26.300 --> 00:40:26.660 that you 00:40:26.660 --> 00:40:26.980 are the 00:40:26.980 --> 00:40:27.340 god of 00:40:27.340 --> 00:40:27.840 love who 00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:28.280 will help 00:40:28.280 --> 00:40:28.600 us in 00:40:28.600 --> 00:40:28.820 those 00:40:28.820 --> 00:40:29.320 moments 00:40:29.320 --> 00:40:32.720 oh lord 00:40:32.720 --> 00:40:33.760 have mercy 00:40:33.760 --> 00:40:34.400 on us 00:40:34.400 --> 00:40:35.780 and lord 00:40:35.780 --> 00:40:36.600 minister to 00:40:36.600 --> 00:40:37.059 us a 00:40:37.059 --> 00:40:37.620 knowledge of 00:40:37.619 --> 00:40:38.239 your love 00:40:38.239 --> 00:40:38.699 so that 00:40:38.699 --> 00:40:39.299 we may 00:40:39.299 --> 00:40:40.319 in turn 00:40:40.319 --> 00:40:41.539 be people 00:40:41.539 --> 00:40:42.179 of love 00:40:42.179 --> 00:40:43.819 because love 00:40:43.819 --> 00:40:44.819 is forever 00:40:44.819 --> 00:40:48.400 we pray this 00:40:48.400 --> 00:40:49.219 in jesus name 00:40:49.219 --> 00:40:50.420 amen