The Necessity of Love (I Corinthians 13:1-3)

(Class Notes)

• The Excellency of Love (I Corinthians 12:31)
  • The reason WHY LOVE is "the MORE EXCELLENT WAY" (I Corinthians 12:31) is that it does NOT "PUFFETH UP" SELF, BUT rather it does "edifieth (BUILDETH UP)" OTHERS (I Corinthians 8:1)

• Without Love - We are a LOUD NOISE (I Corinthians 13:1)
  • Whether speaking with the earthly tongues of men (Acts 2:3-8) or with the heavenly utterances of angels (Luke 2:13-14) - WITHOUT LOVE it simply produces a HOLLOW SOUND (I Corinthians 13:1)
    • If one spoke in an UNKNOWN tongue - it did NOT edify anyone, BUT the speaker (I Corinthians 14:4)
    • However, if there was also one who could INTERPRET then ALL were edified (I Corinthians 14:5) - this required two persons working TOGETHER (I Corinthians 12:10) in "the MORE EXCELLENT WAY" of LOVE (I Corinthians 12:31)

• Without Love - We are NOTHING (I Corinthians 13:2-3)
  • Balaam had the GIFT OF PROPHECY (I Corinthians 13:2), but abused it for PERSONAL GAIN (II Peter 2:15-16) and brought the JUDGMENT OF GOD upon himself (Numbers 31:8) and his people (Numbers 31:16)
  • It is NOT WHAT we give, BUT HOW we give (I Corinthians 13:3 cf. II Corinthians 9:7)
    • If we FIRST give OURSELVES to the Lord, THEN we will give JOYFULLY to OTHERS (II Corinthians 8:1-5 cf. Philippians 4:15-18)
    • Our GRACIOUS LORD (II Corinthians 8:9) is ever the LOVING EXAMPLE for His people (II Corinthians 5:14-15)
  • Whatever one does - WITHOUT LOVE it's JUST NOT WORTH IT (Galatians 5:13-14 cf. Romans 13:8-10)

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