The local church in Corinth was in serious trouble. Sad to say, the problems did not stay within the church family; they were known by the unbelievers outside the church.
To begin with, the church at Corinth was a defiled church. Some of its members were guilty of sexual immorality; others got drunk; still others were using the grace of God to excuse worldly living. It was also a divided church, with at least four different groups competing for leadership (1 Cor. 1:12). This meant it was a disgraced church. Instead of glorifying God, it was hindering the progress of the Gospel.
In every chapter of this epistle we find the apostle Paul correcting the church either in doctrine or practice. In chapter twelve Paul corrected their misunderstanding of spiritual gifts. In the final verse of chapter 12 he tells them that he will show them "a more excellent way".
The more 'excellent way' is the way of charity or love. The Greek word Paul uses here is 'agape' which speaks of unselfish and unconditional love for others. Chapter thirteen has become known as the 'great love chapter' of the Bible. Our text for the message this morning is found in verse thirteen.
(1 Cor 13:13) "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
Paul gives us what I believe are three virtues that sum up what it is to be a Christian. Let's take a closer look at them this morning.
I. The Necessity of Faith cf Hebrews 11:1
(Heb 11:1) "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
A. Faith is indispensable to us.
1. The Bible declares that without faith it is impossible to please God.
2. We are saved by grace through faith.
3. We are instructed to live by faith and to walk in faith.
4. In other words…we cannot be a Christian without faith!
B. Faith is not just believing.
1. Faith involves believing and acting upon that belief.
2. In chapter eleven of Hebrews we have one account after another of people who expressed their faith in God by obedience to His Word.
C. Faith is taking God at His Word …believing what He said is true.
1. What He said about salvation…
(Rom 10:9-10) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. {10} For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
2. What He said about eternal security.
(John 10:28) "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
3. What He said about heaven.
(John 14:1-3) "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. {2} In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
4. What He said about hell.
(Luke 12:5) "But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him."
II. The Importance of Hope…
(Rom 15:13) "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."
A. Hope is confident expectation.
1. The Biblical concept of hope is much different that the way many of us use the word today
2. We might talk about hoping it might not rain…but we realize that it probably will.
3. We are certainly not confident that it won't.
B. The difference between faith and hope.
1. Faith believes that God can do…
2. Hope believes that God will do…
3. It is one thing for us to have faith that God can meet our every need.
4. It is another to believe that He will!
C. What should we be hoping for?
1. We should be hoping for Jesus to return soon.
(1 John 3:2-3) "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. {3} And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."
2. We should be hoping that our prayers are answered.
(Phil 4:19) "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
3. We should be hoping for results from our witness.
(2 Pet 3:9b) "The Lord is … not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
4. Without hope there is despair.
III. The Greatness of Love
(1 Cor 13:13) "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
A. Why is charity or love greater than faith and hope?
1. It is the only one that will last forever.
2. Faith will not last (remember it is the evidence of things unseen), but when we get to heaven our faith will be turned to sight.
3. Hope is confident expectation, but when we are with the Lord all our hopes will be realized.
4. The only one that will continue on is love…we will love the Lord throughout all eternity!
B. Jesus referred to love as the greatest commandment of all.
(Mat 22:36-40) "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? {37} Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. {38} This is the first and great commandment. {39} And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. {40} On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
C. We should love…
1. The Lord
2. The Brethren (other Christians)
3. And those who are lost.
4. Only then will we communicate God's love to this lost and dying world.
(John 13:35) "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
(1 John 3:14) "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."
We cannot love others until we have personally known the love of God. Do you know the Lord today? Have you come to Him for salvation? He loves us so much that He gave His Son, Jesus, to die in our place so that we might have eternal life. Why not come to Him today?
Christians, are we accurately representing our Lord to this lost and dying world in which we live? Through our faith, our hope, and our love? Do we need to come and spend some time with Him today getting things right? Why not come now.