Read 1 Corinthians 12:28-14:1.

Introduction⤒🔗

After accompanying his mother through a stay at the hospital, an editor for the newspaper, USA Today, was amazed by the “miracles” of modern medicine; but he was disheartened to find a missing factor.

On the one hand, he found that the hospital was able to perform the medical procedures that just a few years ago were the stuff of science fiction. But on the other hand, he found that the hospital provided the kind of personal care you would not even accept from “the cheapest motel.” The highly skilled hospital staff was able to perform medical wonders, but their insensitive treatment often left the man’s poor mother in tears.¹

What this newspaper editor discovered was that in the midst of medical marvels the missing factor was tender, personal care; in a word, love. What the editor encountered at the large city hospital is similar to the situation that prevailed in the Corinthian church. Here was a congregation that was rich in spiritual gifts and spiritual experiences, but lacking in love. In the midst of a dynamic, miracle-minded congregation there was a missing factor: Christian love.

Although we should be interested in all the gifts and graces Christ has bestowed upon His church, our greatest concern should be the practice of Christian love. Because love is the greatest of all Christian graces, we are commanded to follow the way of love.

Let Us Follow the Way of Love, Because Love is Superior to Every Other Grace←⤒🔗

In verse twenty-eight, Paul presents some of the offices and gifts Christ has bestowed upon His church. Of first priority were the apostles; they were eyewitnesses of the risen Lord and were entrusted with the New Testament revelation. Speaking of himself and his fellow apostles, Paul declares, “men ought to view us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor. 4:1). Ranking second in terms of importance were the prophets. Prior to the completion of the New Testament canon, the prophets served a vital ministry in the church. They bore witness to the apostolic writings; as noted previously, in 1 Corinthians 14:37 Paul appeals to the prophets within the Corinthian church to verify the fact that he is communicating the very word of Christ: “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.” The New Testament prophets also, no doubt, played a vital role in interpreting the apostolic writings; whereas today, with the completed canon of Scripture, we live under the principle that one portion of Scripture serves to interpret another portion.

Ranking third in order of importance to the life and ministry of the church were the teachers. Their function, then as today, is to instruct the church in the Scriptures and prepare the church for active service to Christ and to one another in Christ’s name. Note Ephesians 4:11-12, “[Christ]...gave...some to be pastors and teachers, ¹²to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Next, Paul mentions “those who perform miracles;” this was the working of miracles that bore a unique and powerful witness to the truth of the gospel; note Hebrews 2:3b-4, “This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. ⁴God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” The apostle then completes the listing of spiritual gifts by including: “[those with] gifts of healing, [those with gifts for] helping [others, those with the gift of] leadership, [those with the gift of speaking in] tongues.”

In verses 29-30, Paul points out that not every Christian has the same gifts or is called to the same office. Note that there is not only a diversity of gifts, there is also a hierarchy of gifts, as is evidenced from the apostle’s ranking of the gifts in terms of importance for the life of the church: “first...apostles, second...prophets,” etc. The fact that there is a hierarchy of spiritual gifts gives rise to the potential for envy and jealousy on the one hand, and pride and arrogance on the other; if two things are not appreciated. First, it must be understood that all of the gifts and offices and each of them are sovereignly bestowed by the Holy Spirit: “Now the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the common good... ¹¹the one and the same Spirit does all these things, distributing gifts to each one individually just as he desires” (1 Cor. 12:7,11). Second, we must realize that love is superior to all of the gifts and offices; this is the truth the apostle will develop throughout this present passage of 1 Corinthians.

In verse thirty-one, without disparaging any of the gifts, (because they all come from God), Paul finds it necessary to exhort the Corinthians to “earnestly desire the greater gifts;” the gifts that are more fundamental and more universally useful. The Greek term, ζriλοω, translated, “desire,” has the meaning, “to be deeply concerned about something; to show a great interest in something;” in other words, to truly appreciate something. The Corinthians had exhibited an undue fascination with some of the lesser gifts, especially the gift of speaking in tongues. The apostle will address this matter in detail in chapter 14; note especially 1 Corinthians 14:4-5,

The one who speaks in a tongue is edifying himself. But the one who prophesies is edifying the church. ⁵Now I wish that all of you could speak in tongues; but more than that, [I wish that all of you] could prophesy. The one who prophesies is [of] greater [value] than the one who speaks in a tongue, (unless he is able to interpret), so that the church may be edified.

Note: We must once again bear in mind that the Greek word, γλωσσα, often translated, “tongues,” is the Greek word for “language.”

Beyond his concern that the church should have a properly balanced appreciation for the gifts of the Spirit, the apostle desires the church to pursue the best course: to follow the way of love. Note: Even though he may not possess the particular gifts or offices he personally finds most attractive or desirable, every Christian can and should pursue the way of love and cultivate that spiritual fruit. Because love is a fruit of the Spirit (cf. Gal. 5:22-23), and not a spiritual gift, love is something every Christian possesses from the Spirit and which he can and must cultivate by the Spirit. Thus, the way of love, the way that is most valuable to the church and most pleasing to the Lord, is available as a way for any and every Christian to walk.

In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, the Apostle Paul explains the superiority and the indispensability of love. Love is superior to the ability to speak in tongues (vs. 1). No matter how great it may be, “if I speak in the tongues [or, languages] of men and of angels,” the gift of speaking in tongues is insufficient and intensely irksome, (it is compared to a clanging cymbal), if it is employed apart from love. Love is superior to prophecy (vs. 2). Even in their greatest manifestation, the gifts of prophecy, knowledge, and faith are insufficient when exercised in the absence of love.

Even the greatest acts of self-sacrifice, if done from any motive other than love, are of no personal benefit (vs. 3). The apostle makes us aware that even great acts of self-sacrifice may originate from unholy motives, such as a futile effort to earn one’s own salvation, or an effort to gain the praise of men, something against which the Lord Jesus warned: “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full” (Matt. 6:2). It should be noted that in verses 1-3 Paul is speaking in the most emphatic, even hyperbolic, terms in order to emphasize the supreme significance of Christian love.

Let us follow the way of love, because love is superior to every other grace. God desires that all good deeds be performed from the motivation of love, and that all spiritual gifts be exercised in the spirit of love. This is His desire because self-giving love is the summation of the law:

⁸Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. ⁹The commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not covet, and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule, Love your neighbor as yourself. ¹⁰Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. Rom. 13:8-10

Furthermore, self-giving love is an expression of the very nature of God Himself:

⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 Jn. 4:8-10

Let Us Follow the Way of Love, Because Love is Eternal←⤒🔗

In 1 Corinthians 13:8, the apostle defines love as being durable and lasting: “love never fails.” He literally writes, love never “falls” (πιπτω). That is to say, love is abiding and eternal.

In its quality of being durable and eternal, love is contrasted with the spiritual gifts, especially the gifts of speaking in tongues, prophecy, and knowledge. The common characteristic of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge is the fact that they are all temporary: “If there are prophecies, they will pass away. If there are tongues, they will cease. If there is knowledge, it will pass away” (vs. 8). These particular gifts served a significant function, especially during the formative period of the church, but they certainly do not continue to operate beyond the end of church history and into the eternal state.

The apostle’s point is that the spiritual gifts, (especially those mentioned in verse eight), are temporary due to the fact that they operate within and belong to this present age, which is characterized by the partial and incomplete and is itself passing away: “[at present], our knowledge is partial and our prophesying is [only] a partial [communication of future things].” Quantitatively, our knowledge is incomplete, it is not exhaustive and all-comprehensive; note 1 Corinthians 8:2, “If anyone thinks that he knows anything exhaustively, he does not yet know as he ought to know.” Qualitatively, at present there is a measure of obscurity concerning spiritual things: “at present we see an obscure image in a mirror, but then we will see face to face” (vs. 12). The ancient mirror was a piece of polished brass and the reflected image was very obscure.

But all this does not mean that our present spiritual knowledge is inaccurate or defective; it is divine revelation, but it is not yet complete or exhaustive revelation: “when the perfect has come, the partial shall pass away.” “The perfect [age]” is the eternal state ushered in by the return of Christ in glory, note 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now we are children of God, but what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

In verse eleven, Paul goes on to illustrate the point he has been making: “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; but when I became a man, I set aside childish ways.” Just as the attitudes that belong to childhood are left behind when we attain adulthood; so, likewise, spiritual gifts, which belong to this present age, will be done away with when the eternal state arrives. In the eternal state we will no longer need the gift of speaking in tongues, (or, different languages), the gift of prophecy, or words of knowledge, because we will all see God face to face and receive His revelation directly. As the LORD promises through the prophet Jeremiah, “No longer shall each man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them” (Jer. 31:34).

In contrast to the spiritual gifts and offices that are temporary, the apostle presents three abiding (eternal) spiritual attributes (vs. 13). The first of these is “faith;” faith in the sense of confident, child­like dependence: we shall have faith in God our Father for all of eternity, indeed, we shall come to trust Him completely and perfectly. The second is “hope;” hope in the sense of confident expectation: we shall always anticipate and receive more new blessings from our God and Father who is the infinite Creator, whose “greatness is unsearchable” (Psl. 145:3). The third is “love;” this is the greatest of the three spiritual attributes because it is the very essence and ultimate expression of God’s divine nature: “God is love” (1 Jn. 4:16b).

Let us follow the way of love, because love is eternal.

Let Us Follow the Way of Love, As Love is Defined in I Corinthians 13:4-7←⤒🔗

In verses 4-7 Paul is literally describing “the love” (vs. 4). That is to say, love in its true, pure form, love as it is revealed in the person and life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Consequently, we may look at the life of the Lord Jesus to see illustrated a working definition of the various elements of love mentioned by the apostle here in 1 Corinthians 13.

“Love is patient” (or, “long suffering”). Speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, the writer of Hebrews exhorts us, “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men” (Heb. 12:3). The Apostle Peter reminds us, “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Pet. 2:23).

“Love is kind.” The kindness of our Lord Jesus is witnessed in His reception of the little children who were being brought to Him:

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them... ¹⁶And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.Mk. 10:13-14,16

Another example of His kindness, expressed in loving condescension, is His putting Himself at the disposal of the blind beggar, Bartimaeus:

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus, (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. ⁴⁷When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! ⁴⁸Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me! ⁴⁹Jesus stopped and said, Call him. So they called to the blind man, Cheer up! On your feet! He is calling you. ⁵⁰Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. ⁵¹What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asked him. The blind man said, Rabbi, I want to see. ⁵²Go, said Jesus, your faith has healed you. Immediately, he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Mk. 10:46-52

“Love does not envy.” Love does not harbor ill will and enmity against those who enjoy privileges and possessions we ourselves may lack; likewise, love does not exhibit the attitude of wanting to selfishly clutch what we possess and refusing to share it with anyone else. Jesus demonstrates such love when He testifies to His disciples, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (Jn. 15:15). Far from selfishly clutching to His divine possessions, He lovingly shares all He is and has with those who believe in Him and become His disciples.

“Love does not boast.” Love does not entertain the attitude of superiority and aloofness. The Lord Jesus, as the eternal Son of God, equal with the Father, did not stand aloof from His people; on the contrary, in His incarnation He willing assumed our humanity: “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil.” (Heb. 2:11,14)

“Love is not arrogant.” Love does not display an expression of superiority, because it does not entertain such an attitude. We witness our Lord’s self-abasing condescension exhibited in the incident of His washing His disciples’ feet: “[Jesus] got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (Jn. 13:4-5). In so doing, Jesus was performing a task reserved for the lowliest of household servants; but out of love, He assumed such a role for His disciples and for our salvation.

“Love is not rude,” (or, “Love does not behave in a dishonorable manner”). Love does not behave improperly: it does not behave in a way that is rude or shameful; rather, it conducts itself in a holy, godly, dignified manner; it conducts itself in a gracious and reverent manner. Our Lord Jesus Christ displayed this attribute of love in His response to the way in which He was mistreated at His trial. He did not lash out at the offender, nor did He respond in kind; in a dignified manner, He confronted the offender with the truth:

The high priest asked Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. ²⁰Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and in private I spoke nothing [different]. ²¹Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I spoke to them; look, they know what I said. ²²When he had said this, one of the servants who was standing nearby, struck Jesus with his hand, saying, Do you answer the high priest in this way? ²³Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, testify concerning the evil; but if I have spoken the truth, why do you strike me?Jn. 18:19-23

“Love is not self-seeking.” Love does not seek to have its own way or seek its own self-interests; it does not pursue its own personal agenda, because it does not have such an agenda. The Apostle Paul testifies of this attribute exhibited in the life of the Lord Jesus when he exhorts us, “Have this mind in you that was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶[although] existing in the form of God, he did not consider the being on an equality with God a thing to be exploited; ⁷on the contrary, he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant” (Phil. 2:5-7).

Although He shared in the deity of God the Father, our Lord Jesus did not view His divine prerogative as something to be selfishly clutched for His own personal benefit. Love, the epitome of which is found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, does not pursue its own personal agenda because it does not have such an agenda. Jesus’ sole agenda was to please His Father by accomplishing the Father’s will: “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, Sit here while I go over there and pray... ³⁹Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matt. 26:36,39)

“Love is not easily angered,” (or, “Love is not provoked.”) Our Lord Jesus Christ displayed this attribute of love in His refusal to lose His temper when He was abused at His trial before the Sanhedrin: “they spat in his face and beat him; and others struck [him] with the palms of their hands, ⁶⁸saying, Prophesy to us, O, Christ! Who is the one that struck you?” (Matt. 26:67-68; Mk. 14:65) The Evangelists, Matthew and Mark, do not report any response on the part of Christ. Their silence indicates that our Lord Himself was silent in the face of such humiliating abuse.

“Love does not keep a record of wrongs.” As He hung upon the cross, our Lord’s prayer to His Father with regard to His enemies was: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk. 23:34).

“Love does not delight in evil; but rejoices with the truth.” Even our Lord’s enemies acknowledged Him to be a man of absolute integrity, wholly committed to the truth of God: “they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to trap him in his words. ¹⁴They came to him and said, Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You are not swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.” (Mk. 12:13-14a) The Apostle Peter describes our Lord Jesus in these terms, “He committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth” (1 Pet. 2:22).

“Love bears all things.” The word here translated, “bears,” (στεγω), literally means, “to cover,” and seems to be used in the sense of “covering over transgressions rather than seeking retaliation or revenge;” note Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrongs.” Love endures offenses against itself, forgiving such offenses, or giving them over to God, rather than making an issue of them and seeking personal retaliation. This is precisely what we witness in the life of the Lord Jesus: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself [note: the Greek pronoun may be translated either as “himself” or “his cause”] to him who judges justly” (1 Pet. 2:23).

“Love believes all things.” This does not mean that love is gullible; rather, it means that love displays an open, trusting, and accepting spirit, as opposed to a suspicious, defensive, self-protective spirit. Whereas the Pharisees abstained from any dealings with the common “sinners” of society, for fear of religious pollution, loss of status, or bodily harm, our Lord Jesus, motivated by love, willingly associated with them and did not seek to avoid them out of fear for His own safety or reputation: “Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him. ²But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Lk. 15:1-2)

“Love hopes all things.” Love exhibits an unshakable confidence in the faithfulness of God; and it entertains a positive, confident outlook based upon trust in God. Our Lord Jesus yielded Himself unto God His Father, confident that the Father would raise Him from the dead, even as He had promised: “Jesus called out with a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. When he had said this, he breathed his last.” (Lk. 23:46)

“Love endures all things.” The Book of Hebrews exhorts us: “Let us focus our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men.” (Heb. 12:2-3)

Remembering our Lord’s words recorded in Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,” let us follow the way of love, as that way is defined for us in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and displayed in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Conclusion←⤒🔗

As Christians, we should be interested in all the gifts and graces Christ has bestowed upon His church; but our greatest concern should be the practice of Christian love. Because love is the greatest of all Christian graces, let us obey the commandment of Scripture to follow the way of love.

Discussion Questions←⤒🔗

1. Where do the office of apostle and the gift of prophecy rank in terms of significance for the church (cf. 1 Cor. 12:28a); why is this the case? Note Eph. 2:19b-20. As Christ’s personal ambassadors, what function did the apostles perform? Note Jn. 13:20; cp. 2 Cor. 12:19b/13:3a. What function did the prophets serve in the formative years of the church? Note 1 Cor. 13:2a; 1 Cor. 14:37. Should we expect these ministries to function in the church today; how often does on lay a foundation?

Now in the church, God has first appointed those who are apostles; second, [those who are] prophets; third, [those who are] teachers; then [those who perform] miracles; then [those with] gifts of healing, [those with gifts for] helping [others, those with the gift of] leadership, [those with the gift of speaking in] tongues. 1 Cor. 12:28

So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and [members of] the household of God. ²⁰[You are] built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. Eph. 2:19-20

The office of apostle and the gift of prophecy were foundational, laying and securing the doctrinal foundation of the church.

I tell you the truth, whoever receives whomever I send is receiving me; and whoever receives me is receiving the one who sent me. Jn. 13:20

Those whom Christ sent forth to minister in His name, and by whom He (by the Holy Spirit) would personally speak, were His apostles (cf. Jn. 20:19-21)

The Apostle Paul declares:

In the sight of God, we speak by Christ. 2 Cor. 12:19

Christ speaks by me2 Cor. 13:3

If I have [the gift of] prophecy and understand every mystery and have all knowledge...1 Cor. 13:2a

If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or that he is a spiritual man, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the commandment of the Lord.1 Cor. 14:37

One function the N.T. prophets served was that of verifying true apostolic teaching.

2. With regard to the office of apostle and all the spiritual gifts he mentions, what does the Apostle Paul repeatedly reiterate? See 1 Cor. 12:29-30. With regard to the distribution of the spiritual gifts, what must we always remember? See 1 Cor. 12:11. In contrast to the various spiritual gifts, what grace should all Christians desire and exhibit? See 1 Cor. 12:31b; 1 Cor. 14:1. How does love rank in terms of its importance and longevity? See 1 Cor. 1 Cor. 13:13,

Not all are apostles. Not all are prophets. Not all are teachers. Not all can work miracles. ³⁰Not all have gifts of healing. Not everyone can speak in tongues Not everyone can interpret [tongues]. 1 Cor. 12:29-30

...the one and the same Spirit does all these things, distributing [gifts] to each one individually just as he desires. 1 Cor. 12:11

And now I will show you a way that surpasses all else... ^14:1Follow the [way of] love. 1 Cor. 13:31b, 14:1

Now then, these three things will continue [forever]: faith, hope, love; and the greatest of them is love. 1 Cor. 13:13

3. How does the exciting gift of tongues compare with love (cf. 1 Cor. 13:1)? How does love differ from the spiritual gifts; what is love? Note 1 Jn. 4:7-8,

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 1 Cor. 13:1

Based on the fact that the Greek word usually translated “tongues” in this context is the word elsewhere translated “language(s),” it appears that biblical “tongues” was the Spirit-given, miraculous ability to speak in other human languages or angelic languages.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 Jn. 4:7-8

Whereas spiritual gifts are, indeed, gifts, bestowed by God upon the members of Christ’s church for the edification of the church; love is an attribute of God, it is an essential part of His divine nature. Love is an attribute of God that is reproduced in each one who has become a child of God in Christ Jesus (cf. 1 Pet. 22-23a).

4. What does Paul say about the greatest sacrifices a man can make, if those sacrifices are done in the absence of love (cf. 1 Cor. 13:3)? What self-serving motives might move a man to make such sacrifices? Might he part with his material possessions in an attempt to be highly respected in the sight of his fellow man, or even in an attempt to atone for his sins? Could anything a sinful man gives, even his own life, ever make payment for his sins and reconcile him to God? Who alone is the worthy Substitute to bear the penalty we sinful men deserve? See 1 Pet. 3:18a,

If I give away all my possessions, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it is no benefit to me.1 Cor. 13:3

Christ indeed died for sins once for all, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones, so that he might bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive [again] by the Spirit.1 Pet. 3:18

5. What does Paul list as the three things that shall continue forever? See 1 Cor. 13:13. Why will faith, (in the sense of dependence), abide forever? Note Acts 17:28a. Why will hope, (in the sense of expectation and anticipation), abide forever? Note Psl. 145:3. Why will love abide forever? Note, again, 1 Jn. 4:7-8,

Now then, these three things will continue [forever]: faith, hope, love; and the greatest of them is love. 1 Cor. 13:13

...in [God] we live, and move, and have our existence... Acts 17:28

Dear Christian, do you realize that as being created by God, we shall ever be dependent on God; and in heaven, we shall experience that dependence with complete trust as we rest in the bosom of God our Father, free from all doubt?

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.Psl. 145:3

Dear Christian, do you appreciate the fact that, because the LORD our God is the infinite God, we shall receive new revelations of His being and new experiences of His fellowship and blessing throughout all eternity?

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 Jn. 4:7-8

Love is an attribute of God, it is an essential part of His divine nature; love is an attribute of God that is reproduced in each one who has become a child of God in Christ Jesus (cf. 1 Pet. 22-23a).