Devotional 6/05/2018

Faith, Hope & Love 1 Cor.13:13

1Co 13:8-13 (NASB) 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9  For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10  but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11  When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13  But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Corinthians had to be reminded, This congregation of God’s people had many struggles in a Godless society and needed to be reminded and encouraged to rely on 3 important qualities; Faith Hope Love Corinthians had to be reminded,

Faith Faith in the New testament consists of believing and receiving the word of God about His son, Jesus Christ and the saving power of His grace.

Faith Faith in the New testament consists of believing and receiving the word of God about His son, Jesus Christ and the saving power of His grace. Faith therefore, becomes a personal acceptance & trust in Jesus Christ for His work of salvation on our behalf.

Faith Faith in the New testament consists of believing and receiving the word of God about His son, Jesus Christ and the saving power of His grace. Faith therefore, becomes a personal acceptance & trust in Jesus Christ for His work of salvation on our behalf. Faith also trusts in what can’t be seen be human eyes, the spiritual realm and an eternal place with God.

2Cor. 5:1-9 (NAU) 1  For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2  For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3  inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4  For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5  Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.

2Cor. 5:1-9 (NAU) 6  Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7  for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8  we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9  Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

Song - Ray

Hope Since we have faith in what we can’t see, we must also have hope in what awaits us.

Since we have faith in what we can’t see, we must also have hope in what awaits us. That hope rests (for Christians) in the person of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life away from sin & misery. Hope

Since we have faith in what we can’t see, we must also have hope in what awaits us. That hope rests (for Christians) in absolute trust of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life away from sin & misery. Our hope must also be one of longing patience in expectation of a glorious life in heaven. Hope

Rom 5:1-6 Ro 5:1 (NASB)  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2  through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3  And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

Rom 5:1-6 4  and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5  and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6  For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Song - Ray

Love Paul has called the last quality the greatest. 26 ἀγάπη agape {ag-ah'-pay} - Meaning: brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence Love

Love Paul has called the last quality the greatest. 26 ἀγάπη agape {ag-ah'-pay} - Meaning: brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence. Jn 15:12 (NASB)  "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13  "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14  "You are My friends if you do what I command you. Love

Paul has been a recipient of this love by Christ in the forgiveness of his own sins against the Lord. He never fails to express his gratitude & appreciation for this immense act of selflessness by Jesus. Hence, such devotion deserves conscious acceptance and imitation. (John 15:12) Love

Love must be learned, imitated & practiced. NET 1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit. 4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up.

Love must be learned, imitated & practiced. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. 6 It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be set aside.

Song - Ray