LOVE COMES FROM ABOVE (I Corinthians 13)

Charity = Christian love, representing God’s love of man/ man’s love of God, or man’s love of His fellow men.
Love = strong affection, an intense feeling of affection and care towards another person.
All men may have the gift of love, but charity is bestowed only upon those who are true followers of Christ.

1. WHAT LOVE IS NOT? (vs. 1-3)

- Not based on Race “…tongues of men…” Illus: Samaritan woman
Joh 4:9  Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me,
which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 
- Not Based on Reasoning “…though I speak…” Illus: LGBTQ
2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 
2Ti 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 
- Not Based on Revelation “…gift of prophecy, all mysteries…” Illus: Fortunetellers
1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice
with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 
- Not Based on Religion “…though I have all faith…” Illus: Muslim faith
Pro 10:12  Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. 
- Not Based on Riches “…feed the poor…” Illus: Rich man’s offering
Rom 13:7  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom;
fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Rom 13:8  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that
loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 
- Not Based on our own Righteousness “…bestow all my goods, body to be burned…” Illus:
Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is
through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

2. WHAT LOVE IS? (vs. 4-7)

- Patient - Selfless - Bearing
- Kind - Delightful - Believing
- Content - Pure - Hoping
- Humble - Just - Enduring
- Appropriate - Worthy

3. WHAT LOVE SHOULD BE? (vs. 8-13)

- It should be Protected “…they shall fail, it shall vanish away…”
Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 
- It should be Persistent (not changing) “…that which is in part shall be done away…”
Joh 9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can
work.  Heb 13:1  Let brotherly love continue. 
- It should be Progressing “…I put away childish things…”
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a
perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby
they lie in wait to deceive; Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head,
even Christ: 
- It should be Penetrating our lives “…we see through a glass…”
1Jn 4:12  No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is
perfected in us. 1Ti 4:12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in
conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 
- It should be Prioritized “…the greatest of these is charity…”
1Jn 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God,
and knoweth God.  1Jn 4:8  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 

Con. Rev 2:4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.