Giving Meaning to Christian Behavior, Part 3

1 Corinthians 13:8–13
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Love Gives Meaning and Superiority to Christian Behavior

Love gives meaning and superiority to Christian behavior. This does not mean superiority in the sense that loving Christians think they are better than others. Rather, the actions and activities of Christians—how they function in the church and community—have superiority when filled with love compared to behavior without love. Actions performed without love are meaningless.

In 1 Corinthians 13, as we transition from chapter 12, Paul teaches that love gives meaning and superiority to Christian function. Two specific points emerge from these concluding verses, in harmony with previous teaching: incorporate love into actions to give them meaning, and recognize love's superiority even over certain spiritual gifts.

Paul highlights three gifts to pursue—prophecy, apostleship, teaching—as greater gifts that benefit the body of Christ. Yet lesser and sign gifts have an expiration date. There is a better way to function in the church. Even speaking in tongues, having knowledge, or prophesying has no value without love. Healing someone physically is less important than loving them entirely.

If I speak in the tongues of men or angels without love, I am just making noise. Paul corrects the Corinthian misuse of gifts, especially tongues, which continues into chapter 14. Tongues must be understandable languages that edify. Whether genuine or not, they must build up believers and demonstrate love through action, not just feelings.

No one would know Christ's love without His demonstration on the cross. Claiming love for Christians, community, or church means nothing without demonstration. Paul affirms supernatural gifts but exhorts the Corinthians—and us—to go beyond them. Their gifts lacked love, leading to disunity, pride, and immaturity. Advance beyond gifts into love as the sole motivation for Christian living.

With Love, Great Advancements Are Made

Love never ends. Prophecies will pass away, tongues will cease, knowledge will pass away. Certain spiritual gifts have an expiration date, but love does not. Paul tells the Corinthians this, though they may not see it in their lifetime, to set their minds on eternal things. Pursue lifestyles, deeds, and works that never end. Build with permanent things that stand the test of time.

Do not be content with current forms of church. Embrace love to elevate the church qualitatively, even if not numerically. Prophecy, supernatural knowledge—these magnificent gifts fade away. The Holy Spirit, who gives gifts, chooses when to stop them. The phrase "as for" indicates: if they exist in a congregation, they will pass away.

A church without prophecy is not ruined; it has Scripture and teaching offices to explain it. Tongues cease and are replaced by love, which continues. In an established local New Testament church, sign gifts cease. Tongues may continue in unreached contexts to overcome language barriers, but once a church is established, they stop.

1 Corinthians 13:9–10
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

"In part" and "the partial" mean something outside the whole—individual, not unifying. When the perfect comes, the partial is done away with.

With Love, Great Advantages Mature

The "perfect" is teleios: highest standard, expert, mature, fully developed, complete. Context fits maturity, as verse 11 illustrates:

1 Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

Paul skips adolescence: child to man. Childish things are appropriate then but not in manhood. We know and prophesy immaturely, individually. Spiritual maturity does away with the immature and individual, leading to unity through love.

1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Move from dim mirrors to face-to-face knowing—intimate relationships of love and unity. The Corinthians were divided: of Paul, of Apollos, of Cephas, of Christ. Maturity means knowing and loving face to face.

Key Takeaways

1. My goal as a Christian is demonstrating Christ's love to brothers and sisters, not supernatural experiences.
2. I cannot advance to maturity without understanding love.
3. I cannot reach maturity if content with immaturity, holding childish things.
4. I cannot be loving or contribute to unity if relationships are superficial, like a dim mirror. Love requires face-to-face knowing.

Even in large churches, effort builds relationships. A local congregation pursues growth, love, and unity. Faith, hope, and love abide, but love is greatest. Take 1 Corinthians 13 seriously to do church better through love.