Baptist Fellowship Church

Sermon outline - Pastor Chris’

The Permanence of Love

1 Corinthians 13:8-13

I will begin with the end, “Eternal value is far greater than transitory
value.” This is not a rocket science statement, Yet, we toil day in and
day out for things that are of transitory value and neglect the thing of
eternal value.

What is that thing of eternal value? Our eternal life, our
eternal salvation?

To get to this point, let us start right at the beginning again. It begins
with “Love never fails”. It never falls apart or withers. In short, it is
eternal. And here, Paul brought up the other spiritual gifts that are
thought to be important to the Corinthians, prophecies, tongues and
knowledge.

The emphasis is on the use of certain words to describe the future of each
of these gifts in comparison with love. Prophecies will fail, knowledge
will vanish away, and tongues will cease. The Greek text and the proper
interpretation of the grammar tells us that while prophecies and knowledge
will eventually be taken away, tongues will cease, and have ceased. We
know that tongues have ceased because there has been no mention of this
gift after the apostolic age. It was meant to be a “sign” gift. None of
the early church fathers in the second and third century wrote about this
gift. In contrast, prophecies (forth-telling) and knowledge will be
abolished eventually by God. (While prophesying and knowledge edify the
Church, tongues do not. Discuss)

Verses 9 and 10 tell us that both knowledge and prophesy are still with us
because they will be done away only when that which is perfect has come.
The question is

when will: “that which is perfect” come?

There are various
interpretations of this “time” including the closure of the Scriptures, the
Rapture of the Church, the Second coming of Christ or The Eternal state. To
allow continuation of knowledge and prophecy during the times of the first
three mentioned possibilities above would mean that the only time when
these would cease is during the Eternal State.

Verses 11 and 12 are illustrations to contrast what is to happen during the
time of the perfect state, for we are but children in our present state.
Even with the Word of God today, we are still looking into a mirror dimly
in contrast to what we will know when we see Him face to face.

Question:
If we are, and will be, but children in our present life, should we then
stop our growth in maturity in Christ and await the time of the eternal
state?

Paul concluded by stating the three greatest spiritual virtues, faith, hope
and love. In fact, love encompasses both faith and hope in the statements
“love believes all things” and “love hopes all things”. Faith and Hope will
have no purpose in heaven, but Love will be there in eternity.

Thus, why do
we seek temporal and transitory things when eternal things are calling to
us and so easily within our grasp?

Mr and Mrs ET Chua

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