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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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DIFFICULTIES IN CHURCH WORSHIP (CH 11-14): THE USE AND ABUSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS (CH. 12-14) 1Co 13:9-13 (1/11/12) Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. INTRODUCTION A. Paul subject of discussion was spiritual
gifts and the Love chapter is found between two chapters (12, 14) dealing
with this gifts. B. It was love that the Corinthians lacked in
their use of spiritual gifts as well as every other area of their lives. For
this reason they were involved in major quarrels, selfishness, and jealously. II. SUPERIORITY OF LOVE OVER SPIRITUAL GIFTS
(1-3) III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTRIBUTE OF LOVE (4-8a) IV. LASTING QUALITY OF LOVE OVER SPIRITUAL GIFTS
(8b-13) A. Spiritual Gifts will Cease (1Co 13:8) B. Gifts will not be Needed When the Perfect
Comes (1Co 13:9-12) 1. [1Co 13:9] - Paul explained the future
abolishing of prophecy and knowledge to show that love lasts eternally. But
this next section of Scripture has its interpretive difficulties. What or
who, labeled as “the perfect” will cause prophecy and knowledge to be done
away? a) For the present, all believers have
partial (me,ros - a portion but not the whole) “knowledge” (present indicative of ginōskō
- intelligent comprehension, understand) of God’s truth. Though God’s
truth is given to us in His Word, believers are growing in the understanding
of the truth beyond the dogma clearly explained by the apostles in the
Scriptures. b) The obstacles to a complete understanding
of God’s truth are a lack of diligence to study on our part and the fact that
God has not revealed everything to us. But make no mistake; God has revealed
to us everything we need for life and godliness in this life (2Pe 1:3). Yet
there are things that God has not revealed (Deu 29:29) especially in regard
to all the details of future things. 2. [1Co 13:10] - Yet that partial knowledge
will be “done away” (same word and parsing as the knowledge of vs. 8)
and become complete knowledge at some point in a new dispensation. a) The timeframe is described as the
indefinite future “when” (hotan) the “perfect” comes ([whenever it]
“might come” - aorist subjunctive of erchomai). Identifying the
“perfect” will help determine the “when.” b) The identification of “the perfect” (to
te,leion,
construction used only here) has left the church with various interpretations. Some of the
major interpretations of “the perfect” are: 1) The Completion of Scripture,
2) The Second Coming of Christ, 3) Christ Himself, and 4) The Eternal State (1) The Completion of Scripture (a) While we see the completion of Scripture as
a perfect revelation of God’s truth with transitory merit in regard to some
gifts, the Corinthians would not have understood this concept. (b) The aspect of those gifts (such as
prophecy) which proclaim and teach (“forth-tell”) God’s Word are vitally
necessary for today and have not been “done away.” (c) In addition, prophecy will also be active
in the future in the Tribulation and Millennium (Rev 11:3; Joel 2:28; Act
2:17). (d) Paul also used the phrases, “face to face”
(1Co 13:12a) and “then I will know fully” (1Co 13:12b) to identify a
timeframe for the future yet to come. (2) The Second Coming of Christ (a) Though Argument a4 could apply to the
Rapture or Second Coming, Argument a3 would eliminate the possibility of this
view because prophecy will be exercised. (b) Paul makes it clear that when the gifts end
they will end permanently (i.e. “done away”). (c) The Millennium, after the Second Coming,
will be characterized by teachers, knowledge, and those who will hear the
words of the book (Isa 11:9; 29:18; 32:3-4; Jer 23:4). This necessarily
includes the gift of prophecy (forth-telling). (3) Christ Himself (a) The Greek adjective to te,leion
(neuter, singular, nominative in contrast to, ho te,leios)
is a neuter and
eliminates the possibility of referring to a person. (b) Christ is the preeminent person because of
His person and work, the major figure in the Rapture and Second Coming, and
even the central focus in the eternal state, but Paul apparently was
referring to something else when he penned “the perfect.” (4) The Eternal State (a) This view sees “the perfect” as “the
perfect state” or “the complete state” as opposed to our present incomplete
state. Thus it would refer to the eternal state in heaven. Though the saints
will be perfect, the neuter precludes it meaning specifically the saints. (b) It refers to a perfect and complete state
when prophecy and knowledge of God’s truth and everything else is in a
perfect and complete state. (c) It is in the eternal state that believers
will “fully know” and come “face to face” with God (Rev 19:11-13; 22:4) that
follows the Millennium. (d) This view fits all the criteria and
supports the point that love will last for all eternity while spiritual gifts
will not because they will no longer be needed. c) [1Co 13:11] - Paul gives two metaphors to
explain the temporary use of gifts (partial) and the future unneeded status
of gifts in eternity (perfect). First he uses the example of childhood
development in cognitive and communication skills (11). Then he uses the
illustration of viewing through a cloudy mirror (12). (1) During early childhood, a “child” (nêpios
- lit. infant or child, fig. immature person) has limited and incomplete
“speech” (lale,ō- speech or conversation). They have limited and incomplete
“thinking” (phrone,ō - thinking and understanding). In addition, they have limited and
incomplete “reasoning” (logizomai - logical thinking and cognitive skill)
ability. (2) However, adulthood (“man” - anê,r - adult mature male) is
characterized with a more complete development and use of these skills. In
proof of such mature development an adult “does away” (from katarge,ō
- same as vs. 8a, c)
with such childish things. (3) “Mirrors” (eso,ptron
- flat polished metal to look through, not a
gemstone) in
ancient times were made from polished metals. They were utilized but their
visibility was “dim” (ainigma - Eng.
“enigma”, a riddle or obscure), especially when tarnished. (4) Both of these illustrations resemble our
limited, incomplete, and unclear knowledge of some of God’s truths and
knowledge. (a) But there will come a time when we will see
“face to face” (prosōpon pros prosōpon - i.e. faces facing
toward each other). The believer will see the Lord face to face which is
now only a Scriptural image tarnished by our sinful nature. (b) Though our knowledge is limited now, in
eternity we will “fully know” (epiginōskō - intensive and fuller
knowledge). This does not refer to having omniscient knowledge of all
things like God, rather it refers to seeing Him face to face and knowing Him
fully in our relationship to Him. Indeed our knowledge will be elevated, but
we will see Christ “as He is” (1Jo 3:2) and fully know Him as intimately as
He knows us (“fully known” aorist passive - epiginōskō). At
last, we will see Him and know Him (cp. Phil 3:10)! C. Love is Superlative (1Co 13:13) 1. However, at the present (nuni, now),
we have our “faith” (pistis) and “hope (elpis). But we also
have love, which assures us of this eternal bliss, becomes the basis,
impetus, and goal for ministry and the use of
spiritual gifts, and will endure for all eternity. 2. Therefore love is greater than (mega -
superlative, not great, not greater, but greatest) faith and hope and
therefore is superior to spiritual gifts.
3. But in that perfect day, when we see our
Lord “face to face,” love will for us be just beginning. But our showing
love, practicing love, living love now are of utmost importance, more
important than having any of the other virtues or gifts, because love is the
link God gives us with His eternal Self. (MacArthur in loc.). Love will be our eternal theme. V. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. Don’t let our pursuit for and ministry of
the truth be stifled by our lack of love. B. The goal of our instruction is love (1Ti
1:5). 1. Our Message (Rom 5:8; Rom 8:39) 2. Our Maturity (Eph 5:25b-26) 3. Our Means (Eph 4:15) 4. Our Mark (Joh 13:34) |
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