1. Learning to Love
1 Corinthians 13

2. James 1:17,18
“Every good gift and every perfect gift …cometh down from the Father …
Of his own will begat he us…,
that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

3. God’s gifts of love include:
Physical: (Eros: erotic) Pr 5:18,19
Emotional: (Philos: Affection) Titus 2:3,4
Spiritual: (Agape: Charity) 1 Cor 13
Each of these types of love are gifts from the God of Love! (James 1:17)

4. God’s gifts of love include:
“Eros” is comparatively easy to recognize and respond to because of it’s sensual nature.
(Dependent on our 5 physical senses)
It’s generally affected by our physical health.

5. “The greatest of these is charity”
“Philos” is an affectionate love that comes from the human soul (mind, will, emotions).
It’s affected by the health of our “soul”
and our perception of the health of the relationship with the object of our love.

6. “The greatest of these is charity”
Agape comes from the human spirit.
As such it’s a biproduct of the health of our relationship with God’s Holy Spirit!
1 John 4:16  ”and we have known …the love that God hath to us. God is love;
and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God,
and God in him.”

7. “The greatest of these is charity”
Eros and Philos often leave us feeling vulnerable because they’re “conditional”.
1 John 4:18
“There is no fear in love (agape);
but perfect love casteth out fear:
(telios apape: complete, mature, spiritual love)
because fear hath torment.
He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

8. “The fruit of the Spirit is love…”
1 Cor 13 provides a description of some of the different dimensions of “perfect” love.
“Charity suffereth long (patient endurance)
and is Kind (practical benevolence)
…envieth not (It isn’t jealous)
Vaunteth not itself (not boastful)

9. “The fruit of the Spirit is love…”
“Is not puffed up” (not prideful)
“Doth not behave itself unseemly” vs 5
(Not inappropriate: It’s sensitive to others)
“Seeketh not her own” (unselfish, giving)

10. 1. Not easily provoked. Vs 5
(paroxy’nō: exasperated, annoyed, infuriated)
from oxys (oxoos) sharp, swift, acidic!
A. This is related to Vs 7 “beareth all things”
Beareth (Stegō) to cover with silence, patently endure
All things: (pas) the whole (relationship)
(Sees beyond the immediate irritation!)

11. 1. Not easily provoked. Vs 5 My beloved is mine, and I am his!”
A. This is related to Vs 7 “beareth all things”
1) We tend to get frustrated by the “little foxes”
(S.S. 2:15) that irritate our relationships.
2) Without agape love, these “aggravations” can
become the “acid” of criticism, so that we
poison the soil of the whole garden! (Relationship)
S.S 2:15-16 “Take us us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
My beloved is mine, and I am his!”

12. “Not easily provoked” vs 5
B. Instead of being quick to answer (or anger)
we should be quick to Listen
James 1:19-20 “let every man be swift to hear,
(Akouo: to understand)
slow to speak, slow to wrath:
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

13. “Not easily provoked” vs 5
Understanding is air to the soul!
a) You can’t listen or learn while speaking!
2) The Biggest barrier to Communication is
that we don’t listen for understanding,
but for ammunition! (to reply)
Seek first to understand,
Then to be understood!

14. : ‏עָוֹן ‎ ʿāwōn: perversity, twisting to get my way!
2. Goal oriented. Vs. 6
A.“Rejoiceth not in iniquity” (adikia: Injustice)
1) Our sense of justice is tainted by self interest!
aka: “conflict of interest”
a) Iniquity is related to selfishness. Is. 53:6
“all we like sheep have turned…to his own way.
And the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all”
: ‏עָוֹן ‎ ʿāwōn: perversity, twisting to get my way!

15. 2. Goal oriented. Vs. 6
A. “Rejoiceth not in iniquity” (adikia:Injustice)
2) Iniquity is the opposite of Charity! 1 Cor 13:5
“Charity seeketh not her own”
“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty,
(but thou art rich)” Rev. 2:9
“Lay up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven”
Mt 6:20

16. “Do you swear to tell the truth,
2. Goal oriented. Vs 6
B. “But Rejoiceth in the truth” (alē’theia)
1) Justice requires truth!
“Do you swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth and
Nothing but the truth,
so help you God?”

17. 2. Goal oriented. Vs. 6 to reveal, not conceal.
Jn 8:32 “ye shall know (understand) the truth
and the truth shall make you free.”
2) “Truth” (alē’theia) comes from alēthēs’:
to reveal, not conceal.
a) Our insecurities often lead us to “hide” the truth
of our perspectives and needs.
b) Our passions and prejudices easily poison our
perspectives and we “hurl” our needs in anger!

19. 2. Goal oriented. Truth! (we) may grow up into him in all things”
3) What’s the Goal of “Truth”?
Eph. 4:15 “But speaking the truth in love,
(we) may grow up into him in all things”
a) God’s “goal” is our Maturity! (1 Cor 13:11)
b) Maturity allows us to “reproduce”!
aka: bear “fruit”. Jn 15:16
“I have chosen you…to bring forth fruit”

20. 2. Goal oriented. Truth! (we) may grow up into him in all things”
3) What’s the Goal of “Truth”?
Eph. 4:15 “But speaking the truth in love,
(we) may grow up into him in all things”
c) “Into Him” (aka: Christian!) Jn 15:4,5:
“as a branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
except it abide in the vine, no more can ye
except you abide in me.
for without me ye can do nothing!”

21. “The Greatest of these is Charity”
1 Cor. 13:7,8 “… Beareth all things,
(Patiently covers “groanings” with Grace)
believeth all things,
(Trusts God to work “all things” for His glory and our eventual Good)
hopeth all things,
(Lives in expectation of an eventual “justice”)
endureth all things…”  
(Stays in God’s Will regardless of consequences)

22. 1 Cor. 13:7,8 “Charity never faileth”
ἐκπίπτω (ekpiptō): Becomes ineffective
Eros and Philos love may “wear out” or be too “weak” (insufficient) for the challenge,
but Charity comes from the God who is eternal and all powerful.
Gen. 18:14 “Is there anything too hard for the Lord”

23. We’re intended to share His Love!
Conclusion:
Remember James 4:17,18?
“Every perfect gift …cometh from the Father …
Of his own will begat he us…,
(through His agape love {Ro. 5:8})
that we should be a kind of first-fruits ”
Each “fruit” has the seed of reproduction!
We’re intended to share His Love!

24. 1 Cor. 13:12, 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity;
“For now we see through a glass, darkly;
but then face to face:
now I know (perceive, understand) in part;
but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity;
but the greatest of these is charity.”

25. “Perfect love casteth out fear…
He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
God wants to develop His “perfect” love in us!
“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment:
because as He is, so are we in this world.”
1 John 4:17,18
We’re to represent Him! (2 Cor 5:20)

26. “Perfect love casteth out fear…
1 John 3:1-3 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,
that we should be called the sons of God:
Beloved, now are we the sons of God,
and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:
but we know that, when he shall appear,
we shall be like him;
for we shall see him as he is.

27. “Perfect love casteth out fear…
1 John 3:1-3
“Everyman that hath this hope in him,
(being like Jesus!)
purifieth himself,
even as He is pure.”
hagnos’: clean. (see 1 Jn. 1:9)
from hagios: Consecrated, dedicated, Holy

28. “Joshua said unto the people:
Sanctify (dedicate) yourselves,
for to morrow the LORD will do
wonders among you.” Joshua 3:5
They obeyed,
and crossed the Jordan
into the promised land!

29. But an act of Worship! “the LORD will do wonders among you.”
Genuine Surrender isn’t a battle of the Will,
But an act of Worship!
“the LORD will do wonders among you.”
What’s more “wonderful” than God revealing and refining His Perfect love in and through us?