Is God a Sinner?

She stated to me,

The biggest problem with Christianity is how often hypocrisy is committed by their own God, and the ensuing justification they use as such. “DO NOT KILL” being a Commandmemt [sic], but then “KILL WITCHES” being a rule in the Bible.

I replied,

The commandment is “do not murder,” which differs from “kill.” The distinction is the intent. If the terms were equal, we would have prisons full of soldiers for having “murdered” the enemy during wars.

For personal verification, can you tell me where in the Bible the commandment to kill witches is located?

I never said it was a commandment.

Okay, where is the “rule [located] in the Bible”?

There is a passage that says “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”

Again, where?

Exodus 22:18

Please do not interpret this as cynical or “preaching.” I enjoy conducting an exegesis as it allows me to learn more about the Bible.

The word you refer to translates as “one who whispers a spell, enchants, practices magic.” The person charged with witchcraft would have stated earlier their rejection and denouncement of the God of Israel.

Further, in examining the wider text, this verse is among the social rules of the Israelites. Thus, it does not apply to non-Israelites who reject the God of Israel but to an Israelite who rejected the God of Israel.

Nevertheless, no Israelite has existed since the Babylonian empire destroyed the Kingdom of Israel. Therefore, anyone who applies this rule after the Babylonian invasion is a hypocrite, taking the reference out of context.

I expressed earlier that Christians can be hypocrites; I agree with you on that. However, you stated, “their own God” is hypocritical. This exegesis of Exodus 22.18, to which you refer, argues against your claim “their own God” is hypocritical.

Christians are human. Humans are hypocritical. Thus, Christians can be hypocritical.

Please put that in laymen [sic] terms. I appreciate the detail, but it’s about 10 PM (22:00) where I am, and my brain is kind lagging right now.

Okay. Many people take Bible passages out of context, including this one. This passage was only applicable during the Kingdom of Israel, which has not existed in about 2,500 years. Any person who has applied this text over the past 2,500 years is a hypocrite. Humans are hypocrites; however, God is not.

Okay then.

“God is a jealous God.”

“Jealousy is a sin.”

Correct?

Good question, people have debated this question for millennia. Yet again, it depends upon context (e.g., saying water is “wet” and centuries later state that water is “cold” does not form a contradiction, which differs from hypocrisy).

We can find references to your statements “Jealousy is a sin” and “God is a jealous God” in various locations throughout the Bible. However, lumping these references together would be erroneous since this would take each reference out of context.

Thus, instead of considering each reference, I will attempt to use reasoning to refute your inferred conclusion:

God is a jealous God. Jealousy is a sin. Therefore, God sins.

This is not hypocrisy but a contradiction. For example, “a = not a” or “1 does not equal 1.”

From a Christian perspective, God is without sin. Thus, if God sins, God is not God. Therefore, I will refute “God sins.”

First, allow me to offer an example of a contextual error we as humans make: Does stating, “All men are created equal” mean that “all women are not created equal”? Humans have a tendency to add meaning to statements unrelated to the original intent.

“Sin” is a word to which people have applied countless meanings for centuries. Consider the phrase, “what is one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” Going another step, “what one person considers just another person considers unjust.”

This leads us into the debated realm of ethics. In an episode of The Simpsons, Fat Tony asks Bart, “Is it wrong for a man to steal a loaf of bread to feed his own family?”

Bart responds, “No.”

Fat Tony replies, “Let us say it is not a loaf of bread the family needs but a truckload of cigarettes; would it still be wrong?” I will allow you to decide the validity of Fat Tony’s argument for yourself.

Next, the Greek word translated as “sin” is harmatia, which means, “missing the mark.” Envision an archer shooting an arrow at the target and missing the bull’s eye, thus missing the mark, falling short of the intended target.

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament refer to Creation as the glorification of God. The purpose of Creation was to reflect God’s glory. When the New Testament authors mention harmatia (“sin”), they mean that as part of Creation, humans have missed the mark, fallen short of their purpose to reflect God’s glory. Created in the image of God, humans are to reflect the qualities of God [e.g., love, truth, justice, mercy, etc.].

Consider now the parent-child relationship. When a child misbehaves, people view it as reflecting poor parenting (i.e., “They just didn’t raise the child up right”). Parents on occasion ask themselves, “What could I have done better? What could I have done different?”

Sin is failing to be who we were intended to be. Instead of reflecting God’s character, we make ourselves God. We are selfish and self-centered. “I don’t care what you say; I will live my life the way I d@mn well please and don’t you dare touch my cookie because I ain’t sharing.”

The essence of hypocrisy is the statement, “Do as I say and not as I do.” Consider which is easier: explaining how to use a can opener or showing someone how to use a can opener. Humans learn by watching how others do things. The statement ignores how we learn.

We have learned and continue to follow the wrong example, the world’s example, and not God’s example—Jesus—God incarnate—God in human flesh. We fall short of the example. We miss the mark. We sin.

However, God forgives us, if we would only accept that forgiveness.

When we strive to live our lives the way we want, the way we desire, then we reject God’s forgiveness, we miss the mark, fail to be who we were created to be.

We sin.

With all of this in consideration, my reasoning shows what is right or wrong, good or evil, trash or treasure, sin or not sin, depends upon one’s perspective, how one views a certain situation.

Returning to the parent-child relationship: If I stood beside my mom, despite all she has done in fulfilling her role as my mom, and referred to another person as my mom, is it a “sin” for my mom to be “jealous,” angry, sad?

Perspective.

Context.

When we examine the Bible from the wrong perspective and not God’s perspective, we are subject to take the Word of God out of context. We miss the mark and fall short in understanding what God says to us, God’s own handiwork.

Being Mindful that God is Love

Peter opens his second letter by pointing out we have within us all we need to live a godly life because of our knowledge of God—knowing God, who called us.

Through God’s glory and goodness, God called us to take part in God’s divine nature, having escaped—rejected—the corrupted world’s evil desires by placing our total trust in God.

Through our trust—that is, faith in God—we must add goodness, which leads to further understanding of God.

This awareness allows us to control ourselves through perseverance, having a mutual affection for one another, which leads to the essence of God—love.

For God is love.

We must be mindful of this to keep from being ineffective and unproductive in our recognizing who our Lord is—Jesus Christ.

If we are not, then we forget that God has cleansed and forgiven us of our past sins.

However, if we are mindful, together through mutual affection, then we will not stumble but will receive a rich welcome into the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—a Kingdom that is eternal.

Scars That Do Not Heal

During college, she had me wrapped around her finger, and she recognized it—knowing I could never lie to her and would always be honest with her.

Then she dated a “friend” of mine. Oh, the number of times I answered her questions and explained his thought process to her. My mind tried to stay neutral, not telling her to end the relationship with him, while my heart ached to profess my deepest love for her.

Despite my attempts as his friend to defend him, she ended the relationship, which was a relief as I no longer had to experience that inner turmoil.

Yes, she was free, but I knew her well enough to recognize who her eye was on—my close friend and roommate.

He told me many times, “You are still Duck, and I am still Rob, and we will always be friends.”

She came to our apartment often; her pictures sat on his desk.

Yet, I cherished my friendship with both.

At their wedding, I was fortunate to see two of my dearest friends overjoyed.

However, during a weekend visit to their apartment, I said something, did something, did not do something, or looked at her cat wrong.

When I called them later, she spoke in a distinctive tone. I had made her angry. I sent her a letter apologizing for anything and everything that came to my mind.

Nevertheless, she gave him an ultimatum: if he did not end the friendship with me, she would leave him.

Twenty years have passed. I do not blame him for his decision. I would have chosen her over me.

To the People of God

God spoke through the prophets to encourage us to flee from our sinful nature and return through faith to Our Lord and Creator. Christ, the Lord, came and suffered to save us from our sins. Christ is the Church’s final salvation in “the last days,” which began with Christ’s Ascension. As we celebrated over a month ago, the birth of Jesus Christ inaugurated a new age—the first taste of the greater salvation that Christ brings to God’s people. Peter’s second epistle reminds us the words of prophecy fulfilled in Christ are being fulfilled today in His Church: “So, we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You do well to be attentive to this as a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” [1.19].

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Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you. You are a people holy to the Lord your God, who has chosen you to be a people, God’s treasured possession. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of the Lord who called you out of darkness into the Lord’s marvelous light.

“You are My witness,” declares the Lord, “and My servant whom I chose. Know and believe Me. Understand that before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me.

“I took you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners, saying to you, ‘You are my servant, I chose you and have not rejected you.’ Remember these things, for you are My servant; I formed you, and you will not be forgotten by Me—everyone called by My name, whom I created for My glory.

“I am the Lord Almighty, enthroned between the cherubim; I alone am God over every kingdom on the earth. I made heaven and earth. Do not fear; I am with you. Do not be afraid, dismayed, discouraged, or anxious, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, and I will uphold you with my victorious and righteous right hand. I am your shield, your great reward. Did I not command Joshua and the nation of Israel millennia ago to be strong and courageous, not to be afraid or discouraged? I the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

“When you pass through the turbulent waters of trials, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers of despair, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fires of temptation, they will not burn you; the flames will not set you ablaze.

“So do not be afraid, my servant; do not be dismayed,” declares the Lord. “I will save you out of a distant place, from the land of your exile. You will again have peace and security, and no one will make you afraid. I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, do not fear, for I myself will help you,’” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

“Yes, everyone who is incensed, enraged, and angered against you shall be put to shame, confused, disgraced, and humiliated; those who strive against and oppose you shall be as nothing and shall perish. They will say of Me, ‘Deliverance and strength are in the Lord alone.’ Those who raged against you will be put to shame. No evil charge against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is your heritage as My servant, and this will be their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.

“Though you search for your enemies, those who contend and quarrel with you, you shall not find them; those who attack you shall come to nothing. In a while, the wicked will be no more; though you look with care at their place, they will not be there. My servant David had seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green laurel tree, but the wicked man soon passed away and was no more; though David looked for him, the ruthless man could not be found. True, the wicked may prosper in the business of this world. However, far from being envied by you, these ‘prosperous wicked’ should be mourned since their temporary success is a prelude to eternal loss. The ruthless will vanish, the mockers will disappear, and they who have an eye for evil will be cut down like a flourishing green laurel tree. They perish forever like their refuse. They fly away like a dream, and no one can find them. Even like a vision of the night, they are chased away. The eye that saw them sees them no longer, and their place no longer beholds them.

“Why them and not you? I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’ Realizing this, My servant David professed, ‘Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.’ Therefore, I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will watch over you as My servant and will appoint you as a covenant for the people and a light to the nations.”

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Like Paul, what shall we say in response? If God is for us, who is against us? Our response should resemble that of David, “You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to God’s people. Praise be to God!”

When our soul is weary with sorrow from passing through the turbulent waters of trials and the rivers of despair, the Lord strengthens us according to God’s Word. Because the Sovereign Lord helps us, we will not be disgraced. Therefore, we must set our face like flint, resolved and determined in the face of opposition, knowing a setback—any setback—will not put us to shame. The Sovereign Lord helps us. Who will condemn us? The Lord is our light and our salvation; whom shall we fear? The Lord is our refuge, the defense of our life; whom shall we dread?

When we go out each day to battle our “enemies” and see numerous obstacles, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord, our God, who brought Israel up from the land of Egypt, is with us—even to the end of the age. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord our God goes with us. Our God will not fail us nor forsake us.

 

A Prayer to Keep God First this New Year by Debbie McDaniel

Dear God,

Thank you that you make all things new. Thank you for all that you’ve allowed into our lives this past year, the good along with the hard things, which have reminded us how much we need you and rely on your presence filling us every single day.

We pray for your Spirit to lead us each step of this New Year. We ask that you will guide our decisions and turn our hearts to deeply desire you above all else. We ask that you will open doors needing to be opened and close the ones needing to be shut tight. We ask that you would help us release our grip on the things to which you’ve said “no,” “not yet,” or “wait.” We ask for help to pursue you first, above every dream and desire you’ve put within our hearts.

We ask for your wisdom, for your strength and power to be constantly present within us. We pray you would make us strong and courageous for the road ahead. Give us ability beyond what we feel able, let your gifts flow freely through us, so that you would be honored by our lives, and others would be drawn to you.

We pray that you’d keep us far from the snares and traps of temptations. That you would whisper in our ear when we need to run and whisper in our heart when we need to stand our ground.

We pray for your protection over our families and friends. We ask for your hand to cover us and keep us distanced from the evil intent of the enemy; that you would be a barrier to surround us, that we’d be safe in your hands. We pray that you would give us discernment and insight beyond our years, to understand your will, hear your voice, and know your ways.

We ask that you would keep our footsteps firm, on solid ground, helping us to be consistent and faithful. Give us supernatural endurance to stay the course, not swerving to the right or to the left, or being too easily distracted by other things that would seek to call us away from a close walk with you.

Forgive us for the times we have worked so hard to be self-sufficient, forgetting our need for you, living [independently] of your spirit. Forgive us for letting fear and worry control our minds, and for allowing pride and selfishness wreak havoc over our lives. Forgive us for not following your ways and for living distant from your presence.

We confess our need for you … fresh … new … again. We ask that you make all things new, in our hearts, in our minds, in our lives, for this coming year. We pray for your refreshing over us.

Keep your words of truth planted firm within us, help us to keep focused on what is pure and right, give us the power to be obedient to your word. And when the enemy reminds us where we have been, hissing his lies and attacks our way, we trust that your voice speaks louder and stronger, as you remind us we are safe with you and your purposes and plans will not fail. We ask that you will be our defense and rear guard, keeping our way clear, removing the obstacles, and covering the pitfalls. Lord, lead us on your level ground.

We ask that you would provide for our needs, we ask for your grace and favor. We pray for your blessings to cover us, we pray that you would help us to prosper and make every plan that you have birthed in our heart to succeed. We pray that others would take notice of your goodness and could not help but to say, “These are the ones that the Lord has blessed.”

Help us to be known as great givers, help us to be generous and kind, help us to look to the needs of others and not be consumed by only our own.

May we be lovers of truth, may the fruits of your spirit be evident in our lives—your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Shine your light in us, through us, over us. May we make a difference in this world, for your glory and purposes. Set [your] way before us. May all your plans succeed. [May we] reflect your peace and hope to a world that so desperately needs your presence and healing.

To you be glory and honor, in this New Year, and forever.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Something to Ponder within Our Hearts This Christmans

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

However, she was very perplexed by Gabriel’s words and wondered what this sort of greeting meant.

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end.”

Mary asked the angel, “How can this be since I am a virgin?”

The angel responded, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be holy. He will be called Son of God. Even now, your relative Elizabeth—in her old age—has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Then Mary replied, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her [Luke 1.26-38].

 

Christmas cards display all kinds of imagery. Some have landscape scenes of small towns and the countryside, buried in snow, with horse-drawn sleighs or carriages. Others have animals frolicking, from reindeer to puppies, chipmunks, raccoons, cardinals, and cute grey mice. Angels appear as shy, cuddly-looking creatures, who certainly would never have to announce, “Be not afraid.” The few religious cards that can be found usually depict the holy family, clothes unruffled, looking so serene, with golden halos, looking like crowns from another world, just hovering over their heads. The words inside the cards express love, goodwill, joy, happiness, and warmth. Yet, in contrast, the descriptions of the events leading up to the first Christmas that both Matthew and Luke record are vastly different in tone, depicting a disruptive scene. Luke tells us that Mary was “greatly troubled” and “afraid” when the angel Gabriel appeared. As the angel proclaimed the awe-inspiring words about the Son of the Most High whose kingdom will never end, Mary had something less extravagant on her mind: But I’m a virgin! Also of grave importance, in a close-knit Jewish community during the first century, the news the angel brought could not have been entirely welcome. The law regarded a betrothed woman who became pregnant as an adulterer, subject to death by stoning.

Matthew says that Joseph graciously agreed to divorce Mary in private rather than press charges of adultery until an angel appeared to him to correct his viewpoint of betrayal. After the angel departed from Mary, Luke tells of a fearful Mary rushing off to visit her relative Elizabeth, the one person who might understand what she was going through. In addition, while the whole countryside is joyfully talking about Elizabeth’s miracle, Mary must hide the shame of her own miracle.

How many times did Mary reexamine the angel’s words as she felt the Son of God kicking within her belly? How many times did Joseph question his encounter with an angel—was it a dream?—as he endured the shameful looks from villagers who could plainly see the changing shape of his fiancée? Yet, the virgin Mary listened to the angel, considered the scandalous effects, and replied, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” She was the first person to accept Jesus on his own terms, regardless of the personal cost.

Two thousand years later, people celebrate Christmas, attempting to create personal “Hallmark memories,” with wondrous decorations and festivities, devoid of any hint of scandal or personal sacrifice. During this Christmas season, let us make time to ponder what Mary and Joseph agreed to endure and to consider how the very One who said, “Let there be light,” entered our world, unable to speak, unable to eat solid food, unable to control his bladder, dependent upon a teenage couple for shelter, food, and love.

Receiving the Benefits of Scripture

Reading Scripture without reflection and meditation is like licking a baked potato and expecting to benefit from its nutrients. Instead, one is receiving a mere taste and a slight one at that. One must chew and digest the baked potato to benefit fully from its nutrients. Likewise, one must reflect and meditate upon Scripture if one wishes to receive its full benefits.

 

On Being Members of the Body of Christ

In Romans 12, Paul tells us that true and proper worship on our part, in light of God’s mercy, is for us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, which would be holy and pleasing to God.

We are then transformed as our minds are renewed, which allows us to test and approve whether something is part of God’s good and pleasing and perfect will.

In accordance with the faith given to us by God, our body, which we offered to God, is now a member of the body of Christ.

Just as each member of our own body has a function, we too each have a purpose in the body of Christ, according to the gifts given to us by grace.

As members of the body of Christ:

We are to love and honor one another, hating what is evil, clinging to what is good.

Being joyful in times of hope, patient during moments of affliction, and faithful in offering our prayers.

We are to bless those who persecute us, rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.

We are not to be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with goodness.

What Is the “Most Excellent Way”?

No congregation is perfect, and the Corinthian congregations were no exception.  Individuals and factions boasted of being better than others within the congregations.  This is still true today.  Members of the Corinthian congregations viewed themselves as being greater because they “spoke in tongues”; others because they possessed “special” knowledge or “secret” wisdom through prophecy; still others due to how much they had sacrificed.

In his First Epistle to the Corinthians, Paul addresses these distinctions along with the related arrogance.  After his opening salutation and thanksgiving, he “appeals to [the Corinthians] in the name of Christ to agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among [them] and that [they] may be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1.10).  Several members of the congregations informed him of the quarrels that were dividing the congregations.  The topics of these quarrels show the spiritual immaturity of the Corinthians (3.1-5).

Building upon his opening appeal for unity, Paul spends much of the epistle addressing these topics and how to resolve them.  With the underlying theme of unity, Paul’s discussions build toward the image he offers in chapter 12.  He speaks of how the “gifts” of speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, prophesying, etc., result from the Holy Spirit’s presence.  Since the Holy Spirit is one and not numerous spirits, we are to use these various “gifts” together to worship God and serve others.

Just as the human body comprises many parts that do different functions for the body, so congregations include many members with different gifts that serve the Church—the “Body of Christ” on earth.

What is true of the human body is true for the Body of Christ.  To work, members of the body must “be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1.10).

In the human body, the brain sends an impulse through the nervous system to the proper part or parts of the body to take action.  Now, let us ponder a question: What is the “impulse” that travels through the central nervous system in the Body of Christ?  If the “gifts” of the Spirit give purpose or role for each member, what is the message or command that travels through the central nervous system?

Allow me to add that as I Corinthians 12 closes, Paul will “show [the Corinthians and us] the most excellent way,” which occupies I Corinthians 13 and relates to the earlier question.  Yet, we need added information to appreciate what Paul says in I Corinthians 13.

Keeping the earlier question before us (What is the “impulse” that travels through the central nervous system in the Body of Christ?), let us examine a few passages outside of I Corinthians on “one mind” and “thought” before studying I Corinthians 13.

First, in Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians, he discusses the “mind” of Christ:
“If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”

So far, these words parallel with Paul’s appeal to the Corinthians in 1.10.  Yet, the similarities end there.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to one’s own interests but also to the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2.1-5).

Here is the root cause of the quarrels and factions in the Corinthian congregations:

• Members do everything due to “selfish ambition and conceit.”
• Few “count others as more significant than themselves.”
• Individuals pursue their “own interests” without considering “the interests of others.”

Unity, “being of one mind,” has little chance of existing in this environment.

So, this provides us with the mind, the role of the human brain with the central nervous system.

The next two passages to consider occur during Jesus’ discourse in the upper room on the evening of his arrest.  In John 13.34-35, Jesus gives the disciples (his followers, which include us) a “new commandment”:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”

As John 15 begins, Jesus refers to himself as the “true vine” while the “branches” are those who follow his commands.
“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.  ….  This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command you.  ….  These things I command you so that you will love one another” (15.10, 12-14, 17).

Jesus’ repetition of his command further emphasizes that as believers abiding in Christ, we are to love one another.  A living union with Christ is necessary as obedience and love go together.  So, to be a “member” of the Body of Christ is to obey and love.

Therefore, Jesus’ command to love one another as He loves us is the impulse that triggers members of the Body of Christ to act, to love others.

The Gospels describe the love Christ exemplified during his ministry.  Paul provides a beautiful description of Christ’s love and humility in Philippians 2.  After addressing the quarrels within the Corinthian congregations, Paul tells his readers (and us) what perfect love—unconditional love (agape, love for the unlovely and unworthy); the self-giving redemptive love God has for us—looks like.

[Though some couples have I Corinthians 13 read during their wedding, the chapter never mentions the word for love between husband and wife (eros, desire).  {Then again, perhaps the bride is telling the groom he is “unlovely and unworthy,” but I digress.}]

Since God is perfect, God’s love is perfect.  So let us examine this “most excellent way”—the right way to exercise our spiritual gifts—the way of love.  Love is not a “gift” of the Spirit but a “fruit” of the Spirit (Galatians 5.22).

I Corinthians 13.1-3
If I speak in the languages of mortals and of angels but do not have love for others, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I were fluent in every language (known and unknown) but spoke without love, then my words would be nothing but noise.  This love shows a selfless concern for the welfare of others, a love that is not brought forth by any loveable qualities in the recipient of this love.  It is the product of a will to love in obedience to God’s command, as manifested in Christ’s love—his willingness to go to the cross.

If I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all the plans of God and possessed all knowledge, and if I have all the faith necessary to move mountains, but do not have love for others, I am nothing.  Even if my gift from the Spirit is unlimited knowledge or absolute trust in God, if I do not possess and exercise that trust and knowledge in love, I am nothing.

If I give away all my possessions to the poor, and if I sacrificed my body to be burned so I may boast, but do not have love for others, I gain nothing.  Even the supreme sacrifice of poverty and a martyr’s death, if not motivated by love, accomplishes nothing.

[Note that Paul is using intentional exaggeration (speaking all languages, understanding all God’s plans, possess all knowledge, all my possessions) and dramatic overstatement (sacrifice body to be burned) to emphasize the uselessness of these “gifts” exercised without love.  Having a gift for “tongues,” prophecy, knowledge, or faith is not evidence of a Spirit-filled life; selfless love is.]

I Corinthians 13.4-8a
Love is patient
Love is kind
Love does not envy
Love does not boast
Love is not arrogant or proud
Love is not rude nor dishonors others
Love does not insist on its own way
Love is not irritable or easily angered
Love is not resentful or keeps record of being wronged
Love does not delight in evil or injustice but rejoices when the truth wins
Love bears all things and never gives up, believes all things without losing faith, is always full of hope, perseveres and endures through all circumstances.  [Compare these “all’s” to those Paul used in his earlier “exaggeration.”]
Love never fails nor ends

[Read these descriptions of love once more, substituting “love” with “Christ.”]

[Considering all the problems Paul addressed in I Corinthians, these verses describing love are a rebuke to the Corinthians (and us as well) who fail to conduct themselves with love.]

I Corinthians 13.8b-10
But as for prophecies, they will come to an end and become unnecessary.
As for speaking in tongues, they will cease and become useless.
As for knowledge, it will end, no longer being useful
At this moment, our knowledge is only partial and incomplete, and our gifts of prophecy show only part of the larger picture.
But when the complete—the perfect—comes, these partial things will cease.  When Christ returns, they will end, fulfilled.

[Though spiritual gifts (prophecy, tongues, knowledge, etc.) will cease, love will always remain.]

I Corinthians 13.11-12
When I was a child, I spoke like a child; I thought like a child; I reasoned like a child.
When I became an adult, I gave up childish ways.
Now we see in a mirror, dimly—imperfectly—but then [when Christ returns] we will see face to face—everything in perfect clarity
All I know now is partial and incomplete; then [when Christ returns] I will know everything fully and completely, even as God knows me completely.

[In comparison with what we will receive when Christ returns (the final event in God’s plan of redemption and revelation), the present blessings as gifts of the Spirit are only partial and thus imperfect.  So, treating the temporary, incomplete gifts of the Spirit as having ultimate significance is a sign of spiritual immaturity on the part of the Corinthians (and us as well).  The partiality and incompleteness of our current knowledge emphasizes our dependence upon God’s grace.]

I Corinthians 13.13
Now faith, hope, and love—these three—abide now and forever.
However, the greatest of these is love.

[Love is “the greatest of these” because God is love (I John 4.8), God has communicated love to us (I John 4.10), and God commands us to love (John 13.34-35).]

[Love supersedes the “gifts” of which the Corinthians are boastful because love outlasts them all.  Long after these sought-after gifts are no longer necessary, love will still be the guiding principle that controls all that God and God’s redeemed people are and do.]

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I Corinthians 13 is a forceful critique of arrogant spirituality—spiritual immaturity.  The genuineness of spiritual gifts is undeniable.  However, they are not evidence of spiritual superiority.  Spiritual gifts have significance only within a congregation where love for others dominates over personal ambitions and selfish interests.

 

 

What scenes did you envision as you read this?  Did the Holy Spirit move within your heart?  If so, please share and comment below so we may all grow in community and fellowship with God.  Grace and Peace

 

Prayer of Victory IV

Dear Lord, may I realize afresh today what Your death and resurrection mean for me. Forgiveness … Freedom … and the ability to walk with You through this fallen world into eternity. May I always find my satisfaction in You and Your willingness to offer Yourself to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

– Rachel Olsen