AGAPE LOVE – THE LAST MAN STANDING
AGAPE LOVE – THE LAST MAN STANDING
I. The Gifts are Partial and Temporary.
1 Corinthians 13:8-9 – 8Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
• Love NEVER fails – does not fall apart, does not wither, is never used up.
• Prophecy and knowledge FAIL – eclipsed by something greater.
− Fail and Vanish Away (katargeo) – abolished, nullified, made of no effect. It is passive, meaning something outside them does it to them.
• Tongues stands alone (pausontai; future middle) – cease.
• Prophecy and knowledge end when the perfect comes — a fixed point; tongues end by need, not by a date.
− Prophecy and knowledge are Revelation Gifts: when full sight comes, they are eclipsed.
− Tongues is a Communication Gift: the need for a communication gift is Situational.
II. The Partial Ends When the Perfect Comes.
1 Corinthians 13:10-12 – 10But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
• That which is Perfect
− The Completed Bible
− Our Completed Spiritual Maturity
− The Return of Christ Himself
III. The Last Man Standing.
• What Remains?
1 Corinthians 13:13 – And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
− Faith: the ability to believe in and Trust God
− Hope: the believe that what God promised will be delivered
− Love: agape – the love of God
• The gifts did not make the list. The gifts were always tools for the Partial.
• Love is Greatest. The only one needing no upgrade when the perfect comes.
− Faith becomes sight — you do not believe for what you now see.
− Hope becomes possession — you do not hope for what you now hold.
− But love? Love just keeps being love, on both sides of that day.