Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Camp on this passage for a long time. Meditate on this text. Do we really understand the significance of what Paul is saying?
You have heard it said, "Love is not a feeling; it's a choice" Oh really? What a pathetic way to try to explain love. One can choose to respect someone; to honor someone; to serve someone; to be loyal to someone; to even die for someone--but, that does not mean they have love.
If faith without works is dead; then, it must logically follow, if one believes what Paul is saying to be true (and of course it is), that faith, even with works, without love is nothing.
Perhaps while we are spending hours debating what kind of faith saves and what kind of works will come out of true saving faith, we might consider that even after we come to the conclusion (in our own minds) of that matter; or, even reach an agreement with everyone we know that true saving faith results in a manifestation of outward works of righteousness, and, even if we believe that we possess such saving faith and that our lives reflect that faith and yet have not love; according to God's Word--it will profit us nothing.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Camp on this passage for a long time. Meditate on this text. Do we really understand the significance of what Paul is saying?
You have heard it said, "Love is not a feeling; it's a choice" Oh really? What a pathetic way to try to explain love. One can choose to respect someone; to honor someone; to serve someone; to be loyal to someone; to even die for someone--but, that does not mean they have love.
If faith without works is dead; then, it must logically follow, if one believes what Paul is saying to be true (and of course it is), that faith, even with works, without love is nothing.
Perhaps while we are spending hours debating what kind of faith saves and what kind of works will come out of true saving faith, we might consider that even after we come to the conclusion (in our own minds) of that matter; or, even reach an agreement with everyone we know that true saving faith results in a manifestation of outward works of righteousness, and, even if we believe that we possess such saving faith and that our lives reflect that faith and yet have not love; according to God's Word--it will profit us nothing.
"Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 1:13
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