From the Pen of Paul

The "more excellent way"—The Characteristics of Love
(Part 6)

What is Love?

Note: We are continuing to look at what Paul calls the "more excellent way"—characteristics of love.

The apostle Paul answers by giving a number of properties of it, all distinct and special. It is patient, it is kind, it has no envy, no self-importance, no ostentation (no showing off, parading), no indecorum (improper behavior), no selfishness, or irritability, no malevolence (the wish that evil might happen to others, ill will). Which of these is it? For if it is all at once, surely it is a name for all virtues at once. And what makes this conclusion still more plausible is that Paul elsewhere actually calls love "the fulfilling of the law": and our Savior, in like manner, makes our whole duty consist in loving God and our neighbor. And James calls it "the royal law": and John says, "We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren." Thus the chapter from which the text is taken seems but an exemplification in detail of what is declared in general terms by the inspired writers.

In one sense it is all virtues at once, and therefore Paul cannot describe it more definitely, more restrictedly than he does. In other words, it is the root of all holy dispositions, and grows and blossoms into them: they are its parts, and when it is described, they of necessity are mentioned. Love is the material (so to speak) out of which all graces are made, the quality of mind which is the fruit of regeneration, and in which the Spirit dwells; according to John's words, "Every one that loveth is born of God. . . he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."
—The Great Texts of the Bible

In these articles on "the more excellent way" we have seen that the Bible describes the characteristics of love as being (1) longsuffering (2) kind (3) envieth not (4) vaunteth not itself (5) is not puffed up (6) does not behave unseemly (7) seeks not its own (8) not easily provoked (9) thinks no evil (10) rejoices not in iniquity (11) rejoices in the truth (12) bears all things (13) believes all things (14) hopes all things and (15) endures all things. We need to remember that Christ is the embodiment of love; He is the perfect example of each and all of these qualities. We also need to be reminded that love, as described in this chapter, is something that must be diligently worked at in order to constantly improve. It is not something that we achieve so completely that we never need to improve. It is much like knowledge and the other graces of II Peter 1. We are to improve constantly throughout our Christian life.

The Transitory Nature of Spiritual Gifts

Next, in I Corinthians 13, Paul shows that miraculous spiritual gifts were temporary in nature and must pass away. Love, on the other hand, the doing of God's will toward all as a principle of action, would never pass away. Love is the ruling principle in heaven and it is eternal (John 3:16; I John 3:1; Ephesians 5:25; Romans 5:8; I John 4:7-11, 19-21; Matthew 22:36-40). When you look at Paul's statement that "love endures all things" it is easy to see why he says that "love never fails." To endure is to withstand all the attacks that the enemy sends our way; love that is able to do that will never fail. It will still be standing after the battle is over. It is like the mighty walls of the city that cannot be battered down by the enemy's assault. This statement that "love never fails" also introduces, by way of contrast, the transitory nature of the miraculous spiritual gifts, prophecy, tongues and knowledge. Next week we will look further at this contrast that Paul gives to determine how long these gifts were to last.
—Paul Wilmoth

From the Preacher's Viewpoint. . .

God is Alive and Well

The devil and his crowd have always tried to pitch God and His creation out (John 1:11). Sadder still to us is the fact that some of God's people have tried to throw Him out of His church or kingdom. Some preachers currently among us refuse to answer us when it comes to God answering prayer today. They refuse to answer us because they get trapped in their inconsistent position that if the Holy Spirit works in the Christian's life today it has to be by a miracle. You see, this is not so.

The Holy Spirit can work today in the life of a Christian, and such does not have to be a miracle. If God can work in providence without it being a miracle, then the Holy Spirit can dwell in a Christian today without it being a miracle. Some of our brethren had rather be a deist than to accept plain Bible teaching. A deist believes that God created all things and then deserted His creation and has not had anything to do with it since. The Lord deliver us from such belief and such a ridiculous concept.

God has and still is working today with His creation. He is holding all things together by the word of His power today (Col. 1:17). Is this a miracle? Is this done by the supernatural power of God? Jesus said that God takes care of the birds of the air, and God will take care of us. He further said God clothed the grass of the field (Matt. 6:26-33). Does God do this by His supernatural power, and is such done by a miracle? Even the sparrow does not fall to the ground without God knowing about it (Matt.10:29). God knows us so well that He knows the number of hairs on our head (Matt. 10:30). God knows by His supernatural wisdom how many stars there are in the universe. Would it be a miracle for me to know how many stars there are in the universe? You see, the word supernatural does not always mean miraculous when we are talking about God and His work.

When God sent the twelve out on the limited commission He provided for them by divine providence (Lk. 22:35). God still sends us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons (Acts 14:17). God has many good things to give us by His divine providence (I Cor. 2:9). The Christian is to give to the Lord's cause as God has prospered him (I Cor. 16:2). God makes His grace to abound to the Christian that he may have all sufficiency (II Cor. 9:8). God by His providence took care of Joseph and his family (Gen. 50:20; Acts 7:9-10; Ps. 105:17). The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord (Prov. 21:1). Man has many plans in his heart, but he cannot out do God (Prov. 19:21). God gives man travail (Eccl. 3:10). God takes the bad and blesses the righteous (Rom. 8:28). The Holy Spirit takes what we cannot put into words, our groanings, and tells God what we need and wish (Rom. 8:26).

Why would a Christian wish to push God out of His creation? This is a horrible act against our Creator. We love to sing, "I need Thee every hour" or "be with me, Lord." Must we get rid of these and other wonderful songs which are in our hymnals? Others may do this, but we will not. We pray every day, "Be with me, Lord. I cannot live without Thee." Any person that is so hardheaded that he is willing to twist the Scriptures to fit his position needs to repent of such.
—Malcolm L. Hill