The Greatest of All Promises

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First & Foremost love is not only a gift, like the others mentioned here and
chapter 12:1-11, but a more excellent way! And it appears first in his description of the
characteristics of the “produce” or fruit of the Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is produced,
with our cooperation, by the Spirit from within and helps create the character traits of
Jesus in and through us. The gifts of the Spirit are loaned to us to evangelize and edify
the church more powerfully (Acts 1:8). This is why love as the premier trait is termed, “a
more excellent way” (of being & living, produced by the Spirit within, with our
cooperation) Not that we have any chance of becoming perfect like Jesus, in this fallen
existence ( see verses 8-13)

Transcript

First & Foremost love is not only a gift, like the others mentioned here and
chapter 12:1-11, but a more excellent way! And it appears first in his description of the
characteristics of the “produce” or fruit of the Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is produced,
with our cooperation, by the Spirit from within and helps create the character traits of
Jesus in and through us. The gifts of the Spirit are loaned to us to evangelize and edify
the church more powerfully (Acts 1:8). This is why love as the premier trait is termed, “a
more excellent way” (of being & living, produced by the Spirit within, with our
cooperation) Not that we have any chance of becoming perfect like Jesus, in this fallen
existence ( see verses 8-13)
The love chapter is purposely placed between chapter 12, listing some of the
gifts and their purposes, to edify the body of Christ, and Chapter 14, to correct certain
misuses; the gifts of tongues without interpretations was practiced en masse causing
not edification but chaos and embarrassment (read chapter 14, “especially verse 23,
“madness!” verses 26-33 “understanding and divine order are crucial) If they are
operated in the way of love people would leave their services with understanding,
conviction and blessings!”
But the love of Christ desires to one day fulfill His greatest promise to us: To
impart the fullest possible revelation and understanding of ourselves, as He sees us,
and our revelation and understanding of Him, The fullest as far as our finite humanity
can achieve, we will never be divine. Therefore verse 12 has hyperbolic characteristics.
Paul really wants to overstate the point to drive home its greatness and fullness for us
humans.
1) The charisms as exiling and powerful as they are, gifts from the Holy Spirit, are
temporary. They are necessary for the edification or build up of the church as well
as aiding the success of our witness and evangelization. In line with 12:4-6, Paul
compares their importance to the most excellent way of love (13:1-3). If we
exercise the gifts given to us but don’t exercise and grow in agape love, they

might bless others & garner temporal fame and prestige for us, but as for
character building and growth in the mind of Christ they do “nothing.”
a) Even if for show, we are martyred(verse 3), without love for God and
others, the person “gains nothing”. Note all 15 verbs involve not just inner
failings of love but action towards others and in effect showing worship
and love for God (see also 1 John 3:11-15; 4:7-12). For example, in
Corinth, they had gifts, especially tongues but were behaving badly (read
chapters 5-8, 11:17-34). They thought they had the proof that they were
spiritual but not before God. He saw them lacking! While these gifts can
even “move mountains” and are needed and should be sought, they in
and of themselves, don’t automatically produce character and are
temporary not needed in heaven (Verses 8-10) He who is perfect is
coming in the Parousia (1 Corinthians 1:8; 13:10) a Christian can still
remain a child or immature while claiming to be used of God in the gifts of
the Spirit, puzzling as this sounds(verse 11-12); for exercise of gifts are so
glamorous.

2) But the greatest promise to be fulfilled is found expressed in verse 12.
a) And this promise can begin it’s fulfillment now to affect our lives, through
the Holy Spirit and His fruit.
My paraphrase of verse 12:
Now, no matter how spirited we think we are, we see but a poor
reflection as in a mirror(some clearer than others) Then we shall see face
to face(Genesis 32:30; Numbers 12:8; 2 Corinthians 3:18) Again, now we
know in part(some more than others) Then we shall know most fully for a
human being, both about myself and God. It will seem to us infinitely more
than before in our glorified bodies, in a glorified existence.
Again note the statement “even as I am fully known”, in hyperbole
and cannot imply that eventually our knowledge be equal to God’s
knowledge (similar to the statement found in Matthew 5:48)
This promise fulfilled surpasses all promises that every man and
woman of God can experience in this life. Our greatest blessing here and

now is immensely dwarfed when compared to our experiences in heaven
and the new heaven and new earth. Unlike the warning given to Moses
that he could not see God face to face and live(Numbers 12:8) We will be
able to look into the eyes of our triune God and love and worship must
fully!

Read 3:17-18
Amen