Faith is a blessed thing. For it is by grace through faith that we are saved.[1] Faith is what gives us hope of eternal life in God’s Heavenly Kingdom. So, I think we’d all agree that faith and hope are two of the most important things a Christian can possess. The Apostle Paul would agree that faith and hope are essential things that every Christian must have. But, he wouldn’t say they are the greatest things a Christian must have in their hearts. So, what then is the greatest thing of all? Well, Paul teaches us this: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is LOVE.” 1st Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
So, with LOVE being the greatest of all Christian attributes, it is essential for us to understand what LOVE is all about. In the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians, Paul gives one of the best explanations as he defines the many aspects of Christian LOVE. This morning, we are going to explore the first three verses of chapter 13 where we are told how empty our efforts are when they lack Christian love.
In verse 1, Paul makes a very sobering statement. He declares: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” 1st Corinthians 13:1 (NIV) To understand what Paul is saying here, it helps to have a little background surrounding this epistle. 1st Corinthians was one of the two letters Paul wrote to the early Christian Church in Corinth, Greece. Corinth was a major city in the Roman empire noted for its diverse citizens and pagan immorality. Paul faced many challenges in guiding the Corinthian church. In this first letter to them, Paul sought to correct their misguided views about what the life of a Christian is supposed to be.
When Paul referred to the “tongues of men,” he was speaking of the gift of the Holy Spirit that was given to the first members of the early Christian church on the Day of Pentecost. It was then that some of Jesus’ followers were given the unique gift enabling them to speak foreign languages that they had never before spoken (Acts 2:4-12). But, when Paul referred to the “tongues of angels,” he wasn’t describing some unknown heavenly language. Rather, it was more likely a local expression meaning to speak with divine eloquence. In other words, it referred to someone who was noted as an exceptional speaker.[2] Both the “tongues of men” and the “tongues of angels” were highly prized by the Greeks living in Corinth. As newly converted Christians, members of the Corinthian congregation yearned to have the gift of tongues as a mark of status within their new faith. And, on a purely secular level, Greeks naturally loved good oratory. They’d sit for hours listening to men whose silver-tongues produced flowery words that sounded as if they were from the “tongues of angels.” So, if a Corinthian could speak in the “tongues of men” or the “tongues of angels,” he or she would have been quite pleased with themselves. But, Paul had news for them. Even if they possessed the gift of tongues (in either form), but had no GODLY LOVE in their hearts, they were no better that a “resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” Without living out the love of Christ in their daily lives, the gift of tongues would amount to nothing. All they would be doing is making a lot of noise! That, of course, must have been a great shock to these Corinthian Christians. For Paul to open in this way, surely got their attention.
Now, just in case someone missed the point, Paul built upon his original statement by adding: “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, I am nothing.” 1st Corinthians 13:2 (NIV) This reference to the “gift of prophecy” is a little confusing for us today. The Greek word Paul used for “prophecy” does not necessarily mean the ability to give prophetic predictions about the future. Within the context of Paul’s letter, it simply refers to “the gift of inspired preaching”[3] or the ability to publicly proclaim the Gospel in an effective way.[4] This gift appealed to the Christian Greeks in two ways. First, they loved to hear great speakers. Secondly, they also wanted the public attention and acclaim that came with preaching the Gospel message. The only thing Greeks loved more than such spiritually inspired oratory was knowledge—i.e., the pursuit of learning new things and solving the mysteries of life. Knowing this, Paul emphasized his point by adding the gift of knowledge to the gift of public preaching. Then, he capped this off by including another spiritual dimension: A faith so strong that it could “move mountains.” Thus, Paul rolled all these treasured gifts together and concluded that you could be blessed with them all, but if you lacked LOVE, then you would still amount to NOTHING! (1st Corinthians 13:2) Or, as Christian theologian, D. A. Carson put it: “Without love, even the Christian who has the most effective faith contributes nothing to the edification of the church.”[5]
Next, Paul moved on in verse 3 and stated: “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, I gain nothing.” 1st Corinthians 13:3 (NIV) The first part of this verse is plain enough. We’ll come back to its meaning in a moment. But, what does Paul mean by surrendering one’s “body to the flames?” Some interpret this as referring to the ultimate self-sacrifice in support of a cause. In other words, it points to the sacrificial death of a martyr. But, this isn’t the only interpretation. The early church writer, Clement of Rome, believed that Paul was referring to those who would actually sell themselves into slavery and then use the proceeds to pay for feeding the poor.[6] This latter interpretation fits well with Paul’s reference to giving all one possesses to the poor. Under either interpretation, it points to a Christian totally dedicated to helping those in need.
Now, back to the opening phrase of verse 3 that refers to a Christian, so dedicated to the Lord, that he or she gives all they possess to the poor. Such an act would also be very self-sacrificial. In this regard, it encompasses something Jesus told the rich young ruler he must do to start on the path of salvation. This wealthy man asked Jesus: “Teacher, what good thing must I DO to get eternal life?” Matthew 19:16 (NIV) As a starter, Jesus told him to follow the Ten Commandments—specifically, Commandments 5 through 10 that deal with one’s relationship to his fellow human beings. The man responded: 20 “All these I have kept. What do I still LACK?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow Me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:16-24 (NIV)
Note that Jesus informed this rich young man that he was LACKING something. With this in mind, why did Jesus tell him to part ways with his possessions and give them to the poor? How could giving these things away allow this man to gain what he’d been lacking? And, more to the point—exactly what was the man lacking? He was lacking the LOVE OF CHRIST in his heart. When we say the “LOVE OF CHRIST,” what does it entail? Well, just as the Cross had a vertical beam and a horizontal beam, so too does the “LOVE OF CHRIST” have a vertical dimension and a horizontal dimension. Vertically, it is the love we must have for God. Horizontally, it is the love that we must have for each other. Speaking of the relationship Christians are to have with each other as members of the Body of Christ, Jesus said: 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35 (NIV) But, that is not the only love Christians must display. The demands of GODLY LOVE (agapē, ἀγάπη) go much farther than that. In this regard, Jesus said: 43 “There is a saying, ‘Love your friends and hate your enemies.’ 44 But I say: Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way you will be acting as true sons of your Father in Heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust too.” Matthew 5:43-45 (TLB)
This was something that Paul was trying to get the Corinthian church members to understand. He was telling them that they were treasuring the right things, but for the wrong reasons. The Corinthians in the Church were pursuing the gift of tongues, the gift of preaching, the gift of knowledge, and the gift of faith, but they were doing so without the LOVE OF CHRIST in their hearts. And, because of that, they were not putting their spiritual gifts to use for the betterment of God’s Kingdom. Rather, they were misusing them to make themselves look superior to other members of the church. They loved these spiritual gifts as status symbols, just as the rich young ruler loved his material possessions for the status and worldly pleasures they brought him. It wasn’t so much that they lacked love. In fact, they had plenty of love. The problem was their kind of love was of the worldly variety. As such, it was a misdirected love because it was focused on their worldly pride and materialism.
When someone volunteers to feed the homeless at a soup kitchen or engages in some other charitable acts, have you ever heard them say they do it because it makes them “feel good”? They don’t always complete their statement, but what they are really saying is that it makes them feel good about themselves. Even worse, some take it a step farther and think to themselves, “Oh, what a good person I am for doing such a gracious thing!” I am not trying to be cynical, but the reality of such declarations is “do-gooders,” like that, would have fit well within the Corinthian church congregation that Paul was trying to correct. When a person’s motivation to do good things for others is rooted in making themselves feel good, it is a sure sign that he or she is motivated by seeking a sense of self-superiority and worldly praise. Worldly praise, like the material things of this world, will not last. They are merely temporary treasures that are here today, but gone tomorrow. That is why Jesus said: 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) The Corinthians had a worldly love in their heads, but lacked the LOVE OF CHRIST in their hearts.
Now, we come to Paul’s declaration that you can engage in self-sacrificial acts (such as giving all you have to the poor or even to the extreme of martyrdom), but if you lack the LOVE OF CHRIST in your heart, those sacrificial actions will not benefit you in the least! That was a shock to the Corinthians. It is an even bigger shock to those in the churches across America this morning who have never truly considered the message Paul is delivering here in 1st Corinthians 13. So, it is critical that we probe further to grasp Paul’s meaning when he said that such people “gain nothing” when their actions are devoid of CHRISTIAN LOVE.
So, what did Paul mean when he said it gained them nothing,[7] or it was not of any benefit to them[8]? To answer this, consider Paul’s letter to the Church in Ephesus. In that letter, Paul declared that we are saved by grace through faith and not by our good deeds.[9] Also, note that James, the brother of Jesus, provides us with further insight when he stated that: “Just as the body is dead when there is no spirit in it, so faith is dead if it is not the kind that results in good deeds.” James 2:26 (TLB) Reading Paul and James together, it is apparent that LIVING FAITH, which opens our way to Heaven, is evidenced by the good things we do that spring from our faith. When we add what Paul is saying here in 1st Corinthians 13, we can see that faith without GOD’S LOVE in the hearts of those performing good deeds is also a dead faith. In order to be saving faith, it must be infused with the LOVE OF CHRIST. Even if the rich, young ruler had sold his billion-dollar estate and distributed the proceeds to the poor, but did so solely for his self-interest in gaining entry to Heaven, it would have profited him nothing.[10] The Gates of Heaven would have remained closed to him because he did it for his own self-advancement, and not by being motivated according to GOD’S LOVE in his heart. The LOVE that matters is the LOVE that seeks to gain benefits for others. It is NOT the love of one’s self that seeks solely personal gain.[11] You can speak in tongues until your tongue falls out. You can fill your head with all the biblical knowledge available, until you head explodes. Or, you can climb the mountain of faith and jump from the top. But, unless you have the LOVE OF GOD in your heart, it is a lifeless faith that is of no benefit to you whatsoever. Christian writer, Grant Richison says the spiritual mathematics look like this: Gifts minus love = 0; Preaching minus love = 0; and, helping others minus love = 0. [12] And, if you don’t correct those equations, your soul will remain lost.[13] Sadly, when you stand before God at the final judgment, you will receive no reward.[14] Paul isn’t making this up! He is telling us exactly what Jesus taught when He said: 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles [and worked in soup kitchens to feed the poor, and did a thousand other ‘good deeds’ that made us feel so very ‘good’]’? 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I NEVER KNEW YOU. AWAY FROM ME, YOU EVILDOERS!’” Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV) They would be terrible words to hear from our Lord because you would be denied access to Heaven and the only place left for you to go would be Hell! Wouldn’t you want to hear a different judgment from Jesus? Wouldn’t it be infinitely and eternally better to hear Him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” for when you did those good deeds for “the least of these, you did them unto Me”?[15] THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT PAUL IS EXPRESSING HERE IN 1st CORINTHIANS 13!
Now, to avoid such an eternally tragic situation, we need to continually examine ourselves carefully. In doing so, we must be certain we are not making the same mistakes as many of those in the Corinthian church. As Christians, we need to direct our actions—all that we do—in a manner that displays a God-like nature. And, since “God is LOVE,”[16] whatever we do should be motivated by our love for God and our love for our fellow human beings.[17] As one Christian commentator put it, we should ask ourselves if we are “driven by LOVE or by a desire for recognition or self-righteousness.”[18] Bear in mind that we cannot produce this LOVE all on our own. We must allow the Holy Spirit to transform our way of thinking to allow the LOVE OF CHRIST TO GROW within our hearts. In this regard, LOVE is the first fruit of the Holy Spirit in those whose saving faith is alive.[19]
When you allow the Holy Spirit free reign in your life, GOD’S LOVE within you will grow. And, when this happens, the LOVE OF CHRIST changes everything. Instead of using your God-given gifts and your personal resources exclusively for your own advantages, you will begin to take advantage of the opportunities to serve the needs of others. You will also experience a noticeable growth in your FAITH and HOPE. The seeds of FAITH and HOPE will start to flourish in the soil of your heart. Whereas before, they lay there dormant, now the sunshine of GOD’S LOVE will bring them to life. And, when the storms of life come and the rain beats down, no longer will you sit there drenched in despair. Rather, you will know that you are blessed and realize the truth of James’ declaration when he said: 2 “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4 (NLT2) And, when you come to realize that those in Christ are in need of nothing, you will begin to be more willing to share everything with others. Instead of doing “good deeds” to make yourself “feel good,” you will engage in good works because you know it pleases God.[20]
FAITH, HOPE and LOVE—the greatest of these is LOVE because GOD IS LOVE and He loves us more than we’ll ever know. So, don’t be a “resounding gong” or a “clanging cymbal.” Gongs and cymbals do not define us as Christians. Rather, we are defined by the CROSS OF CHRIST. For by His wounds, we are healed[21], and by His Light, we are granted spiritual sight. For as Paul reminds us: “For though once your heart was full of darkness, now it is full of LIGHT from the Lord, AND YOUR BEHAVIOR SHOULD SHOW IT!” Ephesians 5:8 (TLB) So, shine His LIGHT today by ensuring that your heart, mind and soul are filled with the LOVE OF CHRIST, inspiring all that you do!
Let us pray.
Darvin Satterwhite, Pastor
Forest Hill Baptist Church
January 26, 2025
©2025 All Rights Reserved as follows:
Anyone is at liberty to use this sermon or any portions thereof for educational or religious purposes, with or without credit. The pastor believes the material presented herein to be true to the teaching of Scripture, and desires to further, not restrict, its potential use as an aid in the study of God’s Word. The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Forest Hill Baptist Church in Louisa, Virginia.
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[1] Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (NIV)
[2] GotQuestions.org, https://www.gotquestions.org/heavenly-language.html [accessed January 21, 2025].
[3] Ronald Trail, Exegetical Summary of 1 Corinthians 10-16, An, (Dallas, TX: SIL International, 2001, 2008), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 170.
[4] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers.
[5] Carson, D. A., ed. (2018). NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible. Zondervan.
[6] Ronald Trail, Exegetical Summary of 1 Corinthians 10-16, An, (Dallas, TX: SIL International, 2001, 2008), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 174.
[7] 1 Corinthians 13:3 “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (NIV)
[8] 1 Corinthians 13:3 “If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit.” (NET1)
[9] Ephesians 2:8-9 8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” (NIV)
[10] Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner, The First Letter to the Corinthians, (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2010), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 634-635.
[11] Ibid, 638.
[12] Grant Richison, 1 Corinthians 13:3, VersebyVerseCommentary.com, https://versebyversecommentary.com/2002/12/14/1-corinthians-133/ (December 14, 2002).
[13] James Burton Coffman, Coffman Commentary: 1 & 2 Corinthians, (Abilene, Texas: ACU Press, 1974), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 16.
[14] Ronald Trail, Exegetical Summary of 1 Corinthians 10-16, An, (Dallas, TX: SIL International, 2001, 2008), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 174.
[15] Matthew 25:40 “And the King will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for Me.’” (NET1)
[16] 1st John 4:16 “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (NIV)
[17] Tryon Edwards, D.D., 1st Corinthians 13:3, BibleHub.com, https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/edwards/love_the_importance_of.htm, (accessed January 23, 2025).
[18] 1st Corinthians 13:3, BibleHub.com, https://biblehub.com/study/1_corinthians/13-3.htm (accessed January 23, 2025).
[19] Galatians 5:22-23 22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (NIV)
[20] J. Lyth, D.D., 1st Corinthians, BibleHub.com, https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/lyth/love_importance_of.htm (accessed January 23, 2025).
[21] 1st Peter 2:24 “He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed.” (NLT2)
