Without Love I Am Only A Resounding Gong Or A Clanging Cymbal
Justified By The Blood
1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-3
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging 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, but 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, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
”I Corinthians 13:1-3 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/1co.13.1-3.NKJ
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Paul, in chapter 12, gave evidence of the Corinthians' lack of love in the utilisation of spiritual gifts; chapter 13 defines real unconditional selfless love, and chapter 14 shows how love works.
Love is more important than all the spiritual gifts exercised within the body of Christ (the church).
Great faith, acts of dedication or sacrifice, and miracle-working powers have no effect without love.
You may be blessed with all the gifts of the Spirit, but love makes them useful; without love, we are destined to defeat.
You can do many things, giving to the poor, helping the needy, you can even sacrifice your body, serve God in many ways, but you cannot buy your salvation , for you are not saved by good works; it is too late for that, you have already committed sinned.
By the shedding of His blood, He justified your eternal future, but His blood must be applied to your life through faith in Him.
Therefore you are saved by God's love, His grace, and His forgiveness, that He purchased by shedding His own blood on a cross. Furthermore, since all the Law and the Prophets stand on the Law of love (MATHEW 22:40), without love you have gained nothing.
My brethren, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”
I John 4:20-21 NKJV
“Jesus said, “”You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.””
Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV
To love is more than nice words, sexual relations, or a feeling; it is a duty of care for others, as it is for one’s self.
To love one’s neighbours is to care for them as one cares for himself. If one loves God with all his heart and all his soul, he or she would not separate him or herself from God by committing sin, but rather be determined to know Him and remain obedient to Him; and if he loved Him with all his mind, he would make time learn about Him and know Him more through study, and build a relationship with Him through regular time spent with Him in worship and communication communication.
It makes sense to know God well, for He is the coming judge who shall decide you entire eternal future.
Make time for Jesus; relationship is far more important than attending church once a week. It takes continuous time and effort. Though, assembly is a command.
Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.””
Matthew 16:24-28 NKJV
My beloved, Paul tells us, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging 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, but 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, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love 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. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When 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. For 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. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
I Corinthians 13:1-13 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
