Episode 209 - "Love never fails" 1 Corinthians 13:8-12

1 Cor. 13:8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

I have a confession. Sometimes, I handle longer passages because I feel what is most important about it necessitates it being handled as a complete unit. Other times I break a section down more because there is so much to take in that it’s best to take it in small bites. But I’m breaking down this section on love into smaller segments simply because I am savoring it. It’s just that beautiful to me.

In our last episode, we looked at a list of things that love is and a list of things that love is not. In these few verses, Paul brings his comparison of the importance of love in contrast to spiritual gifts into vivid clarity. Beginning with the three words, “Love never ends,” Paul explains why love is superior to spiritual gifts. There is a sense in which this can mean that love never fails. That doesn’t mean that people never fail to love. It means that love, when exercised, doesn’t have a limit. It doesn’t run out of gas. The best example of this is God’s love for humanity demonstrated in Christ’s death on the cross for the sins of the human race past, present, and future, appropriated by those who accept the gift of forgiveness of our sins through trust in Jesus Christ. It was a one-time act that occurred 2,000 years ago but is still perceived by people today when they realize this love is available to them. That act of love still has its power upon people today.

It’s also important to understand that love will never end. God’s love will be eternally experienced by those who have received it. I would suggest that in God’s eternal realm, our love toward each other will be made perfect through Christ. The fallen condition in which we endure now will be done away with, and there will be nothing to stop or hinder our love for each other.

But what about the spiritual gifts? Look at verses 8-9. They are temporary and limited. At some point, after Paul writes this, they would cease. When? This is another one of those sticky points between some Christians. People in the church where I grew up liked to say or teach that tongues ceased when the canon of Scripture was completed and that they no longer have a purpose today. Paul’s answer to that question is, “When the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.” (v. 10) What is the perfect? I think the perfect is when Christ returns, and Christians are given a glorified body. Notice the “Now and then” argument he gives in verse 12, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” When will we fully know and be known? When we are made whole and in God’s presence.

I have friends who claim to have certain spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues. I also know there are churches at which this “gift” is regularly manifested on Sunday mornings. As a believer who does not possess this gift, I must confess that I question the validity of such programmed manifestation of these gifts. Is that the way the Spirit moves, at 10:30 on Sunday morning? I am more concerned by the insistence of some that the gift of tongues is an indication of one’s salvation. This teaching is clearly in contrast with the Holy Spirit-inspired Scriptures. Furthermore, Christians aren’t the only ones who claim to speak in tongues. This is why the apostle John writes in 1 John 4:1-3 to “test the spirits to see if they are from God.” This same idea is present here in Paul’s letter when he explains that these gifts are “in part” and will end. Yet, I can’t say they are completely invalid or have ceased. I choose to conclude that God is free to manifest these gifts according to his will and timing. However, they are limited. They will end at some point and will not be necessary in eternity. I believe that we will all be speaking one language or that we will all understand every language.

If it’s not clear enough that Paul understands and upholds the value of these gifts but contrasts them with the importance of love that can and should be demonstrated by every believer, he compares the gifts to “childish” things. (See verse 11) As the Lord is bringing the body of Christ (the Church) to maturity, love is what is to remain and be a chief characteristic of Christians worldwide. That should be our priority in how we treat each other and toward the world as we desire to lead them to God’s love.