Yesterday’s message was the third and final message in The Love Chapter series from 1 Corinthians 13. The message was called, The Supremacy of Love, taken from verses 8-13.

1 Corinthians 13:8-13 – 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (NIV)

Tha main idea of the message was why does God measure our lives according to love? Why has God chosen this standard rather than any other?

1) First, Paul explains why love is superior to spiritual gifts as a measure of life. (verses 8-10)
      – Spiritual gifts are temporary, while love is permanent.
      – Spiritual gifts are partial, while love is complete.

2) Next, Paul illustrates the temporary and partial nature of spiritual gifts using the examples of childhood and a mirror. (verses 11-12)
      – Childhood is temporary by nature.
      – A poor reflection is partial by nature.

3) Finally, Paul proclaims the supremacy of love over all other things as a measure of life. (verse 13)
      – Faith will give way to sight.
      – Hope will ultimately be fulfilled.

Quick review of the whole series:

Verses 1-3 answer the “How” question: “How does God measure our lives?” The answer is: “Love.” Nothing we say, nothing we have, nothing we do has any lasting value apart from love. Love is the standard by which God measures our lives.

Verses 4-7 answer the “What” question: “If love is the standard by which God measures our lives, then what is love? The answer is: “Love is patient, love is kind, etc.” Or basically, as we saw last week, love is like Jesus.

Verses 8-13 answer the “Why” question: “Why does God measure our lives according to love?” The answer is: “Because love is the greatest thing of all.” Spiritual gifts are temporary and partial. Love is permanent and complete. Even faith will change to sight, and hope will change to fulfillment, but love will never be replaced. Love lasts forever. “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Note: To read the complete message, go to the Sermons tab at the top of the blog.