Sermon for 8/26/2001
Faith, Hope, and Love
Introduction:
A. Legend has it that a wealthy merchant traveling through the Mediterranean world looking for the Pharisee and Apostle, Paul encountered Timothy, who arranged a visit. Paul was, at the time, a prisoner in Rome. Stepping inside the cell, the merchant was surprised to find a rather old man, physically frail, but whose serenity and magnetism challenged the visitor. They talked for hours. Finally the merchant left with Paul’s blessing. Outside the prison, the concerned man inquired, "What is the secret of this man’s power? I have never seen anything like it before."
"Did you not guess?" replied Timothy. "Paul is in love."
The merchant looked bewildered. "In love?"
"Yes," the missionary answered, "Paul is in love with Jesus Christ."
The merchant looked even more bewildered. "Is that all?"
Smiling, Timothy replied, "Sir, that is everything."
WBTU:
A. Paul and things temporary- focus on eternal things.
B. Only three things that are important- eternal. OH, how we need to major in the majors and minor in the minors.
C. A husband volunteered to accompany his wife on a shopping expedition to purchase clothing for her and the children. “This is pretty material,” said the husband, indicating a pastel print. The wife fingered it briefly and said, “Too flimsy. It won’t wear well.” “Then how about this?” persisted the man, pointing to another bolt of cloth. “Strong enough,” said the wife, “but will it wash?” The husband in his inexperience was allowing himself to be influenced by eye appeal. The wife was looking for more lasting qualities.
D. 1 Corinthians 13:13
E. Faith, hope and love always go together. Cannot have one without the other.
F. The problems of the Corinthians:
1. More concerned about arguing about which mentor is greater. Paul, Apollos, Peter, or Jesus.
2. Showing off their knowledge.
3. Is it correct to eat meat sold in the marketplace if it was sacrificed to an idol?
4. Is it proper to partake in a pagan idol feast?
5. Is it correct for Christians to take disputes to the pagan judges?
6. Which is better or more holy to marry or not to marry?
7. Those who are paid by the church for their service are more important than those who are not. Since Corinth did not pay Paul, then he must not be as important as these others who are paid.
8. Is it OK for a woman to have a shaved head; is it all right for a man to have long hair?
9. The proper way to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
10. Which gifts are more holy or more useful?
11. All of these things were important enough for Paul to address. However, in chapter 13 Paul is telling the Corinthians that their focus is all wrong. Focus should be on love and things eternal.
G. People who split over the color of the carpet. Focus all wrong.
H. People who are against a clock in the sanctuary, people who are for a clock in the sanctuary. Focus is all wrong.
I. At the radio station in the evening. Main job was the stuff going over the airwaves.
J. Many people, who are focused on minor things, have glaring problems in their faith or have sins that shine so brightly that Christ cannot be seen. Foolish.
K. Only garments we shall be wearing when we step into eternity is the clothing of Christ’s character.
L. Why faith and hope? In heaven won’t they disappear? Faith will be sight and hope for heaven will have past.
M. Faith- Trust in God’s testimony and character. In heaven we will have more faith. Faith perfected.
N. Hope- Ever look forward to further unfolding of God’s purpose and blessing.
O. Faith, hope, and love are unconquerable.
P. Hope has never disappeared from human race. Faith has never disappeared from human race.
Q. They do not merely withstand oppression and antagonism. They take the offensive and go out to conquer and to win. The Christian triumphs.
Thesis: Three things will remain forever or abide forever: Faith, hope, and love. Let’s discuss each one.
For instances:
I. Faith.
A. We have faith that we shall be children of God at home forever. However, faith is eternal.
B. Why does a child trust his father?
C. Why do we believe experts in various fields?
D. Shall we ever know as much as God? We must still have faith.
E. We are getting ready for heaven. We must have trust and faith here. Sure faith on earth is more difficult, but we must still have faith and trust in heaven as well.
F. Titus 1:2- in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began. Must have faith in this. Must have faith in heaven that God knows best.
G. A ship’s mate once challenged a chaplain with the question, “How is it that you are always talking to my men about Jesus Christ? Did you ever see Him?” “No, I never did,” was the reply. “Then how can you tell a man to trust in someone you have never seen? I can’t see any sense in that.” “Well,” replied the chaplain, “when you head for a place of refuge in a storm, what sense is there in telling your men to let go the anchor when they cannot see the ground? On what principle do you trust your ship and your life to ground you have never seen and never can see?” “Oh,” said the mate, “we go by our chart.” “Exactly,” replied the chaplain, holding up his Bible, “and I, too, go by a chart, and it is an infallible one, while yours is not. It tells me of the only sure ground of my salvation- the atoning work of Christ upon the cross. My faith, like your anchor, takes hold of this unseen but real ground, and so rides out the storm of life in peace and safety.”
H. The world has a great deal of evidence? All of creation testifies. Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring. Death, burial and resurrection.
I. They choose not to have faith. It is a shame because that is the one thing that will survive.
J. Faith is a conviction that the unseen realm is real. Faith is trust in the promises of God. Faith is a personal surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the thing that will survive.
K. Hebrews 11:6- Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
L. Faith is fundamental and eternal. 1 Peter 1:9- receiving the end of your faith- the salvation of your souls.
M. Even in heaven we need to trust in God. Earth is preparing us for heaven.
II. Hope.
A. In modern day English, the word hope has a sense of uncertainty. This is not what we are talking about.
B. This is hope. (1 Pet 1:3 NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,(1 Pet 1:4 NIV) and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you,
C. In heaven there will also be hope. Heaven is not stagnation.
D. God sees by complete sight- we never will.
E. In heaven our troubles left behind, our sinful nature no longer plaguing us, an eternity of bliss. However, will all attainment end?
F. Great faith produces a great hope. 1 Peter 3:15- But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
G. Hope is simply the anticipation of the good to come. Hope in the future.
H. Without hope, an individual is a living grave. Ephesians 2:12- that at that time you were without Christ, having no hope and without God in the world.
I. Slums.
J. Disillusioned youth.
K. (Job 17:13 NIV) If the only home I hope for is the grave, if I spread out my bed in darkness,(Job 17:14 NIV) if I say to corruption, ’You are my father,’ and to the worm, ’My mother’ or ’My sister,’(Job 17:15 NIV) where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?(Job 17:16 NIV) Will it go down to the gates of death ? Will we descend together into the dust?"
L. Even Christians at times lack hope. They look at the world. They attempt to do things on their own.
M. Romans 8:24-25- Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope.
N. God hopes that mankind will be saved. God hopes the best for Christians.
O. Hope will never end. Hope will be the elevating and inspiring power of heaven. We are constantly going on to the better. WE see in heaven a people of hope, a people of constant anticipation of the best. No negatives in heaven.
III. Love.
A. All humans love. Hardened prisoner in maximum security will still on rare occasions show acts of kindness and love. Greatest tyrants the world has known have often performed isolated acts of surpassing kindness and charity. Let’s not pat ourselves on the back. However, we were made to love.
B. God is love. Love is eternal. At all times.
C. In us, love only awaits to be awakened, either in the natural realm by tender influence or in spiritual world by the Spirit of God.
D. Take love out of humanity, and the world would become hell itself.
E. What is the difference between love as a part of human makeup and the spiritual virtues
F. Agape love. Highest, most selfless form of love. Love that God has for us.
G. Different in its goals from just natural loves.
H. Natural man that hopes for good things in this life, spiritual man directs his hope toward what God has promised to those who love and fear Him.
I. Christian love takes up the natural loves and strengthens, purifies, and ennobles it.
1. Friendship love is strengthened.
2. Family love is strengthened.
3. Romantic, eros love is strengthened.
4. They have to be propped up.
J. Natural man is concerned about here and now. The welfare of others now. Christian thinks beyond this.
K. Love will be the law of heaven. This Godly love will not be so difficult for us in heaven.
L. Heaven is place where every possible cause of separation is removed and every bond of union perfected. Union in heaven presupposes love.
M. Our home- what kind of a home is without love?
N. Our love on earth is preparing us for the love of heaven. The end of life is to be what God wants us to be in our relation to Him and to our fellow man. Christ’s goal for us is that we should be pure, humble, trustful, hopeful, and loving. Realities that are eternal. Faith, hope, and love will be found to abide when all earthly possessions shall have crumbled into dust.
O. It doesn’t end there. Love is the greatest. Ask people on the street what is the greatest thing in the world? Most people would say love, they would be thinking of different kinds of love. We need more love. That is true, but what kind of love.
P. Superiority of love. Talking about the love of God poured into people’s hearts by the Holy Spirit.
Q. Love is superior. Why?
R. Without God’s love- no faith, no hope.
S. Without love, we are nothing. Vs. 1-3.
T. Love has a wider scope of expression. We can have faith and hope by ourselves and it is a more private thing, but if we have God’s love we must love others.
U. I John 4:8- He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
V. Love delights itself to contemplate the greatness and loveliness of Christ and seeks to serve the great Savior.
W. I want to know where love is? I want you to show me. I want to feel where love is? I know you can show me. I want to know where love is? (Love that you feel inside.) I want you to show me.
Conclusion:
A. These three complete true Christianity? How can this be? All other virtues spring out of faith, hope, and love.
B. Paul told Corinthians to major in the most basic and lasting virtues.
C. Have I this faith, hope, and love toward the Lord Jesus Christ?
D. We must excel in these things, not just know about them.
E. Life hereafter will depend very much upon what it has been on earth.
F. How am I to love? By contemplating the love of Christ. WE love because He first loved us.
G. Are we preparing for heaven or not?
H. Titus 3:3-7
