Grace And Love Intertwined

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. - 1 Corinthians 13:8 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians13:8&version=NKJV Love never fails. Agape love loves all, even those the world deems unloveable. After all, Hod loved us when we were unlovable. Christ died for us (Romans 5:6,10). We are to love even our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:19-21 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians5:19-21&version=NKJV Look at these works...

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. - 1 Corinthians 13:8 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians13:8&version=NKJV Love never fails. God first loved us (1 John 4:10).  He chose us because He loved us (Deuteronomy 7:7-8).  Love is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). We now already know we should love all with agape love as described in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. Failure to do so is sin (James 4:17). Final lesson next week.

If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 9:12 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians9:12&version=NKJV Bear others weaknesses lest we hinder the Gospel. but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— - Ephesians 4:15 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians4:15&version=NKJV As we speak the truth, let's make sure we speak it in love. God is not willing for anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). Shouldn't we feel the same way toward others? We should love and cherish others as Christ does us (Ephesians 5:29). Agape love remains steadfast even in difficult times. More next week  

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. - 1 Corinthians 13:7 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians13:7&version=NKJV. Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things. As the Lord's church we are to be of the same mind and judgement 1 Corinthians 1:10-11).  As New Testament Christians we should bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:1-5). True agape love will attempt to restore the fallen (James 5:19-20). More next week. 

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; - 1 Corinthians 13:6 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians13:6&version=NKJV Love will not rejoice when others do wrong or ask others to do wrong. Love rejoices in the truth always. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. - 1 John 2:10 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1John2:10&version=NKJV Be careful how we live. Don't cause others to stumble through our influence. But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. - 1 Corinthians 8:12 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians8:12&version=NKJV When we cause others to stumble, we sun against Jesus. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. - Romans 12:15 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans12:15&version=NKJV Have empathy toward others. In this is love, not that we loved God...

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; - 1 Corinthians 13:5 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians13:5&version=NKJV Love thinks no evil. Is not resentful. Before resentment takes a foothold in our lives, let's bring all our thoughts captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). We must be ever mindful of the things of Christ, not the things of the world (Matthew 16:22-23). And resentment is worldly, not Christlike at all. We must guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23) against this deadly spiritual poison or it'll ruin our lives spiritually and cause us to miss out on heaven. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:9 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1John1:9&version=NKJV Think of all the times God has forgiven us, and that should kill resentment for sure.

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; - 1 Corinthians 13:5 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians13:5&version=NKJV Love is not rude. But is courteous, gracious, polite. For even  the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and  to give His life a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:45 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark10:45&version=NKJV rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you  do not understand now,  but you will know after this.”Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”Simon Peter said to Him,...

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; - 1 Corinthians 13:4 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians13:4&version=NKJV. Love is not full of itself. But all their works they do to  be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.They love the  best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ - Matthew 23:5-7 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew23:5-7&version=NKJV Seeking glory from men. Exalting self. Condemned in the Scriptures. Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.The Pharisee  stood and prayed thus with himself,  ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers...

Consequences of jealousy For jealousy is a husband’s fury; Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. - Proverbs 6:34 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs6:34&version=NKJV Violence A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is  rottenness to the bones. - Proverbs 14:30 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs14:30&version=NKJV Physical ailments Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, But who is able to stand before jealousy? - Proverbs 27:4 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs27:4&version=NKJV Loneliness God owes me nothing. My job: give Him the glory with the abilities that I have. Make heaven my goal (Matthew 6:33). Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; - 1 Corinthians 13:4 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians13:4&version=NKJV A. Love does not brag on itself But all their works they do to  be seen by men. They ma...

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; - 1 Corinthians 13:4 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians13:4&version=NKJV A. Love does not envy For jealousy is a husband’s fury; Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. - Proverbs 6:34 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs6:34&version=NKJV A. Jealousy leads to fury and vengeance You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. - James 4:2-3 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James4:2-3&version=NKJV A. Jealousy leads to violence A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is  rottenness to the bones. - Proverbs 14:30 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs14:30&version=NKJV A. Envy will damage us physically unhealthy Wra...

If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? - James 2:15-16 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James2:15-16&version=NKJV A. No action? B. Not meeting others needs?     1. That's unkind     2. Opposite of agape love Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; - 1 Corinthians 13:4 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians13:4&version=NKJV A. Love does not envy     1. Envy is wishing ill will on the person we're jealous of.     2.  Envy More next week. 

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. - James 1:2-4 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James1:2-4&version=NKJV A.  Let trials cause patience to grow Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. - 1 Thessalonians 5:14 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Thessalonians5:14&version=NKJV A. Be patient with everyone The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Peter3:9&version=NKJV A.  God is patient with us.  Let's be patience with others. More next week.

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? - Romans 2:4 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans2:4&version=NKJV A. Consider God's goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering     1. Emulate Him The Lord  is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. - Psalm 103:8 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm103:8&version=NKJV A.  God is merciful,  gracious,  slow to anger, and abounds in mercy      1.  Emulate Him Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; - 1 Corinthians 13:4 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians13:4&version=NKJV A. Suffers long or slow to boil The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should...

But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”Jesus said to him, “‘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 22:34-40 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew22:34-40&version=NKJV A. Love for God and others the greatest commandments B. The law depends on thses commandments Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; - Romans 12:9-10 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans12:9-10&version=NKJV A. Have genuine love for ot...

And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? - 1 Corinthians 5:2,6 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians5:2,6&version=NKJV A.  Arrogance Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word o...

Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.But beware lest somehow this libert...

Review: Agape love. Self sacrificing. Unconditional. 747 principle mentioned in the video: he who is forgiven little, loves little. He who is forgiven much, loves much (Luke 7:47). We are to love all, even enemies, with agape love. After all, God loved us when we were unlovable. Now onto the lesson When we seriously  consider how much God has forgiven, we will forgive others more easily. Considering how Christ emptied Himself for us enables us to put others first. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans5:8&version=NKJV Look at how generous He is with us. We can and should be generous with us. We live in a "all about me" entitlement society. And as New Testament Christians we should be all about God and others. My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.For if there shou...

This is our first in depth Bible Study. The first lesson is Qualities of Love. The lesson is not my own. I'm just providing links to it. https://montevistacoc.com/class/love We'll be in this lesson for the next 22 weeks. Just follow along in the YouTube videos which I'll be embedding into this blog. Download the PDF at the above link. Agape love. A command for New Testament Christians. Not an option. 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...