Is Love Really the Greatest?

[Spockrates]

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

(1 Corinthians 13:13)

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Yes, I know Paul says love is the greatest, but I'd like to put that idea to the test to see if there is any good reason to think something is greater than love.

Please tell me why you think love is or is not the greatest virtue.

 

[WIP]

One thought that comes to my mind is, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Also see 1John 4:7, 1 John 4:16,

 

[iLOVE]

When a Christian make God first in all areas of their daily life; you bless God with your love; And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 KJV

http://biblehub.com/hcsb/romans/8.htm

 

[Chipsndip]

It is because of love that we are saved. We can have faith and hope, but without a loving God to save us us faith won't get us anywhere.
I think WIP's Bible verse 1 John 4:8 is a great example of why love is most important.

 

[Spockrates]

One thought that comes to my mind is, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Also see 1John 4:7, 1 John 4:16,

I appreciate the response, WIP. Since I'm playing Faith's Advocate, I guess I'd respond:

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

(Hebrews 11:6)
​

So while it is true that whoever does not know love does not know God, it's also true that whoever does not have faith does not please God. So have we proven Love to be greater, yet?

 

[Spockrates]

When a Christian make God first in all areas of their daily life; you bless God with your love; And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 KJV

Thanks for the reply, iLove. Would you also say that all things work together for the good of those who have *no* hope or faith in God?

 

[Spockrates]

It is because of love that we are saved. We can have faith and hope, but without a loving God to save us us faith won't get us anywhere.
I think WIP's Bible verse 1 John 4:8 is a great example of why love is most important.

Hi, Chips.

Yes, I can see how God's love can save you and me, but does his love save everyone? I mean, I agree that faith is powerless to save anyone without God's love, but isn't it also true that God's love is powerless to save anyone who has no faith? I'm thinking that when it comes to being saved, both might be of equal importance. What do you think?

 

[Spockrates]

Don't give up yet, gang! I'm sure Paul is right, and the answer is there. We just have not discovered it yet.

 

[iLOVE]

When a Christian make God first in all areas of their daily life; you bless God with your love; And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 KJV

http://biblehub.com/hcsb/romans/8.htm

Thanks for the reply, iLove. Would you also say that all things work together for the good of those who have *no* faith in God?

God is not good because we are good, God is good because He is good. God's grace is for the unbeliever and the believer.

<sup class="versenum">4 </sup>Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” <sup class="versenum">5 </sup>And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. <sup class="versenum">6 </sup>And he was amazed at their unbelief. Mark 6: 4-6 NLT

 

[Spockrates]

When a Christian make God first in all areas of their daily life; you bless God with your love; And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 KJV

Thanks for the reply, iLove. Would you also say that all things work together for the good of those who have *no* faith in God?

God is not good because we are good, God is good because He is good. God's grace is for the unbeliever and the believer.

<sup class="versenum">4 </sup>Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” <sup class="versenum">5 </sup>And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. <sup class="versenum">6 </sup>And he was amazed at their unbelief. Mark 6: 4-6 NLT

Is it fair to say that Jesus could not do miraculously good things for those who had no faith in him because they had no faith in him? I'm thinking, maybe faith in God and love for God go hand in hand. What about you?

 

[WIP]

One thought that comes to my mind is, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Also see 1John 4:7, 1 John 4:16,

I appreciate the response, WIP. Since I'm playing Faith's Advocate, I guess I'd respond:

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

(Hebrews 11:6)
​

So while it is true that whoever does not know love does not know God, it's also true that whoever does not have faith does not please God. So have we proven Love to be greater, yet?

It almost seems this thread should be moved to the A&T forum.

Where my thinking is at, is that the Scriptures tell us that God is love but I don't recall scripture saying that God is faith or God is hope. We put our faith and hope in God and God is faithful and gives us hope but of the three it seems He is identified as love.

 

[iLOVE]

When a Christian make God first in all areas of their daily life; you bless God with your love; And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 KJV

Thanks for the reply, iLove. Would you also say that all things work together for the good of those who have *no* faith in God?

God is not good because we are good, God is good because He is good. God's grace is for the unbeliever and the believer.

<sup class="versenum">4 </sup>Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.†<sup class="versenum">5 </sup>And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. <sup class="versenum">6 </sup>And he was amazed at their unbelief. Mark 6: 4-6 NLT

Is it fair to say that Jesus could not do miraculously good things for those who had no faith in him because they had no faith in him? I'm thinking, maybe faith in God and love for God go hand in hand. What about you?

Trust in the Lord...many Christian Believers doubt and cancel their blessings because they don't BELIEVE. Belief + doubt (worrying) = cancel blessings. You must only believe! Just a mustard seed of faith is needed with no doubt. Ignorant = when a person just doesn't know, Unbelief = belief + doubt, and disbelief = bad teachings. Little faith equals little word of God, lots of faith equals lots of word of God. Many Believers don't understand the true meaning of grace because of bad teaching.

You can love God and still have unbelief. Jesus warned His disciples several times about their harden-hearts (unbelief).

 

[Spockrates]

Trust in the Lord...many Christian Believers doubt and cancel their blessings because they don't BELIEVE. Belief + doubt = cancel blessings. You must only believe! Just a mustard seed of faith is needed with no doubt. Ignorant = when a person just doesn't know, Unbelief = belief + doubt, and disbelief = bad teachings. Little faith equals little word of God, lots of faith equals lots of word of God. Many Believers don't understand the true meaning of grace because of bad teaching.

You can love God and still have unbelief. Jesus warned His disciples several times about their harden-hearts (unbelief).

Yes, I agree. I suppose one might somehow be able to have faith in God and still not love, or at least not love to the degree she should. It seems then that both are equally important, which means we still need a reason to believe Love is greater.

 

[Spockrates]

Where my thinking is at, is that the Scriptures tell us that God is love but I don't recall scripture saying that God is faith or God is hope. We put our faith and hope in God and God is faithful and gives us hope but of the three it seems He is identified as love.

Well, the scriptures say,

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope...

(1 Timothy 1:1)
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So Jesus is our hope. I suppose this means he is the object of our hope, or the one who creates hope within us. But does this carry a different meaning from the words, "God is love"? Do the words mean God is the object of our love, or the source of our love, or do they mean Love is the one we worship?

 

[iLOVE]

If Love wasn't the greatest, we'd all be dead right now, or never born in the first place.

Let the church say amen!

 

[Spockrates]

If Love wasn't the greatest, we'd all be dead right now, or never born in the first place.

I have been watching quite a few vids on YouTube the past few days of people who die and go to Heaven and then come back. The common thread to them all is they all describe the overwhelming sense of Love that they felt while there. This can not be a coincidence or accident. It must feel so wonderful, indescribably wonderful for them all to make the same point about Love.

Some are sent back with messages. It is to repent and to love one another and take care of each other. Just like scripture says.

Yes, I suppose love is greater than faith and hope regarding God, Edward, but isn't Paul talking about not God's love, but our own?

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

(1 Corinthians 13:13)
​

The context of the passage seems to imply this:

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. <sup class="versenum">2 </sup>If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. <sup class="versenum">3 </sup>If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,but do not have love, I gain nothing.
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He writes, "If I...If I...If I.." not "If God...If God...If God..." So if Paul is *not* asking, "What is greatest in God?" but is instead asking, "What is greatest in you and me?" then how should we answer him?

(Love the dog, BTW! I own a labradoodle, myself.)

 

[Spockrates]

Yes, I suppose love is greater than faith and hope regarding God, but isn't Paul talking about not God's love, but our own?

Same love. All love flows from God. Look at the two greatest commandments. Love the Lord God with all your heart, and Love thy neighbor as thyself...This is not to be taken lightly! Love others as you would like to be loved and treated. That's big! Very profound and deep if you ponder it.

I seem unable to be like this. The flesh is weak. I know how I am supposed to be though. Lord give me strength.

Do you think, then that when you love, it's really God doing the loving?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Love is the greatest because it is what lasts.

Hope and faith will end one day. Paul asks, "Who hopes for what they already have?" (Romans 8:24 NIV). The day is coming when we will not be waiting in faith for the hope that we do not presently possess. And when we do possess that hope the only thing left will be love.

Hope produces faith. Faith produces love. Love is the end goal, while faith and hope are the means to that goal.

That's why it's the greatest of all three.

 

[Spockrates]

Do you think, then that when you love, it's really God doing the loving?

No I don't. It may be His energy, but we choose to use it and focus it or not.

Yes, I think you might be right. God gives us the ability to love.



Do you think God also gives us the faith to believe, or the encouragement to hope?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Yes, I think you might be right. God gives us the ability to love.



Do you think God also gives us the faith to believe, or the encouragement to hope?

No question about it. The ability to believe something we can not see is the gift of God.