Westminster Evangelistic Ministries

The contrast between the two different words for -now- used by Paul confirms our thesis that the -perfect- to which he refers in verse 10 is the complete and perfect Word of God. -Now- -verse 13- tongues have ceased to be a standard evidence of the Holy Spirit and love abides as this standard.

God's promise to Abraham is the Gospel -Verse 13, Gal. 3-8-. Trusting God and sacrificing Isaac, God confirmed the Gospel Promise with an oath -verse 14-15, Heb. 11-17-19-. Imagine, the unchangeable God, makes you and unchangeable promise, and then swears an oath as to its validity -verses 16-18a-. As a result, you and I have strong encouragement to cling to the hope of the Gospel -verse 18b-. This hope is an anchor in heaven for your soul -verse 19-. And it is Jesus, your High Priest, who anchors you in heaven -verse 20-. Trust Jesus Christ, who anchors your soul in heaven.

First Corinthians 13-12 seems to contradict the ideal that the -perfect- of verse 8 refers to the complete and perfect word of God. However, because we always remain creatures, even in heaven, we will never -know fully- or have the full and complete knowledge, which only God can have. To know fully means to know more exactly. See the pdf handout.

When the Word of God is perfect and complete and the canon is closed, tongues cease as the normative sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. Love is now the normative sign. We now see the face of Christ in Scripture. Thus Paul validates his thesis regarding the priority of love.

After recognizing the priority of Christ's priesthood -5-11-, Hebrews issues a warning not to remain infants -5-12-14-, gives an exhortation to press on to maturity -6-1-4-, issued a second warning about the consequences of falling back -6-4-8-, and then offers words consolation -6-9-12- with the encouragement to pursue Jesus Christ our great high priest.

Question 58- What is required in the fourth commandment---Answer- The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his word- expressly one whole day in seven, to be a holy sabbath to himself.----Question 59- Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly sabbath---Answer- From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly sabbath- and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian sabbath.

Question 57- Which is the fourth commandment---Answer- The fourth commandment is, -Remember the sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work- but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God- in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates- For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day- wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.-

God's eternal Son, Jesus Christ, is your great High Priest -4-14-15, 5-5-. The priesthood of Aaron foreshadowed Him -5-1-4-. God appointed Him to the order of Melchizedek -5-5-6, 10-. As God's Priest, He learned obedience by suffering -5-7-8-. Thus He became the source of your salvation -5-9-. Therefore, He is the ground for your confidence and confession -4-14 and 16-. Stand in awe of the High Priest of your confession and your confidence.

The special gifts of tongues, knowledge, and prophecy cease as normative signs of the presence of the Holy Spirit when we have the complex and perfect Word of God. Love and defined and described in Scripture is now the normative sign of the presence the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.

The power of God's love -Ezekiel 36-26-27- undergirds the conduct of God's love -1 John 3-5-, which has a particular character -1 Corinthians 13-4-8-.

When we align the definition of love -1 John 5-3- with the description of love -1 Corinthians 3-4-7- we learn that love not only involves following commandments but also how we carry out these commandments. For example, we must tell the truth with kindness and patience. See the attached PDF outline.

Paul gives us a description of the love, which is the best evidence the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. Check the attached pdf outline.

Love is the best evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Christian's life, better than tongues, knowledge, prophecy, or any other special gift. In fact, individuals may have special gifts like Saul, Balaam, and Judas and not be born again. Check out the attached PDF outline.

What is the best evidence for the presence the Holy Spirit in the midst of God's people and in the lives of Christians- Is it tongues, prophecy, or special knowledge- Paul argues that the best evidence is love. First Corinthians 13 is the center of and -crucial interlude- -Fee, 2014, 693- in Paul's argument in chapters 12-14, which give us the context for our study.

One of God's great objectives in public corporate worship is to assure us that we belong to Him, to welcome us into His gracious presence, and to remind us that we are His son's ad daughters. Worship becomes God's weekly assurance.

Because Jesus Christ is the promised Child of Isaiah 9-6-7, He withdrew to Galilee and settled in Capernaum -Matthew 4-12-13- to began His Galilean preaching ministry -Matthew 4-17-, and to bring light into the darkness of this world -Isaiah 9-1-2- Matthew 4-14-16-.

Being anointed by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel as God's great Prophet- Jesus is led into the wilderness as the Second Adam, to begin a time of temptation and testing in which He lovingly keeps covenant with His Father for people like you and me and is obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

How does Jesus Christ fulfill Jeremiah 31-15 as indicated by Matthew 2-16-18- It is not a prediction. Listen and learn.

The apostle Paul gives us a pattern for the defense of your hope. It should include a short introduction, a few words about your former life, a rehearsal of what Christ did for you, and a statement concerning your hope.

Evangelism involves getting out into the community and having the discernment to find people who are distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd.