Episode 116: 1 Corinthians 13 - The Preeminence, Practical, and Permanent Love of God by Jonno Engelking

Gifts are not the goal. They are partial. They are temporary. They are imperfect. We must never boast in spiritual gifts. Our boast is in Christ—the embodiment of love. He is the “perfect” who has come and who will come again. One day faith will become sight. Hope will be fulfilled. But love—love remains.In verses 4–7, love is personified. Love acts in patience. Love moves in kindness. Love endures. Love refuses envy and pride. Put your own name in place of “love,” and the verdict is humbling. We do not measure up. Put Jesus’ name there—and every line rings true.This is teaching on the gifts with gospel fluency. We do not meet the standard of agape. We do not embody hesed (God’s covenant love) on our own—Christ does. And He fulfilled that love in our place. He accomplished our salvation. He now draws us into His restoring work among His people and in His world.Remove love from the gifts, and they become noise—religious performance indistinguishable from pagan worship. But when love governs the gifts because Christ is Savior and Lord, our lives reveal Jesus, the church is strengthened, and God is glorified.