FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE

Text: I Corinthians 13:13.

Introduction

Now abide these three, Paul says -- faith, hope and love. This is in contrast to the other three, which pass away -prophecies, tongues and knowledge (verse 8). The first three go together and remain. This is a familiar passage, but "these three" are mentioned together many other places in the New Testament as well. Those passages are not so often noted.

We will see as we proceed that faith, hope and love, "these three," are not only frequently mentioned, but that they permeate all of spiritual life. They originate with God. And they result in fruit in our lives on a daily basis.

Body

I. This triad is common to New Testament writings.

   A. Romans 5:1,2,5 -- we are justified by faith, rejoice in hope, and are flooded in love by the Holy Spirit.

   B. Galatians 5:5,6 -- we seek righteousness by faith, we wait for our hope, we work by love.

   C. Ephesians 1:15-18 -- Paul here speaks of their faith in the Lord Jesus, the hope of their calling, and their love to all the saints.

   D. Colossians 1: 3-5 -- The Colossian believers also had faith in Christ Jesus, a hope laid up in heaven, and love to all the saints.

   E. I Thessalonians 1: 2,3 -the Thessalonian Christians had shown a work of faith, a patience of hope, and a labor of love.

   F. I Thessalonians 5:8 -- Paul tells them to be armed with the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of hope.

   G. Titus 2:1,2 -- Older men are to be sound in faith, in patience (hope's sign), and in love.

   H. I Peter 1:21,22 -- newborn Christians have found faith and hope in God through Christ; now they are to love one another with a pure heart.

II. These three permeate all of spiritual life.

   A. They govern our relationship with God and with man, vertically and horizontally (Ephesians 1:15-18; Colossians 1:3-5; I Peter 1:21,22).

   B. They point to the past, the present and the future (Romans 5:1,2,5; Galatians 5:5,6; Colossians 1: 3-5). Faith looks back, hope looks forward, love sees clearly in the present.

   C. They involve the whole person: heart and head. This omits neither mind nor heart, reason nor emotions. It includes all (I Thessalonians 5:8).

   D. The three mutually strengthen, all increasing by the exercise of each (Ephesians 1:15-18; I Peter 1:20-22).

III. All are produced by God.

   A. Faith comes from God (John 6:28,29; Romans 10:17; Ephesians 2:8 ?).

   B. Hope comes from God (II Thessalonians 2:16; I Peter 1: 3, 21).

   C. Love comes from God (Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22).

IV. Yet all three produce fruit-results in us (I Thessalonians 1: 2,3; II Thessalonians 1: 3-5).

   A. Faith leads to fruit in our lives. See Hebrews 11 for many varied examples.

   B. Hope produces fruit in our lives. See Romans 8 for details; also see I John 3:3.

   C. Love produces fruit in our lives. See I Corinthians 13 for a description of how love "behaves."

Conclusion

Can we wonder why "these three" abide? They link us with past, present and the future. They govern our relationship with God and our dealings with man. They touch our hearts and our minds. They all come through God's grace and strength, but they all produce distinguishable fruit in our daily lives.

Is your faith set in Jesus Christ? Do you enjoy a living hope, centered in His return? Are you growing in love for God and for fellow-believers?

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