These are the words the Apostle Paul chose to summarize the Christian life when writing to the Christians in Corinth. He had just concluded an extended discourse on the importance of spiritual love. The positive effect of a Christian’s life is nullified if good deeds are not accomplished by means of God’s love. To drive his message to the fullest extent, he concluded with the words --
... “But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”(1 Cor 13:13 NASB)
In making this statement, the apostle outlined three approaches to life. These can be considered steps in the spiritual advance of a Christian. First, there is the approach of faith. This begins with the individual placing their trust in the finished work of Christ on the Cross, that of making full payment for the sins of each person. That saving faith directed toward Christ, brings the gift of eternal life. One’s faith is then challenged to advance, to mature, as we see expressed by the Apostle Peter --
... “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”(2 Peter 3:18 KJV)
This process of spiritual advance requires consistency in learning and applying the Word of God. The young believer begins with the promises of God, learning and relying on God to fulfill His Word. As faith grows, there is an accumulation of spiritual knowledge on which the individual can base decision making in the circumstances of life. That growth culminates with absolute assurance that God is faithful, and that He is sufficient for every contingency that comes in life. Hence, the next approach that Paul mentions is that of hope. Not the “hope so” that we find in our vocabulary, but the confident expectation that is ours because we have come to know the faithfulness of God. We have come to Him with the “little things” and found Him faithful. Therefore, we are confident that if He is sufficient in what we might consider the “little things,” then there is assurance that He is faithful in the “big things” that come into our lives. Hope confidence moves from that of confident expectation to absolute confidence in the integrity of God --
... “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”(2 Cor 12:9 KJV)
“He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you," so that we confidently say, "the Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?"
(Heb 13:5-6 NASB)
Paul then brings us to the highest peak in Christian living, that of demonstrating the love of God. All is worthless and consumable at the Evaluation Seat of Christ, if that which was accomplished in our lives was through the energy of the flesh, with the view of seeking the praise and adoration of men. Our love for others must be preceded by our love for God.
“We love, because He first loved us.”(I John 4:19 NASB)
What a privilege is ours, as believers in Christ, to demonstrate our love for God, and then, toward others, to share love of God, with a world that all too often only knows infidelity, hatred, violence and abuse.