(2) Love is Longsuffering

(2) Love is Longsuffering Preacher: Rev. Angus Stewart Series: Christian Love Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4a

I. The Situations

II. The Rationale

Martin Luther: “Mother love is stronger than the filth and scabbiness on a child, and so the love of God toward us is stronger than the dirt that clings to us. Although we are sinners, we do not lose our filial relation on account of our filthiness, nor fall from grace on account of sin … We must also have love and through love do to one another as God has done to us through faith. For without love, faith is nothing. You have a great deal to say of the doctrine of faith and love that is preached to you. Dear friends, the kingdom of God does not consist in talk or words, but in activity, in deeds, in works, and exercises. God does not want hearers and repeaters of words, but followers and doers, and this occurs in faith through love. For a faith without love is not enough … A Christian lives not in himself alone, but in Christ and in his neighbour—in Christ through faith; in his neighbour through love. Through faith he passes beyond himself into God, and out of God he passes again [into his neighbour] through love and ever abides in God and in Divine Love.”