- Jul 22, 2014
- 41,534
- 7,863
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Non-Denom
- Marital Status
- Married
Can 1 Corinthians 13:11 be quoted as a discussion on Salvation?
I believe that the answer to this question would be a... "yes."
Here is the verse.
Now, yes, it is true. 1 Corinthians 13:11 is in context to the following passage in the next chapter.
For it says,
For 1 Corinthians 13:8 says this,
See, the Corinthians were speaking in an unknown tongue with no interpreter. Paul says love is better and to speak with the understanding is better (By having an interpreter). For whether there be prophecies and tongues, in time they will vanish away. But love never vanishes. Love will always be. So when this world passes away, love will still remain.
In other words, one is not really loving the brethren if they are just speaking gibberish to them that they cannot understand. We are to edify each other and lift each other up. Otherwise we are just a noisey cymbal or clanging gong.
This is the context of 1 Corinthians 13:11.
But we also have to ask ourselves in verse 11,
What other childish things are we putting away according to the context?
Is Paul just speaking in tongues and prophecies alone?
No. Paul also says,
See, Paul says here that if we give all our good to feed the poor and even sacrifice our body to be burned, it is unprofitable if we have not love.
We see something similar of this in Revelation.
"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
Sounds like they are in pretty good shape with the Lord, right?
However, the Word continues and says this about them,
In other words, if we do not have love, it profits us nothing.
Jesus says if you love me, keep my commandments.
Somehow there is something that this church is not repenting of.
It is so serious that God is threatening to remove their lampstand if they do not repent of such a thing.
They have forsaken their first love.
They have no love.
This is what Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 13.
If I give all my goods to the poor and have not love, it profits me nothing.
We have to have a true and correct love and zeal for God according to His Word.
We have to make sure our hearts are right with the Lord before helping others.
We have to makes sure we are truly loving others in accordance to His Word.
Is this enough to effect our salvation?
Removing a church's lampstand is removing their light.
This is not good.
A church cannot stand and shine light unto others if their light is out.
If one's light is out, they are not saved.
The light is Jesus Christ.
This light shines thru His body.
A person cannot be saved without Jesus.
For he that has the Son has life and he that does not have the Son does not have life (1 John 5:12).
And he that does not love does not know God (1 John 4:8).
So what are the other childish things a believer must put away and be loving?
We are not to be puffed up according to 1 Corinthians 13:4.
Is being puffed up a salvation issue?
Well, Scripture says, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6).
And we know in the Parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee that the man who cried out to God over his sin was considered humble and he was more justified than the Pharisee who thought he was better than the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14).
So I would say that the putting away of childish things (like being "puffed up" and "not having love") are salvation issues. So yes, while 1 Corinthians 13:11 relates to the speaking of tongues in prophesying in 1 Corinthians 14, it also talking about other childish things that we need to put away that do relate to our salvation.
...
I believe that the answer to this question would be a... "yes."
Here is the verse.
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (1 Corinthians 13:11).
Now, yes, it is true. 1 Corinthians 13:11 is in context to the following passage in the next chapter.
For it says,
19 "Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: but in malice be children, but in understanding be men.
21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, says the Lord.
22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serves not for them that believe not, but for them that believe."
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: but in malice be children, but in understanding be men.
21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, says the Lord.
22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serves not for them that believe not, but for them that believe."
For 1 Corinthians 13:8 says this,
"Love never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."
See, the Corinthians were speaking in an unknown tongue with no interpreter. Paul says love is better and to speak with the understanding is better (By having an interpreter). For whether there be prophecies and tongues, in time they will vanish away. But love never vanishes. Love will always be. So when this world passes away, love will still remain.
In other words, one is not really loving the brethren if they are just speaking gibberish to them that they cannot understand. We are to edify each other and lift each other up. Otherwise we are just a noisey cymbal or clanging gong.
This is the context of 1 Corinthians 13:11.
But we also have to ask ourselves in verse 11,
What other childish things are we putting away according to the context?
Is Paul just speaking in tongues and prophecies alone?
No. Paul also says,
3 "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long, and is kind; love envies not; love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Does not behave itself rudely, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, keeps no record of evil;
6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;"
(1 Corinthians 13:3-6).
4 Love suffers long, and is kind; love envies not; love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Does not behave itself rudely, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, keeps no record of evil;
6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;"
(1 Corinthians 13:3-6).
See, Paul says here that if we give all our good to feed the poor and even sacrifice our body to be burned, it is unprofitable if we have not love.
We see something similar of this in Revelation.
"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
"These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary."
(Revelation 2:1-3 NIV).
(Revelation 2:1-3 NIV).
Sounds like they are in pretty good shape with the Lord, right?
However, the Word continues and says this about them,
"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate." (Revelation 2:4-6 RSV).
In other words, if we do not have love, it profits us nothing.
Jesus says if you love me, keep my commandments.
Somehow there is something that this church is not repenting of.
It is so serious that God is threatening to remove their lampstand if they do not repent of such a thing.
They have forsaken their first love.
They have no love.
This is what Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 13.
If I give all my goods to the poor and have not love, it profits me nothing.
We have to have a true and correct love and zeal for God according to His Word.
We have to make sure our hearts are right with the Lord before helping others.
We have to makes sure we are truly loving others in accordance to His Word.
Is this enough to effect our salvation?
Removing a church's lampstand is removing their light.
This is not good.
A church cannot stand and shine light unto others if their light is out.
If one's light is out, they are not saved.
The light is Jesus Christ.
This light shines thru His body.
A person cannot be saved without Jesus.
For he that has the Son has life and he that does not have the Son does not have life (1 John 5:12).
And he that does not love does not know God (1 John 4:8).
So what are the other childish things a believer must put away and be loving?
We are not to be puffed up according to 1 Corinthians 13:4.
Is being puffed up a salvation issue?
Well, Scripture says, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6).
And we know in the Parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee that the man who cried out to God over his sin was considered humble and he was more justified than the Pharisee who thought he was better than the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14).
So I would say that the putting away of childish things (like being "puffed up" and "not having love") are salvation issues. So yes, while 1 Corinthians 13:11 relates to the speaking of tongues in prophesying in 1 Corinthians 14, it also talking about other childish things that we need to put away that do relate to our salvation.
...