1 Corinthians 13:4, Charity Vaunteth Not Itself (2)

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1 Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself …

The love of God that is mightily outpoured by the Holy Spirit upon every penitent sinner results in the sinner being forgiven of his sins (Romans 5:5). This brokenness of spirit and contrition of heart is acceptable in the sight of God. The sinner realizes that he cannot save himself and therefore yields fully by faith to the complete atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross for the remission of his sins. This submission removes the guilt of sin in the heart. This freedom from the bondage of sin and its mental torment is true freedom. It gives true peace (Romans 5:1) and true joy (Romans 5:11).

This is God’s only plan of salvation for fallen, sinful men. This is the character of God’s love. It is the amazing love of our Creator, to sacrifice His beloved Son, who suffered on our behalf, to purchase our redemption and to cancel our debt of sin, once for all. The Son of God had to endure great sufferings and humiliation, giving up the outward expression of His glory, to live and to be scourged and crucified by sinful men. Our Lord Jesus humbled Himself. This was how our Lord won salvation for us.

Let us examine the disposition of our heart moment by moment and guard it against the sin of pride that so easily beset us. Pride is the mother of all sins. It was the sin that stumbled Lucifer. But our Lord Jesus in the wilderness temptation overcame the sin of pride when He humbled Himself in obedience to God’s Word. Satan took Him up into an exceeding high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them and said to Him, “All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall and worship me.” Jesus defeated Satan with this response, “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him alone shalt thou serve (Deuteronomy 6:13). Satan is a defeated foe! Jesus gives us the power today to show forth God’s love submitting ourselves to the teaching of His Word. This humility is pleasing to our God and this submission is the expression of His love. Amen.