<p><b>Summary</b>:</p><p>Paul teaches that <b>love is the highest virtue</b>—greater than all spiritual gifts, knowledge, or acts of faith. Even if one could speak in angelic tongues, prophesy, understand all mysteries, possess great faith, or give away all possessions—even die as a martyr—it would be <b>worthless without love</b>.</p><p>He then describes the <b>character of true love</b>:</p><ul style="list-style-type: disc;" data-ke-list-type="disc"><li>Love is <b>patient</b> and <b>kind</b>.</li><li>It is <b>not jealous, boastful, or proud</b>.</li><li>It does <b>not act rudely</b> or <b>selfishly</b>.</li><li>It is <b>not easily provoked</b>, and it <b>does not keep a record of wrongs</b>.</li><li>Love <b>does not rejoice in unrighteousness</b>, but <b>rejoices with the truth</b>.</li><li>Love <b>bears all things</b>, <b>believes all things</b>, <b>hopes all things</b>, and <b>endures all things</b>.</li></ul><p>In essence, Paul shows that <b>love is the essential foundation and motive</b> for all Christian conduct and service.</p><p> </p><p><b>Teaching</b>:</p><p>Pay close attention to the conditional phrase “without love.”</p><p> </p><p>Paul is declaring that no matter how devout or impressive our actions may appear, if love is not at the center of them, they have no meaning before God.</p><p> </p><p>Outward gifts—eloquent speech, deep knowledge, great power, or even acts of sacrificial devotion—amount to nothing if they are done without love.</p><p> </p><p>We must understand that the essence of faith is not found in the scale or greatness of our deeds, but in the sincerity and endurance of love.</p><p> </p><p>Love is both the root and the fruit of faith, and it stands at the core of the new commandment Jesus gave us. Therefore, without God -who is love - we are nothing.</p><p> </p><p><i>Excerpt from the sermon by Deacon 김상호, Nov 11, 2025</i></p><p><span data-ke-size="size16"><i>1 Corinthian 13:1-7</i></span></p>
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