2. Overview
Though charity (or love) is “the Queen of Christian graces”, it
is widely misunderstood
We will examine four points:
1. The place the Bible gives to
charity
2. What Biblical charity really is
3. The source of true charity
4. Why charity is the greatest of
the graces
3. The Place the Bible Gives to Love
If anyone is disposed to think this subject
a matter of light importance, I will only
ask him to look at these texts, and to
think again.
These texts “show the immense
importance of charity, as one of the
‘things that accompany salvation.’ They
prove that it has a right to demand the
serious attention of all who call
themselves Christians, and that those
who despise the subject are only
exposing their own ignorance of
Scripture.”
In all religious inquiries there
is nothing like letting the
Scripture speak for itself.
4. What Is Biblical Love (Charity)?
It is not simply giving to the poor
It does not consist of never
disapproving the behavior of others
In our society it is is now seen as
cruel or harsh to disapprove of
behavior the Bible condemns.
That is not charity (or love).
Claiming that “judge not”
prohibits seeing sin is to throw a
veil over sin, and to refuse to call
things by their right names.
To talk of ‘hearts’ being good,
when ‘lives’ are flatly wrong,
— to shut our eyes against
wickedness, and say smooth
things of
immorality —
this is not
scriptural charity.
5. What Is Biblical Love (Charity)?
Biblical charity does not consist of
never disapproving the religious
opinions of others.
If that were charity, then the
apostles were wrong to preach
to the Gentiles, missions is of no
use, and we should close our
Bibles and lock our churches
The only result is universalism
– we are all going to heaven.
True charity says, “Beloved,
do not believe every spirit, but
test the spirits to see whether
they are from God; because
many false prophets have
gone out into the world” (1 Jn
4:1) and “If anyone comes to
you and does not
bring this teaching,
do not receive him
into your house, and
do not give him a
greeting” (2 Jn 10).
6. What Is Biblical Love (Charity)?
Charity is love - The fruit of the spirit is love. Gal 5:22
Love to God – with heart, soul, mind and strength
Love to man – your neighbor as yourself
This charity will show itself in actions
It is not content with kind words, but continues with kind
actions
It cares more for ministering than for being ministered to
(following the example of Christ)
It needs no wages – its work is its reward
7. What Is Biblical Love (Charity)?
The Lord’s example
Though he was hated, persecuted, slandered and misrepresented, yet
patiently endured, with no angry word or ill-temper
Yet, the Lord never flattered sinners or winked at sin
He never hesitated to denounce false doctrine, or rebuke wickedness
He called things by their right names – sins (and named them)
He spoke of hell and condemnation as well as of the kingdom of glory
He showed that it is quite possible to condemn false doctrine and
wicked practice, and be full of love at the same time
8. What Is Biblical Love (Charity)?
Two thoughts on charity:
Think how little charity
there is on earth!
What a happy world this
would be if there was
more charity
9. The Source of True Love (Charity)
Biblical charity only appears in a
heart prepared by the Holy Spirit.
The image of God is restored by
the Spirit
One of the first features of this
heart is love
Such a heart is deeply convinced
of sin, hates it, flees from it, and
fights with it from day to day.
Biblical charity is not natural to
man. To see this you need only
observe children
– left to
themselves they
will only think
first of
themselves
10. The Source of True Love (Charity)
Biblical charity only appears in a
heart prepared by the Holy Spirit.
The image of God is restored by
the Spirit
One of the first features of this
heart is love
Such a heart is deeply convinced
of sin, hates it, flees from it, and
fights with it from day to day.
Such a heart is deeply aware
of its debt to Jesus Christ, and
seeks to show its
gratitude, and to
be like Him,
showing love.
11. The Source of True Love (Charity)
You cannot have the fruits of Christianity
without the roots – you cannot have love
and Biblical charity without reckoning
man's sinfulness and Christ's atoning
blood sacrifice.
While this does not negate the idea of
worldly kindness, the enduring and
genuinely selfless form of Biblical charity
is not the same thing
Novels (films) promote the false idea that
people can demonstrate true charity. This
is simply fiction. There cannot be true
charity without a heart renewed by grace.
There are many who profess
to admire charity, while they
care nothing about vital
Christianity. They like some
of the fruits and
results of the
gospel, but not the
root from which
these fruits alone can
grow, or the doctrines
with which they are
inseparably connected.
12. Why Charity Is the Greatest Grace
We should not suppose that
love/charity is a replacement
for saving faith.
Luke 17:10 “So you also,
when you have done all that
you were commanded, say,
‘We are unworthy servants;
we have only done what was
our duty.’”
“So now faith, hope, and love
abide, these three; but the
greatest of these
is love.” 1 Cor.
13:13. Though
Paul exalts faith
more highly than
any other writer, he
says that the greatest
of the graces is love.
13. Why Charity Is the Greatest Grace
Three reasons for this statement:
1. This is the one area where
there is some likeness
between the believer and his
God
God has no need of faith or
hope, but He is love – the
more love his people have,
the more they are like Him.
“So now faith, hope, and love
abide, these three; but the
greatest of these
is love.” 1 Cor.
13:13. Though
Paul exalts faith
more highly than
any other writer, he
says that the greatest
of the graces is love.
14. Why Charity Is the Greatest Grace
2. Charity (Love) is the grace that is most
useful to others
A.It is the root of good works
(missions, hospitals, schools)
B. It made the apostles spend
themselves for souls
C.It raises workers for Christ, and
keeps them working
D.It smooths quarrels, stops strife, and
covers a multitude of sins (1 Pet 4:8)
E. It adorns Christianity and
recommends it to the world
“So now faith, hope, and love
abide, these three; but the
greatest of these
is love.” 1 Cor.
13:13. Though
Paul exalts faith
more highly than
any other writer, he
says that the greatest
of the graces is love.
15. Why Charity Is the Greatest Grace
3. Charity is the grace which
endures the longest – it will
never die
Faith will become sight,
Hope will become
certainty, but Charity/
Love will live through
eternity
“So now faith, hope, and love
abide, these three; but the
greatest of these
is love.” 1 Cor.
13:13. Though
Paul exalts faith
more highly than
any other writer, he
says that the greatest
of the graces is love.
16. Charity, be it ever remembered, cannot justify and put away
our sins. It is neither Christ, nor faith. But charity makes us
somewhat like God. Charity is of mighty use to the world.
Charity will live and flourish when faith’s work
is done.
Paul says, “‘Though I understand all
knowledge, and have not charity, I am
nothing’” (1 Cor. 13: 3). You may have
knowledge and understanding, but do you have
charity?
If you have charity, practice it and teach it.
Charity brings its own reward – practice it diligently
Teach charity to others, especially children
Concluding Thoughts
