This verse is often misinterpreted by works-salvationists who imply that Paul is teaching there are Christians who have faith, but no hope or love, so they won't be saved, yet that is NOT the point that Paul is making here. If someone has truly placed their faith (belief, trust, reliance) in Jesus Christ alone for salvation and has received the Holy Spirit, it would be impossible for them to have NO hope or love at all. Paul uses hyperbole (obvious and intentional exaggeration) about understanding ALL mysteries and ALL knowledge and having faith that can move mountains yet having NO love, but Paul is not exaggerating about the importance of love.
Faith works through love (Galatians 5:6), but we are still saved through faith, not faith plus love/acts of charity. Paul is stressing that love is the greater quality of the three because God is love and it outlasts them all. Long after faith and hope are no longer necessary throughout eternity, love will still be the governing principle that controls everything that God and his redeemed people/saints are and do. We will not need faith and hope throughout eternity in our glorified bodies in the presence of the Lord.
Paul is not teaching that even if our faith is genuine that our faith cannot save us without producing "enough" love/acts of charity or without having "enough" hope. If we have saving faith in Christ, then we have this hope. Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things HOPED for. Titus 3:7 - So that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the HOPE of eternal life. Unlike the english word "hope," the N.T. word contains no uncertainty; it speaks of something that is certain. - Strong's #1680 elpís (from elpō, "to anticipate, welcome") – properly, expectation of what is sure (certain); hope.
So although Paul is stressing the importance of love, he is not teaching salvation through faith + love, as if we could produce "enough" acts of charity to merit eternal life. All genuine BELIEVERS love Christ. Why? Because believers have received the love of God in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5) when we believed the gospel (Ephesians 1:13). We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7)
Faith works through love (Galatians 5:6), but we are still saved through faith, not faith plus love/acts of charity. Paul is stressing that love is the greater quality of the three because God is love and it outlasts them all. Long after faith and hope are no longer necessary throughout eternity, love will still be the governing principle that controls everything that God and his redeemed people/saints are and do. We will not need faith and hope throughout eternity in our glorified bodies in the presence of the Lord.
Paul is not teaching that even if our faith is genuine that our faith cannot save us without producing "enough" love/acts of charity or without having "enough" hope. If we have saving faith in Christ, then we have this hope. Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things HOPED for. Titus 3:7 - So that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the HOPE of eternal life. Unlike the english word "hope," the N.T. word contains no uncertainty; it speaks of something that is certain. - Strong's #1680 elpís (from elpō, "to anticipate, welcome") – properly, expectation of what is sure (certain); hope.
So although Paul is stressing the importance of love, he is not teaching salvation through faith + love, as if we could produce "enough" acts of charity to merit eternal life. All genuine BELIEVERS love Christ. Why? Because believers have received the love of God in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5) when we believed the gospel (Ephesians 1:13). We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7)
Jesus taught one simple truth. His sheep, his people have an encounter with God. They are born from on High.
It shows itself in various ways, but cannot be seen by ones eye or anyone outside the heart.
Because of this encounter, new life springs forth. This new life is as inevitable as a seed planted in good soil
with water, sprouts and puts forward leaves of life. And the fruit of this seed is equally plain and obvious.
Walking and listening to Jesus. Obeying and knowing Gods law on their hearts. I remember the notion on reading
the law of God, I understand that idea, I agree it sounds good. I found the more I read the more my heart sang about
the writer of this law. Every step there has been an experience and then scripture puts it into context.
So rejoice my brothers and sisters in Christ. We are the people of God so claim it, and walk in it and speak its
language, and know who is your King. Because we can choose and we need to learn and be disciplined we can
be distracted. So while it is still day, let us work hard to follow and uplift our King and His word, Amen.