1CO 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

>>After speaking of charity, i.e., love in the highest terms, the apostle counts it to be a grace far more precious than any spiritual gifts.

1CO 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

>>It is very important that we understand that the possession of any or all of these gifts is not a proof that we belong to Christ.

>>The proof that they were disciples of Christ is found in their love to Him and the brethren.

DEU 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

>>Observance of the second table of the law of love is known as the Golden Rule, or the Royal Law.

JAM 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

>>This royal law is what we find in MAT 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

>>The gifts spoken of in our chapter were given for special service to the church, but love is the essential grace for which we must examine our own hearts.

1CO 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

>>The word "charity" as it is used here is a very special word. It is the whole law of love in one word! It includes, "Supreme love to God, and universal good will to men."

>>This grace is no less essential to our eternal future as it is to our present welfare.

>>This word "charity" is synonymous with the word mercy. Webster says, "The highest exercise of charity, is charity towards the uncharitable."

ROM 12:20-21 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

>>These are the coals of fire spoken of in SON 8:6-7 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; [you may sooner unlock the portals of hell than quince Christ's love for His church.]...the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

>>This "charity" is that which re-molds our character to that of our God.

1CO 13:4-7 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

>>Those gifts were only temporary, but this charity which is the vital sign of all graces is eternal.

1CO 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

>>What Paul prophecies for man, Christ already possesses in our human nature. Our text says,

1CO 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

>>The Lord Jesus Christ speaking in our human nature said in JOH 8:55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

>>Jesus prays that His church may "...know [the Father] even as also [they are] known [of the Father]," in

JOH 17:24-25 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

>>As long as we are in this vale of tears this knowledge will never be complete. Our text says

1CO 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

>>The Apostle compares spiritual growth to looking back into our childhood.

1CO 13:9-11 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 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.

>>This is synonymous with HEB 5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

>>When we are spiritual children we still only see ourselves as through a glass, but as we grow in grace we learn what John the Baptist said in

JOH 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

>>After the Apostle Paul had become spiritually mature he said PHI 3:7-9 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

>>With reference to God's providence now we can see dimly, Our text says, "...now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."

Our lives are but fine weavings
That God and we prepare,
Each life becomes a fabric planned
And fashioned with His care.
We may not always see just how
The weavings intertwine,
But we must trust the master's hand
and follow His design,
For He can view the pattern
Upon the upper side,
While we must look from underneath
And trust in Him to guide...

>>We may believe what we read in ROM 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

>>Yet as the trials become more severe we often pray against them, but when faith becomes sight we will see clearly what God's Word says in ISA 55:8-11 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

>>Our text must also be seen in a much richer sense in respect to the love of God.

>>In this life we may say, "His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely," SON 5:16, or "...this is all my salvation, and all my desire..." 2SA 23:5, yet when faith becomes sight we will say with the Queen of Sheba,

1KI 10:7 Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.

>>Until faith becomes sight we never will understand the love of God in all our trials.

HEB 12:9-10 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

>>When faith becomes sight we shall see clearly how pleased God is with charity in His loved ones, i.e., love for God and their fellow man.

HEB 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

>>Jesus told how this will be remembered in heaven in MAT 25:33-36 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

>>Our text says, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; [we do not see as God sees], but then face to face: [i.e., we shall clearly see as He sees.]

MAT 25:37-40 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

>>As we struggle through this life we do not see how the joy of our salvation is mutual.

ISA 62:5b For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

>>This is the joy that was set before our Saviour as the object of His faith.

HEB 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

>>This joy is expressed in REV 19:7-9 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

>>When faith becomes sight we will learn what true gratitude is for such undeserved love as we see in REV 5:9-13 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.