“What Are The Greatest Things of Life?”

Introduction:

1. 1 Cor. 13:13—Charity or Love is no doubt the greatest and most powerful principle of life. Love sacrifices on behalf of its object (Jn. 3:16, Rom 5:6-8). Love gives its best (2 Cor. 9:15). Love makes heavy burdens seem light (Gen. 29:20).

2. 1 Cor. 13:1-7 Charity or love is here personfied. It does the following things. God is love (1 Jn. 4:8), and therefore, these things are characterisitc of Him, substituting God for charity. Christ is the image of God (Col. 1:15), substitute Christ. Christians follow Christ, substitute Christian. Substitute you name and see if it fits.

I. Other Great Principles of Life.

A. The greatest privilege in life is to be “sons of God” (1 Jn. 3:1, Gal. 3:26-27, 1 Jn. 3:10). Then we can really pray “our Father….” (Matt. 6:9). Must also be children to be heirs of God (Rom. 8:16-17, Gal. 4:4-7).

B. The greatest joy in life is the joy of salvatoin (Acts 8—Samaria & Nobleman, Phil. 4:4, Ps. 51:12, 1 Pet. 1:8, Rom. 8:1, 2 Tim. 1:10-11, Eph. 1:3).

C. The Greatest Fellowship in life is with Christ and Christians (1 Jn. 1:7, Acts 2:42, 1 Cor. 15:33, Eph. 5:11, I Jn. 2:15-17).

D. The greatest vocation in life is the work for God and serve Him (Eph. 4:1-2, Matt. 22:37, 6:33, 1 Cor. 15:58, Rev. 14:13, Mk. 10:45, I Will work, I Will Pray)

E. The greatest knowledge in life is to know God and His Son Jesus Christ (Jn. 17:3, Jn. 8:32, Phil. 3:10, Jn. 14:6, Knowing involves keeping his commands, knowing involves approving of God and His Son Ps. 1).

F. The greatest object in life is to purposefully glorify God and His Son (1 Cor. 10:31, Isa. 43:7). We do this in several ways.

1. By confessing the Lord (Phil. 2:11, Matt. 10:31-33, Rom. 10:10).

2. In our bodies (1 Cor. 6:16-20).

3. In the church (Eph. 3:21).

4. By letting our light shine (Matt. 5:16).

G. The greatest victory in life is to overcome self and the world (1 Cor. 9:27, Rom 7. Rev. 3:5, 1 Jn. 5:3-5, 2:14, 1 Cor. 15:57, James 4:7).

H. The greatest work in the world is winning souls (Prov. 11:30).

1. Mates can win their mates (1 Pet. 3:1-4).

2. Church inviting the lost (Isa. 2:3, Rev. 22:17, Matt. 11:28-30).

3. One soul is worth more than anything in this world (Matt. 16:25).

I. The greatest gift in life is to give one’s self unto God and other people (Acts 20:35, 2 Cor. 8:1-5, Lk. 6:38).

J. The greatest loss in life is on’e soul (Lk. 12:15-21, James 5:19-21).

K. The greatest neglect in life is the great salvation (Heb. 2:1ff, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:36ff).

L. The greatest prize is eternal life (2 Tim. 4:7-8, Phil 3:14, James 1:12).

M. The greatest question in life—(Acts 16:30).