Faith Hope and Love

I have a friend who has three daughters named Faith, Hope, and Love. Actually the 3rd one is named Charity which is the older rendering of the word love in Scripture.

It is interesting to note how many times we find all three of these terms in the same context in the Scriptures. In the book of Hebrews, for example, read passages like 6:10-12 and 10:19-23.  Another example is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:8.  The most familiar text where all three are found might be the last verse of 1 Corinthians 13.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Let us briefly note that each word is rooted in Scripture.

Faith, according to Romans 10:17, comes from hearing and hearing comes from the word. Our faith originates in the Word.

Romans 15:4 notes that Scripture is also our source of hope. In this passage we read that through patience and comfort of the Scriptures we have hope. Hope comes from the Word.

Lastly we observe that love is rooted in the word as well.  2 John 6 reveals that love is walking in His commandments, i.e. to walk according to truth, the Word.

But why do you suppose the Spirit identified love as the greatest of the 3? Our remaining comments will focus on love.

Paul wrote that love was greater than faith and greater than hope in 1 Cor 13:13. Love.

He wrote to the evangelist Timothy that the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart in 1 Timothy 1:5.  Love.

Jesus identified love as the greatest of all commandments in Matthew 22:37-39. You shall love the LORD your GOD and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love.

Paul summed up the entire Old Law with one word in Galatians 5:14. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love.

James 2:8 refers to the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” as the royal law. Love.

Colossians 3:14 notes that love is called the bond of perfection or maturity.

Love. The bond of maturity. The royal law. The summary of the Old Testament. The greatest of all commandments.

To ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ is a quotation from Leviticus 19:18. Some have noted this is the most commonly quoted Old Testament passage in the New Testament.

Why then did Jesus refer to it as a new commandment in John 13:34? He said “as I have loved you, you also love one another.” It was new only in the sense that He was giving us the perfect Example. As I have loved you.

Just imagine for a moment a world filled with love. The kind of love that Christ had for us. Imagine all of our neighbors loving each other like that. Looking out for the needs of each other. Putting others before self. Alas, it would be a very different world.

Faith, hope, and love. Love is the greatest of these three. One day my faith will be sight. One day my hope will become reality. But love will endure throughout eternity.