God's Kind of Love: Episode 10

Main ideas / concepts / lessons

1. Context of 1 Corinthians 13:10 (“that which is perfect”)

   • The speaker argues against a common claim in some Christian denominations that spiritual gifts and miracles ceased after the Bible was completed.
   • He insists that “that which is perfect” in 1 Corinthians 13:10 is not the Bible itself, but something future:
     • The passage connects “perfect” with seeing “face to face” and knowing as fully as one is known.
     • He argues believers have not yet seen God “face to face.”
     • Scripture indicates nobody can see God face to face and live.
   • Therefore, gifts like prophecy, tongues, interpretation, and miracles should continue until Christ returns and believers receive glorified bodies.

2. Why the gifts should continue

   • He interprets 1 Corinthians 13:9–12 (“in part… through a glass darkly… face to face”) as evidence that believers still lack full knowledge and revelation.
   • Conclusion: Supernatural gifts are needed now until “the perfect” comes.
   • He also appeals to Mark 16 as a pattern: the gospel should be accompanied by signs and wonders that confirm the word.

3. Critique of Christianity that lacks demonstration

   • He claims the Church’s limited impact in the world may be due to:
     • Some preaching what he considers not-truth, and
     • Others preaching truth without the “demonstration” (miracles, healing, power) he believes should follow the word.
   • He shares real-world examples from his ministry’s conferences, especially a healing-focused conference, including:
     • claimed large numbers healed, and
     • a claim that a baby was raised from the dead.

4. Faith, hope, and God’s kind of love (1 Corinthians 13:13)

   • He teaches that while faith, hope, and love remain, “the greatest of these is charity” (love).
   • He reorders emphasis:
     • Love = greatest/primary
     • Hope = second
     • Faith = third
   • He argues many people say “don’t hope, just believe,” but he claims hope gives faith “substance” (linking to Hebrews 11:1).

5. Hope as the “activator” of faith

   • Analogy: Hope functions like a thermostat—it doesn’t produce the heating/cooling itself, but it activates and controls the power unit.
   • Application:
     • If someone cannot yet believe “beyond doubt” for healing, they can start with hope based on:
       • Scripture (e.g., “I can see it in the word”), and
       • testimonies (“I hear… healed… miracles…”)
     • Then hope helps faith engage for victory (citing 1 John 5).

6. Christian salvation vs. other religions: “what Jesus did”

   • He argues Christianity differs because salvation is:
     • not earned through religious practices, but
     • received as a gift based on what Jesus did.
   • Contrasts are drawn with:
     • Islam (jihad, prescribed prayers, covering requirements)
     • Buddhism (ritual practices, denial of self, belief in reincarnation)
   • Core claim:
     • Jesus paid the debt, bore sin, and secured righteousness for believers.
   • Salvation is framed using verses such as:
     • Grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8)
     • Justification given freely by grace
     • “Gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23)
     • Jesus took sin; believers receive God’s righteousness (1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

7. Love as the real motivation (personal testimony)

   • He emphasizes that understanding God’s love changes motivation:
     • Fear and religious striving may create “performance,” but love compels.
   • Personal narrative:
     • He describes being “religious” and trying to earn/maintain favor after initial salvation.
     • After seeing God’s holiness (dated to March 23, 1968, when he was 18), he says he repented of self-righteousness and self-earned standing.
     • He describes experiencing God’s tangible love for “4 and 1/2 months”, which he claims became the lasting driver of his life—stronger than fear.

8. Practical conclusion: full revelation of love

   • He argues believers can be born again yet still lack a “full revelation” of God’s love if love is not the primary motivation.
   • He cites Ephesians 3 as a prayer that believers understand the “height, depth, length, and breadth” of God’s love so they can be filled with God’s fullness.
   • He claims this revelation leads to sacrificing even one’s life for God (linking to Revelation 12:11).

9. Call to action (product offer)

   • The speaker promotes a product titled “God’s Kind of Love”:
     • CDs, DVDs, and a USB containing audio/video
   • He says it’s intended to “make a difference” and encourages purchase, referring to it as “the last day.”

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Methodology / instructional elements (as presented)

• How to interpret 1 Corinthians 13:10–12

  • Begin with 1 Corinthians 13:10 (“when that which is perfect is come”).
  • Connect “perfect” to:
    • “face to face” (v.12)
    • incomplete knowledge “through a glass darkly” (v.12)
    • the future timing implied by believers not having seen God directly yet.
  • Use the passage to argue against the view that “perfect” = completed Bible, since “face to face/complete knowing” has not yet occurred.

• How to support belief in continuing gifts

  • Use the chain of reasoning:
    • incomplete knowledge implies gifts are still needed, and
    • Mark 16 indicates the word is confirmed by signs and wonders.
  • Evaluate preaching by whether it includes (in his view) the demonstration of power.

• How to use hope to build faith

  • If someone’s faith is not strong enough to believe fully for a desired outcome:
    • begin with hope grounded in:
      • Scripture, and
      • testimonies
    • treat hope as an “activator” that allows faith to “kick in”
  • Then faith becomes the “victory” that overcomes (referencing 1 John 5).

• How he frames salvation

  • Salvation is received as a gift:
    • believe what Jesus has done
    • do not rely on religious works to be accepted
  • Implicit direction: move from “earned acceptance” to received righteousness, framed as love-based rather than fear-based.

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Speakers / sources featured

Speakers

• Andrew (main speaker; also appears in the “announcer”/intro section)

Implied/mentioned announcer

• “our announcer” (unnamed)

Biblical sources referenced

• 1 Corinthians 13 (especially v.10–13)
• Mark 16
• Psalm 139
• Hebrews 11 (v.1 referenced)
• Ephesians 2 (v.8 referenced)
• Romans 5 (v.2 referenced; Romans 5:8 referenced)
• 1 John 5
• 2 Corinthians 5:21
• 1 Peter 2:24
• Romans 6:23
• Galatians 5:6
• Isaiah 64:6
• Revelation 12:11
• Ephesians 3 (prayer about understanding God’s love)

Non-biblical religions mentioned (as contrasts)

• Islam
• Buddhism