13:81 Corinthians 13:8

Charity means true Christlike love, heaven-born and sanctified, shown in obedience to God and keeping His commandments.RH Jun 24, 1902+2 That love never fails but endures forever, while prophecies shall fail, tongues shall cease, and knowledge shall vanish away.RH Jul 21, 1904+2 Prophecy will no longer be needed as a guide and help in the church, tongues will no longer serve as a sign, and knowledge as a special gift of the Spirit will be surpassed by perfect knowledge.LS 339.2–340.1+2 This ceasing will happen when that which is perfect is come, still future at Christ's glorious second appearing when the just are made perfect and faith becomes sight.EW 108.1–3+2 Until then the gifts God set in the church are to remain and serve it, and love abides as the highest grace here and the crowning glory of immortals forever.EW 108.1–3+3

Charity means love, namely true, Christlike, sanctified, heaven-born love.RH Jun 24, 1902+2 It is an expression of the obedience of all who love God and keep His commandments, brought into action in the life of every true believer.RH Jun 24, 1902 It should be printed in small type in every paper issued from the presses.RH Jun 24, 1902 The love of God must be the prevailing sentiment in the heart, for God is love, and without this love even excellent qualifications are worthless and a person cannot be a laborer together with Him.Lt 23, 1903, par. 1–3 The chapter should be read every day to obtain comfort and strength, and its lesson about Christlike love should come home to the heart.Lt 23, 1903, par. 1–3

Genuine, Christlike love never fails.RH Mar 11, 1902 It is not selfish or inordinate affection for people, but love that purifies the soul, removes pride and idols from the heart, and seeks what is good for others.RH Mar 11, 1902 Without this love, activity, giving, and sacrifice have no true religious value.RH Mar 11, 1902 It is the bond of perfectness and constrains believers to serve and preach beyond familiar fields.RH Mar 11, 1902

Prophecies shall fail means the time will come when prophecy is no longer needed and the gift of prophecy as a help in the church will no longer be exercised to guide and enlighten.LS 339.2–340.1+2 Tongues shall cease means the gift of tongues will no longer be of service or as a sign.LS 339.2–340.1+2 Knowledge shall vanish away means knowledge not in the abstract but as one of the special gifts of the Spirit will be surpassed and rendered unnecessary by perfect knowledge.LS 339.2–340.1+2 These belong to the present imperfect childhood state of the church and will end only when the perfect eternal state comes, when faith gives way to sight and hope is fulfilled at Christ's glorious appearing.LS 339.2–340.1+2 Love remains the crowning Christian grace forever as the heavenly grace and crowning glory of the future immortal condition of the redeemed, while until that perfect state comes the gifts continue to serve the church.LS 339.2–340.1+2

Christ's love for fallen humanity never fails.Lt 93, 1903, par. 4 Privation cannot starve it, and the sins of the world cannot break its bond with humanity.Lt 93, 1903, par. 4 Christ's heart was broken by the thought that many would not respond to this great love.Lt 93, 1903, par. 4 Loving Jesus with the whole heart makes His love more precious than words can express.Lt 93, 1903, par. 4 The seal truth never fails and lasts forever when the Bible is not needed.Ms 1, 1848, par. 12–14 It commenced from the rising of the sun in the east with a small, cold, weak light, became strong from searching God's Word, and is on the increase stronger and stronger with the greatest weight and light upon it.Ms 1, 1848, par. 12–14 Like the sun it grows warmer and sends its rays with healing beams, keeps on its course like the sun but never sets, stays highest after entrance into the goodly land, and will increase till the saved are made immortal.Ms 1, 1848, par. 12–14

Love never fails or ends but endures forever, while prophecies shall fail, tongues shall cease, and knowledge shall vanish away because those gifts are temporary.RH Jul 21, 1904+4 Christlike love has lasting value beyond these gifts, and brotherhood depends on this unfailing love, without which nothing can be done toward God's purpose for humanity and all effort is without avail.RH Jul 21, 1904+2 Prophecy will no longer be needed as a light to guide and enlighten the church, tongues will no longer be of service as a sign, and present partial knowledge as a special gift of the Spirit will be surpassed and rendered unnecessary by perfect knowledge.LS 339.2–340.1 These gifts cease when faith gives way to sight and hope is fulfilled at Christ's glorious appearing.LS 339.2–340.1

Never failing means love never loses its value, for it is a heavenly attribute and quality.5T 169.2+3 Its possessor carries it as a precious and lasting treasure through the portals into the city of God and through the eternal ages, unlike earthly riches which can be swept away in a moment.5T 169.2+4 It bears with others' faults and cheerfully accepts the suffering or inconvenience that forbearance requires.5T 169.2+1

Love is the highest Christian grace here and the crowning Christian grace and glory of the redeemed and of immortals forever.LS 339.2–340.1+2 It remains when faith becomes sight and hope is fulfilled at Christ's appearing, when that which is in part is done away and that which is perfect is come in the immortal state, the perfect day of glory, and the open glory of the life to come.LS 339.2–340.1+2 Here knowledge and prophecy are only in part while walking by faith and seeing through a glass darkly, and there seeing darkly gives way to seeing face to face and knowing even as also known, talking face to face with God, Christ, and angels as in Eden before sin entered.SG3 13.2–14.1 Then the dim light of heaven through the dim medium of prophecies, tongues, knowledge, and the other gifts will be superseded because they are only in part and will no longer be needed.SG3 13.2–14.1

Love endures and prevails when other powers fail.ST Oct 21, 1875 Coming from God, it is known through action that does good, and its power can transform sinful hearts and overcome evils where force, authority, or argument cannot.ST Oct 21, 1875

The ending of the partial comes when that which is perfect is come, and that coming is still future.EW 108.1–3+2 It is the immortal state, the perfect day of glory, the open glory of the life to come at Christ's glorious appearing and second appearing, when the just are made perfect.EW 108.1–3+4 Faith and hope end together with prophecies, tongues, and knowledge at that same consummation, not before.EW 108.1–3+1

The present age, including the apostolic age, is the mortal, imperfect, childish state of walking by faith.SG3 13.2–14.1+2 Here prophecy and knowledge are only in part, seeing through a glass darkly with darkened partial knowledge.SG3 13.2–14.1+2 That dim present stands contrasted with then seeing face to face as in Eden before sin entered, talking face to face with God, Christ, and angels.SG3 13.2–14.1

At that time seeing darkly gives way to seeing face to face and to knowing even as one is known.EW 108.1–3+2 Faith becomes sight and hope is fulfilled.EW 108.1–3+3 The surpassing glory of the immortal state then eclipses the most brilliant displays of spiritual power and knowledge ever manifested in this mortal state.EW 108.1–3

Then the dim light of heaven coming through prophecies, tongues, knowledge, and the other gifts will be superseded because they are only in part.SG3 13.2–14.1+1 Prophecy will no longer be needed to guide and enlighten the church, tongues will no longer serve as a sign, and present partial gifted knowledge will give way to perfect knowledge and be rendered unnecessary.LS 339.2–340.1+3

Until the consummation of faith and hope the gifts set in the church were intended to remain and serve the church, with no intimation of their ceasing before the perfect day of glory comes, and they were not for the first Christians only.EW 108.1–3+2 That perfect coming is still future, the immortal state and open glory of the life to come when the just are made perfect and the surpassing glory of the immortal state eclipses the most brilliant displays of spiritual power and knowledge ever manifested in this mortal state.EW 108.1–3+1 Then seeing through a glass darkly gives way to face to face and knowing even as one is known, with faith become sight and hope fulfilled, prophecy no longer guiding and enlightening the church, tongues no longer of service as a sign, and partial knowledge surpassed by perfect knowledge.EW 108.1–3+2 The present is the mortal, imperfect, cloudy state of walking by faith with knowledge and prophecy only in part, contrasted with the future perfect when that which is in part is done away and the redeemed talk face to face with God, Christ, and angels as in Eden before sin.EW 108.1–3+1 Love is the highest Christian grace here and the crowning glory of immortals forever, remaining when the dim light of heaven through prophecies, tongues, knowledge, and the other gifts is superseded.SG3 13.2–14.1+1

The putting away of prophecies, tongues, knowledge, faith, hope, and charity as childish things was the work of the Man of Sin arrived at manhood, not the divine design.EW 108.1–3+1 His removal of these gifts is not the fulfillment of the promised cessation, which comes only when that which is perfect is come and the just see face to face rather than darkly.EW 108.1–3+1 The gifts will cease when the present imperfect state gives way to perfection at Christ's second appearing, when the dimness of the present age gives way to the glory of the eternal day.1SP 15.1–16.1 Until then the church continues to need them, and their end was never fixed at the death of the first apostles.1SP 15.1–16.1

If the gifts were needed in the apostolic age, they are certainly needed now, for that age was weak, childish, and of darkened partial knowledge yet not inferior in spiritual elevation to later ages.PP xx.2 The gifts as special gifts of the Spirit fail, cease, and vanish away only when the perfect state is reached, because perfect knowledge of the eternal world renders partial gifted knowledge unnecessary and they are no longer needed, exercised, or of service.PP xx.2 The age after the apostles, when grievous wolves enter without sparing the flock and men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples, cannot be the age of perfect light and knowledge where the imperfect and childish has passed away.PP xx.2

Unfailing love suffers long and is kind, envies not, boasts not, is not puffed up, behaves not unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil, rejoices not in iniquity but in truth, and bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things.Ms 73, 1897, par. 20–21+2 Where that love of God is in the heart there is no evil thinking, no easy disturbance, and no loose rein given to passion.Ms 73, 1897, par. 20–21+1 Instead there is a life yoked with Christ under the restraining power of His Spirit that speaks only gentle words He can approve.Ms 73, 1897, par. 20–21 Put in the heart by the Holy Spirit through transformation of character, this love cures faultfinding, irritation, evil-surmising, criticism, and magnifying of trifles in the chronic grumbler.Lt 34, 1894, par. 27–33 It attributes good motives to others, makes straight paths for the feet, strengthens hands that hang down, confirms feeble knees, and heals the lame instead of turning them out of the way.Lt 34, 1894, par. 27–33

Selfless love keeps peace by freeing from self, for love of self destroys peace because while self is alive there is constant guarding against mortification and insult.ST Dec 27, 1905+1 When self is dead and the life is hidden with Christ in God, neglects and slights are not taken to heart.ST Dec 27, 1905+1 That unfailing love makes a person deaf to reproach and blind to scorn and insult, suffering long, remaining kind and unprovoked, and enduring all things without retaliation.ST Dec 27, 1905+1 This love gives a constant and abiding peace that does not depend on circumstances in life, on worldly goods, or on earthly friends.ST Mar 24, 1909 That peace holds because Christ is the fountain of living water and happiness drawn from Him can never fail.ST Mar 24, 1909 Lived out in meekness in the home, it provokes no quarrel, gives back no angry answer, soothes the irritated temper, and makes those around it happy.ST Mar 24, 1909

Love bears with others' faults and cheerfully accepts the suffering or inconvenience that forbearance requires.5T 169.2+1 Love is the true test of the Spirit's work.Ms 115, 1908, par. 69 It is the bond of perfectness.RH Mar 11, 1902

The closing line that love never fails belongs to the most valuable treatise on etiquette ever given, joined to Christ's command to love one another, and it is to be written indelibly in the memory of every human being young and old as the rule for conduct and courtesy.ED 242.1–2 It is the love that must unite church members to one another, to be committed to memory and written in mind and heart.Ms 82, 1898, par. 31–33 Placed before the church for consideration together with the figure of members composing one body, it represents the church of God and the relation its members should sustain to one another, making those brought together in church capacity united understandingly and intelligently.Ms 82, 1898, par. 31–33 It requires walking humbly with God in obedience rather than in contention, division, and heresy.Ms 82, 1898, par. 31–33

Sanctified, heaven-born, Christlike love never fails and has great value in God's sight, and the love of God must be the prevailing sentiment in the heart, for God is love.Lt 23, 1903, par. 1–3 Without this love even excellent qualifications are worthless and a person cannot be a laborer together with Him.Lt 23, 1903, par. 1–3 The chapter should be read every day to obtain comfort and strength, and its lesson about Christlike love should come home to the heart.Lt 23, 1903, par. 1–3 The whole chapter is to be lived out daily, with fervent charity cultivated among believers in peace, healthful thoughts, and periods of rest and quietness of mind that keep steady purpose in the fight of faith without failing or discouragement, bringing sunlight into life to bless others as well as self.Lt 3, 1902, par. 4 It is to be studied and applied by church members for the continuous humbling of individual self and for taking self critically in hand as the beginning of self-examination.Lt 354, 1905, par. 14 It should have more weight with believers while they are being tried and tested and pray to be shut in with God so the wicked one may have no power over them.Lt 202, 1902, par. 8

Unfailing charity must be brought into daily experience through deep repentance and reformation.RH Feb 24, 1903 Self must be crucified and surrendered to God and the heart broken on the Rock, so a strong, steady Christlike love and interest for Christ and for one another can grow.10MR 142.3–143.3+2 The graces of the Spirit are to be cultivated and speech used only to bless and strengthen others.Lt 146, 1902, par. 12–15 This love is a strong, steady belief in the truth that is broad and comprehensive, casting out all enmity and petty differences and transforming coldness and indifference into Christlike affection.10MR 142.3–143.3+1 The deeper the love for Christ the deeper the love for one another, making discourtesy toward one another, drawing apart, and showing no love or sympathy impossible.RH Feb 24, 1903

Cultivated fervent charity brings peace, healthful thoughts, and quiet rest that keep steady purpose in the fight of faith without failing or discouragement and bring sunlight to bless self and others.Lt 3, 1902, par. 4 Obedience to unfailing love forbids separation into factions among those who believe the truth, because a divided witness does not testify to the power of the truth, and obedience keeps unity and bears a true witness to the truth.Ms 59, 1902, par. 39 Brotherhood depends on Christlike love that never fails or ends while prophecies shall be done away, tongues shall cease, and knowledge shall be done away, and without it nothing can be done toward fulfilling God's purpose for humanity and all effort is without avail.ST Mar 12, 1902+1

This is God's message to those who claim to be servants of God, including responsible men in publishing work and publishing institutions.Lt 223, 1899, par. 4+1 It rebukes a selfish unsympathizing spirit toward brethren in hard places.20MR 86.1 The softening, subduing power of God must come into their lives through humility and through becoming learners in the school of Christ so the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, can work with them.Lt 223, 1899, par. 4+1

Faith, hope, and love are the great moral powers of the soul that must be active in ministers of Christ, for without them even earnest and zealous labor will not be accepted of God and cannot do good to the church.TBC1872 12.1–13.1 Love is the golden chain that binds believing hearts to one another in willing bonds of friendship, tenderness, and faithful constancy and binds the soul to God.TBC1872 12.1–13.1 A decided lack of love, compassion, and pitying tenderness leaves ministers cold and heartless and explains why preaching present truth is not more successful.TBC1872 12.1–13.1 The purest and most elevated devotion to God is shown in earnest desire and effort to win souls to Christ, and it is through the exercise of faith, hope, and love that people come nearer to the standard of perfect holiness.TBC1872 12.1–13.1 This remembers one's own helplessness in darkness, sin, and despair and what Christ has done, coming to the hearts of brethren where they are weak, refusing unnecessary censure, and weeping over the erring and backslidden with pity and tenderness because the soul is of infinite value measured only by Calvary.TBC1872 12.1–13.1

True charity endures and never fails as the crowning fruit of Christian character that must be practiced.ST Nov 15, 1910+1 Failure to put its teaching into practice shows how far professed Christians can live apart from Christ and the rule of God's Word.Ms 177, 1903, par. 11–13 Liberality is duty, but offerings by rich or poor cannot atone for defects of Christian character, and even bestowing all goods to feed the poor or giving the body to be burned profits nothing without charity.ST Nov 15, 1910 To be accepted as followers of Christ, rich and poor must bring forth the fruits of His Spirit in patience, kindness, humility, unselfishness and rejoicing in truth, for they are known by their fruits.ST Nov 15, 1910 Without this genuine, Christlike love all activity, giving, and sacrifice have no true religious value, for it is the bond of perfectness.RH Mar 11, 1902 This love constrains believers to serve and preach beyond familiar fields.RH Mar 11, 1902