I Corinthians 13:9  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.
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.
13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

In chapter 13 the apostle Paul spoke about the importance of charity. The Corinthian saints were obsessed with sign gifts. They assumed they were more spiritual because of their abuse of the gifts. God directed Paul to show them the temporary nature of the gifts they were so hung up on. Those gifts were there as interim gifts and they would soon be unnecessary.
We noted yesterday that knowledge would vanish away. In verse 9 Paul stated that their knowledge was only in part. No one church had all knowledge. No one saint had all knowledge. God gave the knowledge as He saw fit. God gave the apostle Paul knowledge as he needed it for the specific situation. Their prophesying was also in part. Paul was given some prophecy by the Lord. John was given other prophecies. Many people are drawn to the prophecy given in the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even in that, there is much symbolism in that book and there is limited understanding of that book. However, it is all we need to know.
In verse 10 we are told when these temporary gifts would be done away. The key is the word “perfect”. Some have assumed the perfect would be when the Lord comes back. However, that is not true. When the Lord comes back at the end of the Tribulation, there will still be 1,000 years known as the Millennium. During that time people will be living on this earth and Jesus will rule with a rod of iron. The people living at that time will still need direction and there will still be those who will try to rebel. Jesus is perfect, but that is not what Paul was referring to here. The last book of prophecy God gave to man is the book of the Revelation. God warned of the judgment upon anyone who would add to or take away from that book of prophecy. That warning is for all Scripture, and thus it also covers that book. There have been false prophets since the Scriptures have been completed. We know they are false prophets because we have the completed Word of God.

James 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

The perfect law of liberty is the Scriptures. When God completed them, there would be no further need for the interim gifts of tongues, prophecy and knowledge. Peter was directed to write:

II Peter 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

That “sure Word” was completed with the end of the book of the Revelation. We have the completed Word of God.
God’s Word is complete. We lack the full understanding of that Word, but God has given us all He will give us while we are on earth. Through faithful study of God’s Word, we can gain greater understanding of God’s Word. The saints in Corinth were guilty of excesses. They needed to listen in order to accept the truth.
In verse 11 Paul was directed to use the illustration of a child. We know that children lack wisdom. They learn things and can gain understanding as they learn. Learning includes application of what is being taught. If a child does not pay attention to what is being taught, it will not stick with them. As they use what they have been taught it will also help them in their understanding. God says that when we become adults, we need to put away childish things. That is supposed to be the case, but sometimes we like to hold on to childish things rather than growing up. That was certainly the problem in Corinth. They were distorting gifts that God gave for a specific purpose. They needed to understand God’s purposes and they needed to act like adults.
In verse 12 Paul addressed the matter of spiritual insight. At the present time, Paul did not see all there was to see, spiritually. He had great insight, but there was more that would be known when the Scriptures would be complete. The apostle Paul had some understanding of future events. However, he would be dead before the book of the Revelation would be written. John was given great insights in that book. Since that time there have been many different interpretations of that book. I listened to an old preacher who died in 2020 and he falsely stated that when the Lord Jesus Christ returns, it will be in one setting. He claimed there was nothing to suggest two parts to His return. Yet that is clearly given. I Thessalonians 4 speaks of the saints meeting Him in the air. There are several passages that tell us that Jesus Christ will come back to this earth at the end of the Tribulation and set His feet on the mount of Olives. Zechariah 14:4 and Revelation 19 tells us of the battle of Armageddon. There will be a massive blood-bath at that time. The wicked will be slain there and the devil will be bound and cast into the bottom pit for 1,000 years. We have the completed Scriptures and if we accept them as truth, we can know these things and others as well. The apostle Paul was content with what God gave him. He was not lacking anything that was necessary and he was not hindering others with his lack of knowledge.
The apostle Paul did not have that full picture while he was on earth. The saints in Corinth did not have that at that time either. It takes time and effort to properly study God’s Word to gain what He wants us to know. Charity is important in all of our study.
In verse 13 we are reminded of that which was available to him and to them at that time. Faith, hope a charity were gifts that are available to all saints. Faith and hope are based in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11 has much to say about the faith that we need and can have in Christ. Charity is the greatest of the three. Without godly charity, the others would certainly be abused. That was the problem in Corinth at that time. That is the problem with the Charismatics and many others as well. There is not that love of God first of all and thus there cannot be the love for others that God’s people need to have. That was lacking in Corinth as well. They did not have a right understanding of Who God is. Without that, they could not possibly function as true saints should. They needed to accept that love and they needed to function in accordance with that love.
Today is the Lord’s Day. It is designed by God for us as people. God wants us to know the truth and He wants His children to enjoy fellowship with Him and with other saints. That is possible for those who are saved. The place to be on this day is in the “house of God”.
Pastor Bartel