12:31 What is the "more excellent way" Paul refers to here?
12:31 What is the "more excellent way" Paul refers to here?
While Paul is exhorting believers here to earnestly desire the best spiritual gifts, the mere possession of spiritual gifts is not a real indication of one's spirituality or closeness to God (CP 13:1-3).
Love is the only real indication of one's spirituality and closeness to God - possessing spiritual gifts without having love amounts to nothing. The more excellent way Paul refers to in 1 Cor 12:31 is the exercise of spiritual gifts in love.
Love is the only context in which spiritual gifts can fulfil God's purpose in the church, and it must be the governing principle of all the manifestations of the spirit (CP 1 Cor 13:4-7).
This is the love Christians are to manifest toward one another at all times: love that is long-suffering, patient, kind; never envious or jealous; never haughty or boastful, or proud; never acting unbecomingly or indecently; is not self-seeking; is never rude or discourteous; does not become irritated or angry; does not keep account of wrong done to it; does not rejoice in that which is evil, but in that which is true. It bears up against all things; is always eager to believe the best; always hopeful, always enduring.
This is the same love wherewith Jesus loves us. It seeks the welfare of all and works no ill to any. It is not an option for Christians to love like this - it is commanded throughout scripture (CP Jn 13:34-35; 15:12; Ro 12:9-10,12-21; 1Cor 12:23-26; Ga 5:13-15; Eph 5:1-2; Php 2:1-4; Col 3:12-14; He 13:1; 1 Pe 1:22, 2:17; 4:8; 1 Jn 2:8-10; 3:10-21, 23-24; 4:7-12, 16-21).
We learn from 1 Jn 4:7-12 and 16-21 here that it is only by the expression of our love for one another like these scriptures all teach, that God's love is perfected in us.
The effectiveness of God's love in us demonstrates itself in our love for each other. This is the perfect love that casts out fear in V18, which is the same thing which 1 Jn 3:13 teaches - Christians in whom God's love is perfected through their unconditional, self-sacrificial love for other Christians, need have any fear of not being saved. They can confidently look forward to Christ's coming again knowing they have ensured their destiny in eternity with Him.
They have proved their love for God by their love for each other (CP Php 1:9-11, 1Th 3:12-13; 4:1, 9-10; 2Pe 1:5-11 with 1Jn 3:18-24). See also comments on Jn 13:34-35; Ro 13:8; Ga 5:1-8, 5:13; 1Th 3:12; 1Jn 2:7, 3:15, 3:16-18, 3:19-22, 4:7-21; Rev 4:7-13, and author's study How Christians are to Love One Another in his book Foundational Truths of the Christian Faith.