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Two trains leave Chicago at the same time. One heads south at 55mph while the other goes north at 38mph with a tailwind of 14 knots. If the first train’s engineer has blue eyes…WHO CARES? Hardly anybody uses this sort of algebra.
But there’s some “algebra” in the Bible that everybody can use.
We all suffered through algebra in high school. But there’s one formula that can help our study of the Bible and our understanding of God:
If A = B, and B = C, then C = A
Bear with me a moment and check out what 1 John 4:7-8 says:
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Here, John says, “God is love.” So, let’s say God (A) = love (B).
Now, check out how the Apostle Paul defined love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-13:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Here, Paul says, “Love is various traits.” So, let’s say Love (B) = various traits (C). Everybody with me?
Hmmmm…if God (A) “equals” love (B), and love (B) “equals” various traits (C), then God (A) “equals” various traits (C).
See?
GOD is patient, GOD is kind. GOD does not envy, GOD does not boast, GOD is not proud. GOD does not dishonor others, GOD is not self-seeking, GOD is not easily angered, GOD keeps no record of wrongs. GOD does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. GOD always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
GOD never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and GOD. But the greatest of these is GOD.
Now that’s some “math” I can use!
Topics Illustrated Include:
Bible
Bible Study
God (Nature of)
God’s Character
Logic
Love
Math
School
(Resource cataloged by David R Smith)
