In our “internet age” knowledge has become so accessible, and of every kind, that it is enough to think of some question and, as they say, “Google has the answer.” I thought it was a modern trend to scroll through endless internet feeds and social media walls in order to read and learn something new, but the Lord showed me that it was the same thousands of years ago. As it is written in the book of Ecclesiastes: “That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been…” [Ecc.3:15] The Holy Spirit reminded me of the words from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians: “For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom” [1 Cor.1:22] And indeed, a similar trend can be noticed among us believers. Some run to all kinds of conferences where gemstones appear and gold dust falls, while others buy or download a multitude of Christian books, trying to satisfy an inner hunger.

Knowledge Puffs Up

A brother once kept asking me when I would translate the next book by a preacher of grace. I said to him: “Why do you need another book?” “I would like to learn more about Jesus,” he answered. What could be a nobler desire, you might think. But that is only at first glance. First, it is better to get to know a person not through books but by personal fellowship, because otherwise it is more like unrequited love: a guy loves a girl, but somehow he can’t manage to talk with her, so he learns about her from second-hand sources. And second, as the apostle Paul wrote: “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies” [1 Cor.8:1]. Perhaps someone will say: “That’s a worn-out phrase, and here Paul is talking about idols; it has nothing to do with knowing Jesus Christ.”

But I tell you that even the knowledge of Christ Himself and revelations about Him puff up. How can that be? You may remember the story about the thorn in the flesh. Remember what Paul wrote there? “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations…” In other words: so that I would not become conceited because I had received such great revelations [2 Cor.12:7] What revelations is he talking about? The revelations of Jesus Christ and His grace, for Paul himself wrote: “But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” [Gal.1:11-12]

Peter was in a similar situation when he received the revelation that Jesus is the Messiah — the Son of the living God. Right after that he fell into pride and began to rebuke the Lord, and so he himself came under God’s severity and received a rebuke from Jesus. [Mat.16:16-17,22-23] The same thing happened with the Corinthians, who, having received knowledge and all kinds of revelations, boasted before one another. That is why Paul wrote to them: “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” [1 Cor.4:7]

“So, brother, you’re against knowing Christ. Don’t you know that it is written: ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge‘?” I am not against knowing Christ. Knowing Christ is wonderful. Peter wrote: “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” and further “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us” [2 Pet.1:2-3]. Indeed, as we come to know Christ and His finished work on the cross, we begin to live that abundant life our Beloved Lord spoke about. Jesus Himself said: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” [Jhn.8:32] The only question left now is how we use this freedom.

Love for the Brethren

When Paul wrote that knowledge puffs up but love edifies, the point was not idols but love for the brothers and sisters. In the same place Paul writes to the Corinthians: “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.” [1 Cor.8:9] And who are the weak? “Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.” [Rom.14:1-2] Again, this is not about vegetables and fruit, but about love for the brethren who continue to live under the law in some areas of their lives.

You have come to know the grace of God, and the Lord has revealed to you the truth about the finished work of Christ and that all God’s blessings in Christ are Yes and Amen! That’s wonderful. But now, how are you going to use this freedom? Will you go to the church you have attended for the last 10 years and start arguing, trying to convince others and prove that behaving well is not required, because our righteousness is by faith and not by works? About all kinds of disputes Paul wrote: “But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.” [1 Cor.11:16] When a person argues and wants to prove something to another, it says only one thing — he wants to hear words of approval: “You are right!” But why do you need to hear that, if you yourself say that your righteousness is by faith and not by works? When a person has the revelation that Christ is his righteousness, every desire to argue and prove anything to anyone disappears, because God’s peace reigns within.

Paul wrote: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” [Rom.5:1] When we have peace with God, we have peace with ourselves and, as a result, peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Even if they do not share the gospel of grace and regard us as false prophets and heretics, “blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” [1 Pet.4:14] And with those who don’t know about God’s goodness and are weak in the faith we do not argue, but correct them in humility. And it is not we who do this, but the grace of God which is with us. That is why it is important not to stuff ourselves with all kinds of knowledge, but to love the brothers and sisters.

“There you go, Brother Paul, for 15 years in church they made me love my neighbor, and now you’re at it again. You must have fallen from grace and gone back to the law.” Beloved brother, in church you were taught that if you don’t love your neighbor and do good works for him, God will get angry with you, you will become like a sinner, lose your salvation and righteousness, and if you don’t confess all the time, you will bring trouble on yourself. But I tell you: “God will never be angry with you, for He Himself has sworn it. Christ is your righteousness and holiness, and you will never lose your salvation and your righteous standing in Christ Jesus.” It is one thing to love your neighbor as yourself, and if you don’t fulfill it, punishment awaits — that is the law. It is quite another to love the brothers and sisters as He has loved us.

The Love of Christ

Jesus said to the disciples: “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” [Jhn.15:12] Very often the words in bold are simply overlooked, and these words of Jesus turn into the law “Love your neighbor as yourself.” You see the difference. In the first case it is as He has loved us, and in the second — as yourself. In the first case the emphasis is on the love of Christ, and in the second — on your own. In the first case it is grace, and in the second it is law. In the first case it is His love working through us, and in the second we have to squeeze it out of ourselves, like toothpaste from an empty tube. That is why a little earlier in the same chapter Jesus said: “without Me you can do nothing” [Jhn.15:5]. And the whole context of the chapter is about His love for us. In other words, Jesus was saying: “You will not be able to love one another by yourselves, but I, by My Spirit, will be able to love the brothers and sisters through you.”

Paul wrote that the Spirit of God fills our hearts with the love of Christ. [Rom.5:5] And how are our hearts filled with His love? Paul writes to the Ephesians: “that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height; to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” [Eph.3:17-19] The essence of all God’s fullness is in His love, because God is love, and as we are filled with His love, we are filled with His fullness. Knowing Christ is good, but best of all is knowing His love!

Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” [1 Cor.12:31] The gifts of the Holy Spirit, miracles, healings, revelations of Jesus Christ — all of this is beautiful and wonderful. But Paul wrote that there is a way that surpasses all of it, and he devoted the whole next chapter to love.

Many quote the 13th chapter of Corinthians to point out how people should love one another, but this chapter is not about human love, it is about the love of Christ.

Listen to these wonderful lines: “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely…” All of this is about the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is His self-sacrificing love for us that “does not seek its own“. He Himself testified about His love: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” [Jhn.15:13] It is His love that “is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth“. It is His love that “bears all things“. As it is written: “love will cover a multitude of sins“, and in Proverbs it is written — love covers all sins [Pro.10:12] “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” [1 Jhn.2:2] His great love for us “never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” [1 Cor.13:4-8]

That is why, in knowing Christ, it is better to know His love. Many seek knowledge and new revelations for only one reason — an inner hunger and thirst for the love of Christ. And no books or knowledge can fill this emptiness. Only the love of Christ can satisfy our hunger and fill us. Therefore, precious treasures of God, as the beloved apostle Paul wrote: “[I] do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” [Eph.1:16-17] May this Spirit of wisdom and revelation enlighten the eyes of your heart, so that you may know the love of Christ which passes knowledge and be filled with all the fullness of God!