1 Corinthians 13:8-13
8 “Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we know in part and prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
The spiritual gifts will cease one day. Love, however, will never cease because God is love itself and eternity will be spent getting lost in God’s love. When Christ returns and we have our resurrection body we will see love purely for what it is and there will be no need for spiritual gifts because we are in the full reality of truth.
When I was a child: Paul’s point is not that the spiritual gifts are childish, but that Christians use gifts in a world and time that has not matured into eternity. But when Jesus returns the gifts will cease.
For now: In this life we see our salvation in Christ, and God Himself, by faith. However, there will be a day when we no longer see dimly but see the full reality of God’s nature and our salvation. Notice Paul’s language is focused on the believer’s perception of reality, but God already sees the reality. We are fully known to Him.
