1 Corinthians 13:6 ~ 20150125 ~ Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org
01/25 1 Corinthians 13:6 What Love Rejoices In; Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20150125_1cor13_6.mp3
4 Ἡ ἀγάπη μακροθυμεῖ, χρηστεύεται ἡ ἀγάπη, οὐ ζηλοῖ ἡ ἀγάπη, οὐ περπερεύεται, οὐ φυσιοῦται, 5 οὐκ ἀσχημονεῖ, οὐ ζητεῖ τὰ ἑαυτῆς, οὐ παροξύνεται, οὐ λογίζεται τὸ κακόν, 6 οὐ χαίρει ἐπὶ τῇ ἀδικίᾳ συγχαίρει δὲ τῇ ἀληθείᾳ· 7 πάντα στέγει, πάντα πιστεύει, πάντα ἐλπίζει, πάντα ὑπομένει. 8 Ἡ ἀγάπη οὐδέποτε πίπτει.
1 Corinthians 13 [ESV2011]
12:31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends...
We are working through 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, allowing the wrecking ball of this scathing indictment to rip through our hearts and reveal to us where we are failing to be Christlike, and where we need the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to mold us and shape us into the image of our Lord Jesus.
Life in community with others without God's love displayed through us to others is empty, vain and worthless. This chapter is intended to be read in the context of the local church, a church made up of individuals with different backgrounds, different gifts, different personalities, different experiences, different tastes, different preferences, who are in different places in society, who have different incomes, who are simply different and sometimes don't understand one another and who sometimes even hurt and offend each other.
It is in this context of relationships with other people, annoying people, irritating people, people who do wrong things and sin against us, it is in the context of the local church that we are to reflect the character of the God who is love, to take the love with which he has loved us and to extend it to those who sin against us, love that has a long fuse, love that is graciously kind to those who don't deserve it, love that does not get upset when good things go to someone else, love that does not speak large, does not inflate self to appear more than it is, love that does not act inappropriately or indecently, love that does not seek its own, does not respond to provocation with irritability, does not keep score of wrongs done, does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.
This last in a list of eight negatives, which is mirrored by a positive, will be our subject today. What does love rejoice about? Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. What can we learn about this from the God who is love? What can we learn from Jesus? What needs to change in us to become more Christlike?
Joy
First, we need to notice that love, real genuine love that reflects God's love is not cold dead emotionless will to do the loving thing no matter how we feel. In the Christian community we sometimes overreact to error with an opposite and equally deadly error. We see people around us falling in love and just as quickly falling out of love, we hear husbands or wives saying that the love is gone from their relationship, we feel the thrill and appeal of forbidden attraction, and we react. Love is not a feeling, we say. Love is a verb. Love is a choice. You can perform loving acts without feeling some mushy gooshy sentimental attraction for someone. This is a dangerous pendulum swing. It is true that love is not merely emotion or feeling. It is true that love is action. These 15 descriptions of love are all verbs, they look at what love does, what love looks like. But to say that love is not an emotion and that we can do loving acts without feeling love toward a person is Pharisaical and false. As the first three verses of this chapter point out, many people do loving acts without having genuine love in their hearts, and it is worthless and empty. It profits nothing. I can give away all that I have to care for the poor, even give my very life and although people might think of it as a very loving act, the text says that I can do these loving actions and not have love. Love is action, but it is action rooted in and growing out of emotion. Deep, hearty, robust, passionate emotion. Love is evidenced by doing loving acts, but love is more than those actions. This verse makes it clear that love is more than a commitment to doing loving deeds. Love rejoices. Love is all tied up in joy. What it is that we find joy in will show us what we love. If a husband brings his wife a rose, and tells her that he is simply doing what he is expected to do as a husband, not because he wants to, not because he desires to, not because it brings him joy, but because it is the right thing to do, will his wife be pleased with the rose? Will she feel loved? Love is not less than doing loving deeds, but love has everything to do with where those loving deeds come from.
So if you are in that relationship where you are simply going through the motions but there is no emotion, no attraction, no joy, there is hope for you – not outside the relationship but in it. If you look at a fellow believer and know you have a duty to act in a loving manner toward them, but you feel nothing (at least no positive affection), there is hope for you. Remember, this chapter is not a dissertation about the concept of love in the abstract; this is about love toward real people, especially people you don't naturally get along with, people who may have hurt or wronged or offended you. We must not be content with simply doing the right outward thing toward the one we are supposed to love; we must pursue real rich robust passionate love that takes pleasure in loving the beloved. Our affections, our joy must be involved.
This chapter is a rebuke, a corrective. It is meant to examine us and show us where we fall short. If we have gone through the checklist and passed, if you can say 'I am patient and kind, I don't envy or boast, I am not arrogant or rude, I do not seek my own, I am not irritable or resentful... (you are probably not being honest with yourself), but if you can get this far and say 'I am doing all these things, I do act in a loving way toward others, but I don't have joy', then there is a problem. Love rejoices. In real love there is joy, there is pleasure, there is passion, there is delight.
The Joy of God
Let's look at God's love to see this. What does God rejoice in? What does God delight in, find joy in?
Jeremiah 9:23 Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”
God takes joy in practicing steadfast love, justice and righteousness in the earth. This is not something he does because he is obligated, but it is what he finds delights in. God delights in all that is right and just and good. Psalm 5 states the opposite.
Psalm 5:4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.
God loves justice and righteous. He hates wickedness and will not tolerate evil. The Proverbs lay out the contrast.
Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.
Proverbs 11:20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight.
Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
God takes joy in faithfulness, blamelessness, and justice. He hates lying lips, a crooked heart, and a false balance. He is passionate about what is true and right and good and he must punish evil. But listen to what God says about himself:
Ezekiel 18:23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
Ezekiel 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”
Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
Sometimes we view God as carefully watching, eagerly waiting to see just one mistake so that he can jump on us and punish us for it. This is not God's heart. God does not delight to destroy wicked people. He will. He is just. But he is eager for the wicked to turn to him so that he can forgive.
1 Timothy 2:3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Peter tells us:
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Jesus said:
Luke 15:7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
God rejoices over every sinner who repents. This is the heart of our great God.
1 Corinthians 13:6 [Love] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Jesus and Truth
Jesus was full of truth.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus was passionate about the truth.
John 8:31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Jesus invited people to follow him and to be set free by the truth. Jesus confronted the religious leaders over their lack of love for the truth.
John 8:42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
Jesus made it very clear what was true.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
This is a radical exclusive claim. 'No one comes to the Father except through me. I am the truth.'
John 18:37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.
Pilate questioned the very existence of truth, and yet he testified to the sinlessness of Jesus. Jesus came into the world to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to Jesus.
1 Corinthians 13:6 [Love] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Truth or Unrighteousness
We see in I Corinthians 13:6 and consistently in other places in scriptures an interesting contrast. We might expect the contrast to be between truth and falsehood, or between righteousness and unrighteousness, but here we see injustice, unrighteousness, wrongdoing contrasted with truth. We see this also in:
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Romans 2:8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
2 Thessalonians 2:10 and with all wicked [unrighteous] deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
2 Thessalonians 2:12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Those who are condemned take pleasure in unrighteousness, they are deceived by unrighteousness, they obey unrighteousness, they practice unrighteousness and suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Those who are saved take pleasure in the truth, believe the truth, love the truth, obey the truth, and embrace the truth. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices together with the truth. Where truth is not embraced, obeyed, loved and believed, unrighteousness happens and results in condemnation.
Through this we get a fuller picture of saving faith. Sometimes the gospel is presented this way: 'Do you believe that Jesus is God, that he became man and died on the cross for your sins? If you do, then you are saved, you are going to heaven.' James would say, 'even the demons believe... and shudder' (James 2:19). The demons believe the facts. They believe them to be true. But they hate the light and will not come to the light. They know who Jesus is, they know the gospel, and they hate it. The kind of believing that results in the gift of eternal life is an embracing of the truth, obeying the truth, loving the truth, rejoicing with the truth. This kind of embracing the truth results in the kind of love that Paul describes for us in this chapter, a love that no longer rejoices in unrighteousness.
1 Corinthians 13:6 [Love] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
What Was Wrong at Corinth
Paul was rebuking the church at Corinth because they were not rejoicing with the truth; they were rejoicing at unrighteousness. In chapters 1-4 they were delighting in high-sounding worldly wisdom rather than the good news of Christ crucified; in chapter 5 they were boasting about sexual immorality being tolerated in the church. In chapter 6 they were taking one another before unrighteous judges to rip off their brothers, and some even believed it was acceptable for a Christian to indulge in sexual immorality. In chapter 7, wives were defrauding their husbands and husbands their wives by withholding intimacy. In chapter 8-10, they were participating in idolatry. In chapter 11 they were dishonoring one another and humiliating the poor in public worship. In chapters 11-14, they did not recognize the truth of the unity of the body of Christ, and were being disorderly in the worship gathering. They were celebrating unrighteousness. They did not rejoice with the truth.
Tolerance or Truth?
What about us? Do we rejoice in tolerance or in truth? Our society would rewrite this verse 'love does not rejoice in differentiating between right and wrong, but rejoices in tolerance.' The greatest sin in our society is to tell someone that they are wrong. 'If you continue in that belief or behavior and refuse to repent and run to Jesus to be rescued, you will spend eternity in hell.' Our culture cries out 'you can't say that! That's not a loving thing to say. That's hate speech'. But love must be truthful. If it is true, and the Bible says it is, it is not loving to nod and smile and act as if everything were okay when your friend or neighbor is careening headlong into an eternity of torment, separated from Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral [involved in pornography], nor idolaters [who treat anyone or anything as more important than God], nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, [active or passive homosexual partners] 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers [physically or verbally abusive], nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
We must truly care for people, people created in the image of God, people created to bring him praise. We must care about them more than we care about ourselves, about our reputations, about our freedom. We must care about them enough to tell them the truth. We must tell them about a God who is slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness, who is just and will punish sin, but who rejoices to extend forgiveness to sinners who repent and turn to Jesus.
What do we rejoice in? Do we find pleasure when others get what they deserve? Are we like Jonah, who was eager to see the destruction of his enemies, disappointed when they repented? Love rejoices together with the truth.
2 John 4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.
3 John 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Our joy must be the joy of God, who does not delight to see wrongs punished, but rather rejoices to see lives transformed by the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org