The Truth and Sin (Part 1 of 2)

To really love a person is to be truthful with them.  Love only "rejoices in the truth."

July 15, 2021

"[Charity - love] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth."

1 Corinthians 13:6

Part 1

Today:  Sin Deserves Our Tears Not Our Laughter

“Charity.”
In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he spends the 13th chapter teaching us about love.  In verses 4 to 8, he gives us the characteristics of what genuine love is.  The King James version uses the word “charity” here.  And this is translated from the well-known Greek term agape, meaning “love,” “affection,” “goodwill,” “brotherly love,” and “benevolence.”  When this word is used in the plural, it is speaking about the New Testament “love feasts”[1] (Thayer).

Let’s note the qualities of love in verses four and five.

Love is long-suffering.
Love is kind, helpful, and gracious.
Love does not envy, and neither is it jealous.
Love is not a braggart.
Love is not puffed up with an inflated view of itself.
Love is decent and never indecent.
Love does not look after her own interests.
Love is never exasperated, and it shows no irritation or “sharpness of spirit.”
Love never keeps a record of the wrongs done to it. There is no notebook or ledger.

This brings us to verse six, where our interest is for now.

 

“Rejoiceth not in iniquity” (a)
It’s sad, but it seems most people today really get a kick out of watching other people sin.  This is not a new problem for humankind because the Bible says,

Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous, there is favor” (Proverbs 14:9).

“For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth” (Psalm 10:3).

They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity” (Hosea 4:8, ESV).

They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies” (Hosea 7:3).

The chief priests in Jesus’ day had the wrong attitude towards Judas and the others who would treat Jesus wrongly.

“Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.  And he went his way and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him unto them.  And they were glad and covenanted to give him money” (Luke 22:3-5).

And this is a quality of all sinful humankind.

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them” (Romans 1:32).

Believers, those who are godly, never rejoice in the sin of others.  It is a cause for deep sadness and even tears.

Rivers of waters run down mine eyes because they keep not thy law” (Psalm 119:136).

Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” (Jeremiah 9:1).

“But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears because the LORD’S flock is carried away captive” (Jeremiah 13:17).

Yes, sin is a cause for mourning and not laughter.  Come back tomorrow, and let’s see what Jesus’ attitude towards sin is.

 

Quote:  “To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4).  Yes, there is a time to cry and mourn, also a time to laugh.  But note, it is never the right time to laugh at sin.

 

 

 

[1] J.H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.  Agape defined.