Charity, Part VI: Rejoiceth in the Truth (1 Corinthians 13:6)
2023-01-02
Charity...
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6)
This Christian love does not ignore sin. It exposes sin, but in a loving way. “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). Truth without love is harsh; love without truth is permissive and is no love at all.
The apostle John rejoiced when he saw others walk in truth. “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father” (2 John 1:4). “For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth” (3 John 1:3). Their lifestyles matched their position in Christ; they understood the truth and applied it to their daily conversation in this world. This is cause for rejoicing.
Christian love will always be paired with truth. Earlier in the letter, a fornicator was to be thrown out of the church: “But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person” (1 Corinthians 5:13). Is this unloving? Not at all, because they “deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5). This is how the church was to love such a person.