True love reflects the character and nature of God. The definition of what this looks like is detailed in Scripture. As Paul continues to give instructions to the church in this chapter, he describes a love that has no fellowship with evil. How is this possible? Because it is rooted in the very being of God who is Holy, pure and perfect. An understanding of God’s immutable character offers insight into what love actual is. For example:
God is sinless, (Num 23:19, cf., Jam 1:13), “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind…”
God’s love is abundant (Ps 103:8), “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
God is the full embodiment of love (1 Jn 4:8), “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
How do these attributes help us understand Paul meaning in this focus verse?
First, true love does not gloat over evil, even when it appears a person who committed sin(s) is enduring a season of judgement. Solomon observes (Prv 24:17-18), “Do not rejoice when you enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, (18) lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.” God takes no pleasure in wrongdoing nor calamity that befalls the wicked.
Secondly, God is the opposite, “…but [He] rejoices with the truth.” Just as God is the full embodiment of love, so he is also of truth. They are the very core of his being. They are inseparable as they both abide in him. Likewise, when we become a Christians, he sends his Spirit to dwell within us that progressively sanctifies our nature to his very image.
As a result, we take notice of evil in the world, but we do not embrace a self-righteous posture that we are better than others. We do not say within ourselves, “they got what they had coming!” Such way of thinking is evil in the sight of God. Instead, we grieve over the sins mankind commits against one another. We pray for the intervention of Christ into the world to change the hearts men to align with nature of God concerning love.
We seek truth, and rejoice when it overcomes wrongdoing. We do this because of one inescapable truth…..God has extended this same love and patience towards us while we were steeped in evil way of living (Rom 5:8). Christ’s act of love overcame our many sins that have piled up to heaven. We were set free by truth that is a Person (Jn 8:36, 14:6). If we are truly living according to Biblical love, we shall look upon lost people with hope of redemption, not desiring their judgement. If God acted the way some of us think on this matter, where would you and I be? Praise the Lord he has not! The cross is the evidence of God’s love who did not take pleasure in our destruction, but took joy in giving us his truth unto salvation. Amen.
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D.
www.springoflivingwaters.com