1 Corinthians 13:6, Charity Rejoiceth Not in Iniquity (1)

1 Corinthians 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity …

True biblical love or charity does not condone sin. It abhors and grieves at the outworking of sin in this fallen world. This is the meaning of the word “iniquity”. It is the outworking of sin in crooked or perverted behaviour that violates God’s Holy Laws. The word “iniquity” simply means a disregard of God’s divine laws. It means to act unrighteously and lawlessly.

True biblical love is not happy to see ourselves or others living in sin. There is that holy hatred or anger at sin. It is able to discern truth from error, right from wrong, holy from profane. It rejoices in the truth, in doing right and in holiness. It is the gracious work of the Holy Spirit that bears forth this fruit of righteousness in the heart. It rejoices in starving every motion of sin that seeks to frustrate the work of grace in the Christian’s life. It rejoices in the beauty of holiness. It sees holiness as life’s God honouring goal. Truly, it is the result of God’s supernatural intervention in the believer’s life.

Our Lord Jesus says in Matthew 24:12 that in the days prior to His Second Coming, “… iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” True biblical love will be a rare commodity in this world that we live in because iniquity will multiply and fill the earth. The Christian who lives in these last days is a remnant amidst the flood of sin that threatens to overwhelm this world. It takes God’s grace to rejoice not in iniquity in these last days. Amen.