1 Corinthians 13:6 (KJV)

Bible Commentary

1 Corinthians 13:6 is a popular Bible verse from the New Testament that explains to us what causes love to rejoice.

We discussed recently that love is the greatest of all because God is love (1 John 4:16), and there is nothing and no one greater than God the Father, the Great I AM.

The words in 1 Corinthians 13:6 link the Father to the Son, as it says that love, “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.” We know that Jesus Christ is the truth (John 14:6). So then we know that God (love) rejoices in Jesus Christ (the truth). So then we should also know that God rejoices in us, because as Christians the Presence of Christ dwells within us.

Wouldn’t life be so much more enjoyable if no one on earth were displeased with us, judged us or imposed any expectations upon us? That would be the ultimate freedom, if we knew in our hearts that everyone loved us and was pleased with us—rejoiced in us.

Heaven

That’s what Heaven is like. There are no judgments, no suspicions, no accusations, no competition and no strife. There is complete acceptance, love and peace between the brothers and sisters in God’s house.

Speaking of the New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:27 says, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Nothing is allowed into Heaven that “makes a lie”. And 1 Corinthians 13:6 says that love “rejoices not in iniquity”. The Greek meanings of “iniquity” are: injustice, moral wrongfulness and unrighteousness.

There is truth (that which has Christ in it) and there is iniquity (anything that does not have Christ in it). 1 Corinthians 13:6 tells us that love rejoices in the truth, but it does not rejoice in iniquity (non-truth).

God Rejoices Over Us

If we have Christ living in us, then we know God rejoices in us. From God’s view, the blood of Christ filters out anything in us that does not sound like Christ, look like Christ or feel like Christ.

So then when we feel condemnation, judgments, accusations and expectations from others, we know that it is the work of iniquity and not of the truth. Jesus isn’t in iniquity. If it’s not the truth, then it’s a lie. And the father of lies is the devil. He is cunning, and he uses people to accomplish his dirty work. Whatever we feel inflicted upon us from others is not truth—it is iniquity and a lie.

We must root ourselves firmly in the truth, so we won’t be moved when we feel the winds of iniquity in our ears and in our emotions and thoughts. Love rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. God rejoices in Christ who lives in us. God rejoices in us and rejoices over us.

Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”

God rejoices over us with singing. If we will just get still long enough to listen, we’ll hear Him. We’ll hear Him singing over us. We’ll hear Him rejoicing over us.

Only Believe

When we believe His great love for us, we will know He is pleased with us, and not just pleased, but He rejoices over us. The devil works full-time to prevent us from discovering this great truth, and he has been very successful.

But no more.

Brothers and sisters, let’s stand together in the truth of God’s love for us. The truth of His pleasure over us. The truth of Him singing over us. The blood of Christ is powerful enough to heal and cleanse us from all iniquity, so that we are clean and free in Him. Praise the Lord!

Let us reject the sense of expectations from others. The truth is in Jesus Christ, and in God’s love for us and over us. Let’s reject the lies and cling to the truth, no matter what our feelings tell us.

Love rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. Study the Bible verse of 1 Corinthians 13:6 and rejoice in the truth.