Joe Slater
Immediately after saying that love doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, Paul wrote that it does rejoice in the truth (1
Corinthians 13:6). This shouldn’t surprise us since our God is “a
God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He”
(Deuteronomy 32:4).
Paul himself exemplified the love that rejoices in the truth.
Though under house arrest in Rome, he continued proclaiming
the gospel even to his captors, and he knew other brethren were
evangelizing also. Some had corrupt motives, but “whether in
pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes,
will rejoice” (Philippians 1:18). Christ’s gospel is truth, and
Paul rejoiced in it being preached.
John the apostle also rejoiced in the truth. He told the elect
lady,” “I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children
walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father”
(2 John 4). Along the same line he wrote to Gaius, “I rejoiced
greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in
you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to
hear that my children walk in the truth (3 John 3-4). Christian
parents rejoice when children in their earthly families walk in the
truth (i.e. obey the gospel and serve God faithfully). Let’s rejoice
when others we`ve led to Christ are walking in the truth or, for
that matter, any time we see anyone walking in the truth.
The ungodly “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans
1:18). That is, they hold it back, hindering it from advancing. We
must promote the truth vigorously and constantly, rejoicing in its
progress.