Gods Definition of Love

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Gods Definition of Love
Love suffers long
thinks no evil
is kind is not jealous does not brag is not
arrogant is not rude does not seek its own is not
provoked
does not rejoice in iniquity rejoices in the
truth bears all things believes all things hopes
all things endures all things
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Love Does Not Rejoice In Iniquity(adikia)
Root unrighteousness does not rejoice in
unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth
(NASB) does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but
rejoices in the truth (NRSV) does not delight
in evil, but rejoices with the truth (NIV)
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Love Does Not Rejoice In Iniquity
- John Angell James, 1828 - It is not for
men who feel the influence of love, to delight in
sin. We justly condemn the cruelty of the Romans,
in glutting their eyes with the scenes of the
amphitheater, where the gladiators were torn in
pieces by the fangs of lions and tigers but
theirs was innocent recreation compared with that
of the perverted and wicked mind, which can be
gratified by seeing an immortal creature ruining
and condemning his most precious soul! Go, laugh
at the agonies of the wretched man tortured upon
the rack, and make merry with his distorted
features, and strange and hideous criesgo, laugh
at the convulsive throes of the epilepticgo to
the field
of battle, and mock the groans of the wounded and
dyingall this is more humane and merciful than
delighting in sin! If we could look down upon
the burning lake, and see there how the miserable
spectres are tossed upon the billows of the
burning deep, and hear their dreadful
exclamations, "Who can dwell with devouring fire?
Who can dwell with everlasting burnings?"would
we then amuse ourselves with sin? Love does thus
look upon their misery, so far as her imagination
goes, and feels a cold horror and a shivering
dread. She mourns over sin wheresoever she sees
it, and weeps for those who never weep for
themselves. This is her declaration, as she looks
around upon the sins of mankind"Rivers of water
run down my eyes, because they keep not your
law. (Psalm 119136)
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Love Does Not Rejoice In Iniquity

• Love does not find any delight in the things God
  says are wrong.
• Love does not secretly delight in the sins or
  misconduct of a rival.
• Love does not gossip or spread stories about
  anothers fault (whether to break the monotony,
  or to appear knowledgeable, or to feel better
  about oneself).
• Love does not avoid the responsibility to restore
  a brother or sister overtaken in a trespass.
• Love does not avoid the responsibility to oppose
  false doctrine and error.

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1. Love does not find any delight inthe things
God says are wrong.
Isaiah 520 Woe to those who call evil good, and
good evil who put darkness for light, and light
for darkness who put bitter for sweet, and sweet
for bitter!
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Amos 515
Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in
the gates!... But the very ones who should have
been especially concerned with establishing
justice, the heads and rulers of the house of
Israel, had become the ones who hate good and
love evil (Micah 32).
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Ephesians 53-11

• But immorality or any impurity or greed must not
  even be named among you, as is proper among
  saints (ones set apart for God)
• and there must be no filthiness and silly talk,
  or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but
  rather giving of thanks.
• For this you know with certainty, that no immoral
  or impure person or covetous man, who is an
  idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of
  Christ and God.
• Let no one deceive you with empty words, for
  because of these things the wrath of God comes
  upon the sons of disobedience.

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Ephesians 53-11

• Therefore do not be partakers with them
• for you were formerly darkness, but now you are
  Light in the Lord walk as children of Light 
• (for the fruit of the Light consists in all
  goodness and righteousness and truth), 
• trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 
• Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of
  darkness, but instead even expose them 

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Things We May Wrongly Delight In

• Television shows about sin
• Movies about sin
• Music about sin
• Magazines about sin
• Pornography
• Jokes about sin

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Hebrews 1124-26
Moses chose to endure ill-treatment with the
people of God, than to enjoy the passing
pleasures of sin considering the reproach of
Christ greater riches than the treasures of
Egypt...
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2. Love does not secretly delight inthe sins or
misconduct of a rival.

• James 314-16
• But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish
  ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so
  lie against the truth.
• This wisdom is not that which comes down from
  above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.
• For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
  there is disorder and every evil thing. 

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3. Love does not gossip or spread stories about
anothers fault.
Proverbs 1223 A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
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Paul's exhortation to not gossipis mainly to
women.
1 Timothy 513 And besides they learn to be idle,
wandering about from house to house, and not only
idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying
things which they ought not.
Titus 23-6 Older women likewise are to be
reverent in their behavior, not malicious
gossips so that the word of God will not be
dishonored.
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An otherwise faithful Christians weakness for
gossip is usually causedby one of three types of
insecurities

• THE CONTROLLING PERSON they need to be "in the
  know" and tell others what they know so that they
  can be at the center of all that is going on.
• THE "EVERYONE IS BETTER THAN ME" PERSON it
  helps them to feel better about themselves when
  they hear about the faults and sins of others.
• THE RESCUER they must hear the whole story so
  that they can be the one to have the answer and
  make everything right. In this way, they can feel
  good about themselves that they've really helped.

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Before You Gossip

• Is this a matter of sin and should I therefore go
  to this person privately according to Matthew
  1815?
• Would I be saying this if that person were here?
• Does it edify or do good to share this
  information, or will someone possibly be hurt by
  it?
• Do I have permission to share what I know?

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Before You Listen To Gossip

• Does it sound like this person has avoided the
  Matt. 1815 step of going privately first?
• Would they be saying this if that person were
  here?
• Do they have permission to tell me what they're
  telling me?

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How To Stop GossipIn Its Tracks

• Change the subject.
• Say, Maybe I dont really need to hear this
  and then change the subject.
• Say, Did you speak directly to so-and-so first?
  (And if they did) "What did he/she say in
  response?

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Love Does Not Rejoice In Iniquity

• Love does not find any delight in the things God
  says are wrong.
• Love does not secretly delight in the sins or
  misconduct of a rival.
• Love does not gossip or spread stories about
  anothers fault, whether to break the monotony,
  or to appear knowledgeable, or to feel better
  about oneself.
• Love does not avoid the responsibility to restore
  a brother or sister overtaken in a trespass.
• Love does not avoid the responsibility to oppose
  false doctrine and error.

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If I Rejoice In Iniquity
I Am Nothing
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Have You Obeyed The Gospel?
Hear The Word (Rom. 1017) Believe That Jesus
is the Son of God (Acts 837) Repent of Your
Sins (Acts 238) Confess That Jesus is the Son
of God (Acts 837) Be Baptized for the
Forgiveness of Sins (Acts 238) Having Become A
Christian, Live Faithfully Until You Die (Rev.
210)