God's Character (9)
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Please open your Bible to Exo. 34 and John 8 as we continue to explore God’s character or what we call God’s unchanging attributes. Our key passage is Exodus 34 - Yahweh’s self-revelation. FYI - Yahweh is God’s revealed or covenant name.
And Yahweh descended in the cloud, and he stood with him there, and he proclaimed the name of Yahweh.
And Yahweh passed over before him, and he proclaimed, “Yahweh, Yahweh, God, who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding with loyal love and faithfulness,
keeping loyal love to the thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and he does not leave utterly unpunished, punishing the guilt of fathers on sons and on sons of sons on third and fourth generations.”
Our focus the last few Sundays has been God’s love. Thus far, we’ve discovered that God’s love is a committed loyal abounding patient love. We are the imagers of God; therefore, we are to
Therefore, imitate God like dearly loved children.
Live your life with love, following the example of Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us. He was a sacrificial offering that smelled sweet to God.
We are to imitate God’s love – but what does that look like – especially in our world?
In 1 Cor. 13, the Apostle Paul gives us an overview of what authentic godly love is and is not. Even though this is not an exhaustive list by any means, I think it’s clear that love has boundaries. As Christians, we must allow God to define love – otherwise, love becomes anything we want which ultimately is destructive.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
You can do your own study of this passage– not difficult to figure out how we should live and love – where we fall short, what do we need to improve. Not going to cover every word in this passage. However, this past week I focused on v6 -
ESV - … it does not rejoice at wrongdoing.
LEB - … it does not rejoice at unrighteousness …
NIV - Love does not delight in evil ….
NLT - It does not rejoice about injustice.
Which translation one is it? All the above. Can be beneficial to read multiple translations. So, let’s unpack this a little. Love does not rejoice, meaning - Godly love is not happy about, takes no pleasure in, no celebration, no applause, no giving kudos, nor does love condone any wrongdoing - period. The word “wrongdoing” encompasses actions that violate standards of right or moral conduct, evil, unjust deeds (i.e. injustice), wickedness, etc. That’s a lot. This wrongdoing can be on a large scale (on a national or corporate level) or on a smaller scale (i.e. local, personal …). Doesn’t matter who’s doing it or what it is, as one of my commentaries stated -
“Love takes no joy in [any] evil of any kind.”
no matter how big or small.
But that’s not what the “world” says. The “world” says, “Don’t judge, because that’s hate. Don’t speak about morality or sin, because that’s hate. Approve of my choices and behavior – if not, that’s hate.” I think you know what I mean. God says, that’s not love. Authentic love does not rejoice with, approve of, validate or turn a blind eye to any wrongdoing – no matter who’s doing it or what the wrong is. Love is not about making people feel comfortable in their sin or poor choices. But we often find ourselves in this conundrum or this place of tension – how do I confront, or how do I love someone who is in sin? How do I love without judging …?
Jesus gave us a good example of this is in John 8. We often refer to this story as the woman caught in adultery. But that’s quite one-sided because this event is much more than about her. As we look at this story, understand the earliest manuscripts we have do not include this section. How it got in there – don’t know – but that’s another issue for another time. Now, as we read this – ask yourself three questions.
1) Whom did Jesus love – the Pharisees or the woman? 2) Whose side was Jesus on? 3) Where am I in the story?
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst
they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.
Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”
This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.
And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.
[Not everyone agrees, but my belief that this writing on the ground is connected to
O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water.
But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.
Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Let’s answer the first question -
1) Whom did Jesus love – the Pharisees or the woman? If you said the woman – you are correct – but only partially. See, when you take a step back, you’ll notice that Jesus showed love to both. How so? First, keep 1 Corinthians 13:6 in mind - love does not rejoice or delight in wrongdoing, injustice, unrighteousness … but rejoices with the truth. Then also keep
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Let’s start with the woman.
How did Jesus love the woman?
Jesus loved her with grace and truth.
How do I get that?
Jesus loved her with Grace. He was the only One qualified to throw a stone yet did not.
Jesus also loved her with Truth. He confronted the reality of her sin.
He didn’t let her off the hook.
How did Jesus love the Pharisees?
The Mosaic Law was on their side. The OT Law states that adulterers, both the man and woman are to be stoned to death – let me make it clear, the consequence for adultery is the death penalty. That’s how destructive, and serious and sinful adultery is to God. So judiciously, they were “in the right.” Yet, Jesus never answered their question – He didn’t take the bait. Why? Because the Law wasn’t the real issue. They were not concerned about the woman, or justice or somehow redeeming the situation.
So, how did Jesus love them? My answer? He loved them the same -
Jesus loved them with grace and truth.
How so?
Jesus loved them with Grace. He gave them an opportunity to see the injustice of their actions.
To do a little self-reflection. Even though they were legally right, they were still in the wrong – not being imitators of God.
Jesus loved them with Truth. He confronted the real issue - their hard hearts.
2) Whose side was Jesus on?
In a way – neither. But He was on the side of Grace and Truth (Josha and the Angel of the LORD). We have a tendency to jump to one side or the other. We can be on the Pharisees’ side and yell, “Burn her! Make her pay!” Or we can be on the woman’s side and say, “Oh honey, it’s not your fault,” and let her go. But when we look at this from a Biblical perspective, both parties were in wrong - and both needed grace and truth.
3) Where am I in the story?
Do you find yourself leaning to one side or the other? Where do you need to be more like Jesus and love with grace and truth?
If you think about it, the adulterous woman in John 8 can be replaced with almost any scenario – immigration, sexual orientation, Israel and Palestinians … you name it. We as the Church of Christ should approach whatever issue it is in a loving Christlike manner. So take this with you -
Christian love pursues Truth and makes room for Grace.
So maybe meditate on John 8 this week and superimpose an issue you’re facing and ask the Lord for help – “God, how do I pursue truth and make room for grace?
Speaking of truth and grace – the truth is, we’ve all sinned and deserve death. But, John 3:16. A. B. C.
