The Joy of Salvation
“You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him, you trust Him;
and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy”
(1 Peter 1:8 NLT)
Hello Saints,
These last few months I’ve had the joy of hanging around new believers who were baptized this past Saturday. What a joyous event! I had the opportunity to hear and witness how God has saved them, set them free from the consequences and power of sin, set them on a new course for their life, and most of all, see the joy of forgiveness, reconciliation, and inner transformation overwhelm them as the love of God poured out by Holy Spirit floods their soul. There may just be nothing more invigorating for a seasoned Christian than to be with a new follower of Jesus, who has been released from all the guilt and shame of a life lived in the grips of hurt, pain, sin and self-indulgence. It’s like watching a caged bird finally set free to soar the way God has created it to live. It’s like a man who found treasure hidden in a field. When he found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field (Matt. 13:44). Jesus is the newly found love of your life and you want and desire more of Him, to know Him and be with Him, to experience His presence, and hear His voice. Like a child at Christmas who just unwrapped her long wished for doll, who just can’t stop holding it, hugging it, talking to it – “joy unspeakable and full of glory!” (1Pet. 1:8 KJV). There’s nothing better than a new believer to remind a seasoned Christian what the Christian life is all about – Jesus! And the joy of knowing, loving, and following Him. And way beyond what any treasure or doll can give… knowing that He loves you and demonstrated that love by dying on a cross to set you free to be who He created you to be!
Have you read 1Peter 1:1-9 recently? Is this the same Peter of the Gospels? He’s a new man! Look at what he has realized since being filled with Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). He is Chosen (1Peter 1:1), known by God (1:2), sanctified by Holy Spirit (1:2), cleansed for obedience by the blood of Christ (1:2). He is born again by the mercy of God (1:3), living in the hope of the resurrection from the dead (1:3), looking forward to a sure inheritance kept in heaven (1:4), guarded by the power of God through faith, waiting for the fullness of salvation, when Jesus returns (1:5). These truths cause him to rejoice, even though while still here on planet earth, life is hard, plagued with many trials, which serve to prove that his faith in Christ is genuine (1:6-7) – a faith that looks ahead with joy and anticipation to the day when we see Jesus face to face, and receive the fullness of our salvation – life everlasting (1:8-9).
Friends, this joy is ours in Christ. It is the fruit of abiding, remaining in His presence, in communion with Holy Spirit. We don’t have to work for it, earn it, or beg to receive it. Joy is ours as we remain in God’s love through obedience to our Father (John 15:10-11). Jesus is the source of continual joy. As we live in relationship according to His guidelines, that joy is ours also. What can rob us of that joy? Our sins, our choices to go against God’s word. What restores that joy? Confession, repentance, and communion with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As David discovered in Psalm 51, God’s mercy, unfailing love and compassion, covers a multitude of sins, cleanses the heart and soul, and restores the joy of our salvation. If you’ve lost your joy, cry out as David, “Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me-- now let me rejoice” (Psa. 51:8). “Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you” (Psa. 51:12). As the song says, “renew a right spirit within me”. If we’ve lost the joy of salvation, somewhere, somehow, my spirit, my inner-being has been soured, wounded, offended, and scarred. I cannot let my heart get hardened, but must return to the One who binds up the broken-hearted, heals and sets free.
I don’t believe that the joy of salvation is only reserved for new believers. It is available for all Christians, all the time. It’s found in a person whose name is Jesus. Like honeymooners who are madly in love with each other, we need to keep that fire burning. We cannot let the reality and trials of life rob us of our joy. There is an ever-flowing fount of joy springing from the person of Christ, basking in the poured-out love of Holy Spirit and the mercy and grace of Father God. Joy is the fruit of abiding! If we’ve lost it, we’ve stopped abiding. Let’s re-connect to the source and recover the joy of salvation.
Here’s a little pick-me-up for your listening pleasure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjwk-MawTEI&list=RDJjwk-MawTEI&start_radio=1
Peace and Joy to y'all
"Advancing the Kingdom of God by releasing Spirit-filled followers to serve Jesus in freedom and joy."
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