Christian Message Boards: INEXPRESSIBLE JOY

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Posted by WildB (Member # 2917) on :

by Cornelius R. Stam

Have you ever noticed that the Apostle Paul never speaks of his love for Christ? Rather he keeps talking about Christ's wonderful love to him. Neither does he exhort us to love Christ, but keeps telling us how Christ loved -- and loves, us. This is consistent with the message specially committed to him: "The Gospel of the Grace of God" (Acts 20:24).

The Law said: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God" (Matt.22:37). This is the very essence of the law. And we should love God, but the law cannot produce love, so God comes to us in grace and say: "I love you". This is why Paul's epistles are so filled with "the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus" (Rom.8:29).

The fact that God deals with us in grace does not mean that believers should not, or do not, love Him. The very opposite is true, for love begets love. It is when men come to know the love of Christ that their hearts respond to him in love.

Peter, like Paul, had once been a strict observer of the Law, but had since come to know the love of Christ in growing measure. The result: A deep love for Christ and the overflowing joy that accompanies such love. This is why we find in I Peter 1:8 those touching words that naturally overflow from the heart and lips of one who has come to know the love of Christ: "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory".

Yes, knowing and loving Christ does indeed bring inexpressible joy, but we cannot love him by trying. We must accept His love for us in faith so that our hearts may naturally respond.

Posted by Good NewsforAll (Member # 6156) on :

quote:
Originally posted by WildB:
Yes, knowing and loving Christ does indeed bring inexpressible joy, but we cannot love him by trying. We must accept His love for us in faith so that our hearts may naturally respond.

I am surprised that you haven't gotten more response to this thread. Perhaps many don't think they deserve the unconditional love of Christ, or should be out there hammering condemnation into lost souls.

Even Job spoke about joy -

Job 33:26He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

The Bible is overflowng with scriptures about joy -

Psalm 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

Psalm 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King

Luke 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Posted by Carol Swenson (Member # 6929) on :

Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4, TLB)

We can be joyful in spite of our circumstances. It seems strange that a man in prison would be telling a church to rejoice. But Paul’s attitude teaches us an important lesson: our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outward circumstances. Paul was full of joy because he knew that no matter what happened to him, Jesus Christ was with him. Several times in this letter, Paul urged the Philippians to be joyful, probably because they needed to hear this. It’s easy to get discouraged about unpleasant circumstances or to take unimportant events too seriously. If you haven’t been joyful lately, you may not be looking at life from the right perspective.

Ultimate joy comes from Christ dwelling within us. Christ is near, and at his second coming we will fully realize this ultimate joy. He who lives within us will fulfill his final purposes for us.

Posted by Good NewsforAll (Member # 6156) on :

1 Thess 4:16 Always be joyful, as Phil. 4:4 also says. Not just when we feel in the mood, but in everything give thanks as in Eph. 5:20.

That doesn't mean we won't have a bad day once in awhile, but we have to work at getting back on course.

Posted by Eden (Member # 5728) on :

I think inexpressible joy will come for the vast majority of us Christians when we are glorified as the good olive tree of Israel into which we have been graciously grafted. Then there will be great joy:

Isaiah 61:3
To appoint unto them who mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.

Then we will have great joy:

Luke 2:10
And the angel said to them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Nehemiah 12:43
Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.

What great joy that will be:

Isaiah 29:19
The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 52:9
Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem.

Isaiah 51:11
Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting {olam} joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

But in the meantime and until then...joy comes and goes, for me.

How 'bout you?

eden