The Joy of Salvation

1 Peter 1:8

Introduction

A. There is an old idea that Christianity must express itself in a gloomy “piosity,” that Christians must go about with “long faces.”

B. Is Christianity a burden or a bridge?

C. Christianity is a joy.

I. There Is a Difference Between Worldly Happiness and Christian Joy

A. The world is seeking happiness; it depends on outward circumstances for happiness, and especially on a change of these outward circumstances.

“As a rule, a man’s a fool,

When it’s hot, he wants it cool;

When it’s cool, he wants it hot,

And he always wants what’s not.”

B. Happiness—like prosperity—always seems to be just around the corner, just out of a person’s reach.

C. Even if worldly happiness is realized, it can be temporary at best.

“Oh, the world is full of sighs,

Full of sad and weeping eyes.”

D. Christian joy is different.

1. It is inward; it does not depend upon outward circumstances.

2. It is real and present; it does not depend upon the future; it is within our grasp.

3. It is eternal; we are assured of a joyful future.

E. The Bible contains many instances of Christian joy.

1. The apostles rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer for the name of Christ. (Acts 5:41)

2. Paul and Silas rejoiced in prison by singing hymns to God, even though their backs were bleeding from fresh beatings. (Acts 16:25)

II. Christian Joy Comes After Obedience to Christ

A. The Ethiopian eunuch rejoiced after he had been obedient. (Acts 8:39)

B. Saul was strengthened only after he completed his obedience to God. (Acts 9:19)

C. The Philippian jailer rejoiced only after he had been obedient to the gospel. (Acts 16:34)

D. Faith produces misery of a tender conscience.

E. Repentance is described as a soul in throes of dying to sin, in travail of being born anew.

F. Only the divine assurance of sins forgiven brings true joy.

III. Who Rejoices?

A. The Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and angels in heaven rejoice when one soul is saved. (Luke 15:7)

B. The church rejoices.

C. The loved ones of the new Christian usually rejoice.

D. The person who is saved rejoices.

Conclusion: 1 Peter 1:8, 9.

Joy is a fruit that will not grow

In nature’s barren soil;

All we can boast, till Christ we know,

Is vanity and toil.

But where the Lord hath planted grace,

And made His glories known,

These fruits of heavenly joy and peace

Are found, and there alone.

—John Newton

THE JOY OF SALVATION

The Joy of Salvation

The Joy of Salvation

1 Peter 1:8

Introduction

A. There is an old idea that Christianity must express itself in a gloomy “piosity,” that Christians must go about with “long faces.”

B. Is Christianity a burden or a bridge?

C. Christianity is a joy.

I. There Is a Difference Between Worldly Happiness and Christian Joy

A. The world is seeking happiness; it depends on outward circumstances for happiness, and especially on a change of these outward circumstances.

“As a rule, a man’s a fool,

When it’s hot, he wants it cool;

When it’s cool, he wants it hot,

And he always wants what’s not.”

B. Happiness—like prosperity—always seems to be just around the corner, just out of a person’s reach.

C. Even if worldly happiness is realized, it can be temporary at best.

“Oh, the world is full of sighs,

Full of sad and weeping eyes.”

D. Christian joy is different.

1. It is inward; it does not depend upon outward circumstances.

2. It is real and present; it does not depend upon the future; it is within our grasp.

3. It is eternal; we are assured of a joyful future.

E. The Bible contains many instances of Christian joy.

1. The apostles rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer for the name of Christ. (Acts 5:41)

2. Paul and Silas rejoiced in prison by singing hymns to God, even though their backs were bleeding from fresh beatings. (Acts 16:25)

II. Christian Joy Comes After Obedience to Christ

A. The Ethiopian eunuch rejoiced after he had been obedient. (Acts 8:39)

B. Saul was strengthened only after he completed his obedience to God. (Acts 9:19)

C. The Philippian jailer rejoiced only after he had been obedient to the gospel. (Acts 16:34)

D. Faith produces misery of a tender conscience.

E. Repentance is described as a soul in throes of dying to sin, in travail of being born anew.

F. Only the divine assurance of sins forgiven brings true joy.

III. Who Rejoices?

A. The Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and angels in heaven rejoice when one soul is saved. (Luke 15:7)

B. The church rejoices.

C. The loved ones of the new Christian usually rejoice.

D. The person who is saved rejoices.

Conclusion: 1 Peter 1:8, 9.

THE JOY OF SALVATION

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit (Ps. 51:12).

I. Salvation Begets Joy

A. The joy of reconciliation.

B. The joy of possession.

C. The joy of anticipation.

II. This Joy Is Lost by Indulgence in Sin

A. The Christian sometimes falls into sin.

B. No man can sin and retain his peace of mind.

C. The departure of joy leaves a vacancy in the heart.

III. Joy Will Be Restored upon True Repentance

What is true repentance? Not simply fear of punishment; but grief at having broken God’s law, and grieved God’s Spirit; combined with a desire to live a nobler, purer life. Forgiveness cannot be obtained while sin is retained.

F. J. Austin

WHERE DOES JOY come from? I knew a Sunday school student whose conception of joy was that it was a thing made in lumps and kept somewhere in heaven, and that when people prayed for it pieces were somehow let down and fitted into their souls. I am not sure that views as gross and material are not often held by people who ought to be wiser. In reality, joy is as much a matter of cause and effect as pain. No one can get joy by merely asking for it. It is one of the ripest fruits of the Christian life, and, like all fruits, must be grown.

—Henry Drummond

CHRISTIAN JOY

1 Thessalonians 3:1–13

I. THE STRENGTH—vv. 1–5

1. The stay—v. 1. Paul stayed in Athens.

2. The strength—vv. 2–3.

a. Purpose—Send Timothy to help the people.

b. Power—Timothy sent to establish the people.

c. Praying—Timothy would comfort the people.

d. Problem—Timothy to help people with problems.

3. The suffering—v. 4. All true Christians must face suffering for the Lord.

4. The sympathy—v. 5. Timothy sent to help the people.

(a) Testing—Test their faith. (b) Temper—See if they have overcome Satan. (c) Trouble—If living in sin, then all their work was vain for the Lord.

II. THE SUFFERING—vv. 6–10

1. Delight—v. 6. Paul was happy with Timothy’s report. There is joy in seeing people accept Christ.

2. Distress—v. 7. Despite sufferings, persecution and problems, the Christians remained true to God. Ten of the disciples were martyrs. Judas denied Christ, and John died of old age on the isle of Patmos.

3. Determination—v. 8. Since the Christians were suffering, it was easy for Paul to suffer too.

4. Desire—v. 9. Paul desires that the people praise and thank the Lord, and stand with him in prayer.

5. Dedication—v. 10. Paul prayed night and day for the people and their faith in God.

III. THE SANCTIFICATION—vv. 11–13

1. Sent—v. 11. Paul longs to have God send him to Thessalonica. God sends man to do His work.

2. Stablished—v. 12. Paul longs for spiritual growth in the lives of the Christians.

3. Sanctified—v. 13. God wants us to be holy. Jesus taught that we should be perfect.

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THE JOY OF FOLLOWING JESUS

“And he saith unto them, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

1. He Who Follows Jesus Discovers an Inward Peace

2. He Who Follows Jesus Discovers the Will of God

3. He Who Follows Jesus Discovers the Reward of God