Joy ‘25

Bible Passage: Luke 2:8-11, Romans 6:23

INTRO

“Soma Church exists to love the body of Christ and equip them to do the work of ministry here, near and far, all for the glory of God.”

This morning, we are in week 3 of our Advent study where we are both looking back on the first advent of Jesus but also looking forward in anticipation to the second advent of Jesus.

Week one we talked about Hope and we saw that through the arrival of Jesus, we can have hope in all things because He has saved us.

Last week, we talked about Peace and we saw in God’s word that through the first advent of Christ we have access to peace with the Father and through this restored relationship with God, we have access to Him that He might carry our anxieties for us and grant us peace.

This week we are talking about the third pillar of advent… JOY

Luke 2:8–11 ESV

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

The Advent of Christ is news of great joy! But why? What about the arrival of this baby boy in a horse troff gives reason for all people to have joy?

I mean look around and if you do you will see plenty of reason to lack joy.

War, chronic disease, sin, brokenness, death, family strife, hate and the list goes on!

So what is this joy that has come for all people? This joy that is more than mere happiness. This sense of lasting happiness that can be present in all circumstances?

The gospel of Jesus Christ!

The message that sinful people like me and you can know God, walk in freedom and look forward to the promise that we have been freed from Hell but won to God!

This is the greatest news that I could ever share with you! Far better than any moral lesson or cool story is the message of the gospel because through it we have access to joy in every circumstance.

I’d like to show you this morning in God’s word why this is the case.

BODY

There are 2 main reasons why I believe those in Christ can have joy.

1. Our biggest problem has been solved

The biggest problem our world is facing today is not poverty, climate change, racism, democrats, republicans, the middle east, the generation coming up behind you

Your personal biggest problem is not your job, family, cars, debt, your ex, or your home.

The number one problem facing our world, your life and everyone’s eternity is sin.

Sin kills 100/100 people. It is the leading cause of mental illness. it will take your further than you wanna go and cost you more than you are willing to pay. It ruins marriages. It tears down friendships

Sin destroys anything and everything that it touches

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death

Not only does it destroy us but it also is not free.

The wage or the payment that is owed for your sin is your life.

Death is not given, it is earned… through sin

So you may be asking, “Micah, how does all of that mean that our biggest problem has been solved? What is the solution?”

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus coming to this earth is the solution to your biggest problem.

Because when Jesus came He took your sin and my sin upon yourself.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

How did He do this?

Well since our sin is ultimately against God, this means that God is the only one who can forgive us our sin.

So Jesus being himself the God of the universe, came to the earth to live the perfect life that we should have lived but could not. and because He lived a perfect life, He was a worthy sacrifice to die for sins. He died the death of a sinner that we deserved and in doing so took upon himself your sin and mine. He went to the grave and then rose again from the dead and in doing so defeating death so that one day we could rise again like Him.

It is as if you committed a crime worthy of the harshest of punishment and Jesus steps into the courtroom and says, “I know they are guilty but I will take the punishment.”

Here is when this becomes a joy…

When you have believed this message to be true and the Spirit of God shows you the weight of your own sin and what Jesus has saved you from.

It will be your joy when every day you can wake up and say “Oh what a savior! He has freed me from what I deserve.”

But even more than being forgiven of sin and freed from death, we have joy because we have been saved to God.

2. We get Him

The joy of our salvation in Christ is ultimately in the reality that because our sin has been forgiven and dealt with, we can be in an unrestricted, intimate, loving relationship with God.

Through Christ, there is now nothing standing between us and God.

Psalm 100:3 ESV

Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Zephaniah 3:17 ESV

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Psalm 149:4 ESV

For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.

Psalm 32:7 ESV

You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

We can know Him and be Known. We can talk and He listens. We can now sit in His love that He has.

We can be with God in the way that originally intended for us to be with Him…

With nothing between us.

Salvation by faith in Christ is not just about getting out of hell, it’s about getting to Him.

I think about it like when I go away from my wife on a trip and while I am gone I long to be in her presence. And when the trip is over I return home to enjoy the embrace of my bride.

I find joy in my bride

Jesus has come so that we could have joy in God.

Psalm 16:11 ESV

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

To follow Christ is to pursue your own pleasure and joy and to find it in Him.

CLOSING

How joyful are you this Christmas season?

Are you filled with joy because your Savior has solved you biggest problem?

Or are you full of dread because your sin has not been dealt with?

Or are you more focused upon the struggles of life than the freedom of Christ?

Are you full of joy because today if you know Christ, you have full access to God?

Or are you more interested in full access to other things?

The Christian life is not about do’s and Don’ts… Its about Joy!

Joy that comes from the never ending, never changing love of Jesus.

This Christmas season can be good news of great joy for you if you choose to make it all about Him!

PRAY