The Joy Of Our Salvation

Intro: Shortly after his conversion in the third century, Cyprian (SIP-ree-un) of Carthage wrote to his friend Donatus (doh-NAY-tus). Looking at the corruption and violence of the Roman Empire, he declared that he had discovered a people who possessed a joy greater than the world's pleasures. Those people, he said, were the Christians—and he was one of them.

The Christian Life is characterized by joy! Do you have joy in your heart? In these 11 verses the Apostle Paul uses the Greek verb kauchaomai (kow-KHAH-oh-may) three times which translates “rejoice” (vs.2), “glory” (vs.3), and “joy” (vs. 11) It is the idea of showing or feeling elation! Its the idea of having and showing great joy! In these verses, Paul lists the results of our Salvation and they are great reasons to have great joy in our hearts!

I. We have Peace with God (1)

Have joy, you are at peace with God! Since the fall (Gen. 3:6-7) all of mankind as been at odds with God. His most special creation turned rebellious and we became His enemies (Rom 5:10). We started a war with God that we couldn't win, Ro. 1:18 tells us that the wrath of God is upon us and Ro. 1:32 tells us that we are worthy of death! That’s eternal death in hell. But when Jesus came into this world He absorbed our sin and died for our sin so that through faith we can be at peace with God!

In the Greek, peace means a state of wellbeing. In English peace means cessation of war. [ILL:] At 11:00 Am on 11/11/1918 a armistice was reached bringing WWI to an end. The headlines of New York Times read “ARMISTICE SIGNED, END OF WAR!” The whole world rejoiced, but 2,000 years ago Jesus signed an Armistice with His precious blood and we now have peace with God, Rejoice the war is over, the wrath of God has passed, and we have everlasting peace with holy God and everlasting peace in the loving Savior. Have Joy, you are saved!

II. We have Access to God (2)

Have joy, you have personal access to God. Sin brought separation, it put a barrier between us and our loving creator who created us in His image. Because of how we are created each person has a deep desire to know and to be with God. That’s why heathens have idols, that why people search for the missing link in their lives, each man has a gnawing desire to know God and to be close to Him.

In Old Testament times, God dwelt on earth in the tabernacle/temple but there was limited access to Him. Gentiles were barred at the gate, Jewish women were stopped at the women’s court, Jewish men were barred from the inner courts, only the High Priest could enter into the dwelling place of God, the holy of holies, and that was only once a year. God was so close yet so far away. But when Jesus came, He granted us Access through faith, people saw God, talked with God and when He died upon Calvary’s Cross the veil was ripped asunder from top to bottom (Matt. 27:51)!

Now we can run into the arms of God, pray to him without an earthly intercessor for Christ intercedes for us, we can seek refuge in Him, draw close to Him, and bask in His eternal glory. And one day you will see Him face to face and live in His presence forever! Have joy, you are saved!

III. We have Assurance from God (3-4)

Have joy, you have assurance from God. Assurance of a exceedingly bright future. This world is difficult and sometimes our circumstances makes life seem hopeless, but there is alway hope in Christ Jesus.

The Bible tells us that hard times will come but that Jesus has overcame the world (Jn. 16:33)! Regardless of what happens we KNOW that all things work together for the good of those who love God, those who are called according to His purpose (Ro. 8:28). Paul tells us that difficult times produces perseverance, tested faith, and hope. In the Greek, hope (elpis) means a looking forward to in confident expectation. Its the promise of a guaranteed future in Heaven. Hope in Christ is the guaranteed assurance that nothing will separate us from the love of God (Ro. 8:38-39) and that I have Eternal life the moment I first believed (Jn. 5:24, 6:47). Have Joy, you are saved!

IV. We are indwelt by God (5)

Have joy you are indwelt by God! What joy, what a blessing, God no longer dwells in a temple of stone but inside each believer. We are the talk of heaven, we have something the O.T. saints only wish they had while on earth, God in us! Before the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit spirt came upon and departed from believers, but now by grace through faith in Jesus He presently and permanently resides in our heart!

Through the Holy Spirit we are empowered to live a holy life and to serve Him honorably and lovingly (Deut. 6:5). We are empowered to love others and treat them as God demands (Lev. 19:18), because God’s unique love is poured out into our hearts, we have all of His love, are you exercising it? We are empowered to learn and recall what recall what we have learned from Him we need it most (John 14:26), and we are empowered for the sake of evangelism and disciple making. These shall bring us great joy because we are empowered to serve the Lord, but more than all that, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is our guarantee of eternity, its the title deed to the place Christ has prepared for you in heaven!

If I asked you how you know you are saved and going to heaven, your answer would be because the Holy Spirit of God lives inside of me! Have joy, you are saved!

V. We are Preserved in God (6-11)

A. Preserved in your Salvation

Have joy, you are preserved in God! God loves you it was proven and demonstrated at Calvary! When the time was right Christ died for the ungodly (6), while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (8). Because of God’s great love for you, by grace through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus He will never grow tired of you He will never throw you away. You are His Child forever, and there is nothing you, anyone else, or any other being (not even the devil) can do about that. When you are saved God put His irrevocable seal on you (Eph. 1:13, 4:30). You are persevered in God and shall never perish (John 10:28).

B. Preserved from God’s Wrath

Your salvation saves from God’s wrath, you will never experience even a speck of it. I believe the end is near, look at what's going on around us. people rejoice in the murder of babies and righteous men/women. What is wrong is deemed right by society and if you disagree or try to defend yourself you are assaulted, arrested, or labeled as a hater. There are wars and rumors of war, pestilence and famine across the earth. and major droughts like we haven't seen. For the unbeliever these should be scary times but they are deceived and think things are going good. The end is near but believers rejoice knowing that they are preserved from God’s wrath (9) including the coming great tribulation. The time of literal hell on earth, it is Jesus who opens the scrolls of Rev. 6. and we are told that we are not destined for wrath but for salvation (1 Thes. 5:9) and we will be kept from the hour of testing Rev. 3:10). The day is coming soon when we the believers of earth will disappear in an instant and be united with God and reunited with our loved ones, What joy! What Joy! What Joy, we are saved!

“I’ve got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart.… to stay!

Con: Are you saved? Then bask in your salvation. Know and appreciate the fact that you have peace with God, access to God, assurance from God, and that you are indwelt by God and preserved in God! Adore Him and glorify Him and Joy will characterize your life and your joy will be contagious leading others to want what you have, SALVATION!