Joy of Living Hope

Joy in God’s Mercy

Mercy is God withholding the punishment that is due to us for our sin. The Bible says that God’s mercy is great. This means that God withholds the punishment of eternal death for our sin.

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. Psalms 32:1-2

King David prophecies that there is coming a day where peoples transgressions are forgiven and their sins are covered. Because of this God does not count our sins against us.

The reason God can do this is because He sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sin. He was a sinless sacrifice that died on a cross to take the punishment for our sin. This is the mercy of God! God has provided a way that we can escape the eternal death. The text says His mercy HAS CAUSED us to be born again

Joy in Being Born Again

When a person receives the mercy of God they are born again. You may ask “what does it mean to be born again?” Nicodemus asked the same question and this is how Jesus answered.

4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:4-6

Jesus is saying that flesh gives birth to flesh. This simply means that everyone that is born is born of flesh. They have a father and a mother that gives them life to live physically. This person has the ability live according to the senses God has given us. This is being born of the water.

This is not enough to enter the kingdom of heaven. A person must be born of water AND Spirit. To be born of Spirit is to receive the Holy Spirit through salvation. This is when the Holy Spirit comes to a person and convicts them of sin and reveals Jesus Christ as the Savior. Calvin And Armenian

Calvinistic

Election - God's choice of people to save. This choice occurred before the foundation of the world.Predestination - God's  The work of God to ordain to salvation those who have been elected to it.Calling - The preaching of the gospel message.Regeneration - The change in the person produced by God.Faith - The trust an individual has in the work of God on the cross.Repentance - Turning from sin.Justification - The imputation of righteousness to the individual bus making him righteous according to the law.Sanctification - God's work in the individual to make him more like Christ.Perseverance - God's work in the individual results in the person continually believing throughout his life.Glorification - Resurrection to glory with God.

Armenian

Calling - The preaching of the gospel Prevenient Grace - A grace from God that enables a person to believe.Faith - The trust an individual has in the work of God on the cross.Repentance - Turning from sin.Regeneration - The change in the person produced by God.Justification - The imputation of righteousness to the individual bus making him righteous according to the law.Perseverance - God's work in the individual results in the person continually believing throughout his life.Glorification - Resurrection to glory with God.

No matter which one you believe, they both end in glorification. This means we spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven!

All this is possible by the death, burial, and resurrection. I love the song by Donnie Mcklurklin:

Living he Loved Me Dying he saved me Buried He carried my My sins far away Rising he justified me Freed me forever One day he's coming back Glorious day Lyrics found <a href="https://www.elyrics.net/read/d/donnie-mcclurkin-lyrics/medley,,-living-he-loved-me-lyrics.html">here</a>

Joy in Our Inheritance

Peter reminds the believers that they have an inheritance in heaven. This is not like the inheritance that we receive from our parents. The inheritance we receive from our parents is temporary. It only last as long as it lasts or until we die. The inheritance God gives is imperishable, undefiled, does not fade away and cannot be lost.

Imperishable

Our inheritance in heaven does not perish. The things that we receive on earth perish. Your parents may leave you a home or a car. These things tear up or wear out. They perish. The inheritance that God gives does not tear up or wear out. His inheritance is eternal.

Undefiled

Everything we can receive on earth has been tainted by sin. There is nothing that we can receive that is perfect. There is a flaw in everything. The inheritance we receive in heaven is perfect. There is no flaw in the inheritance God gives.

Does not fade away

The inheritance that we receive on earth tends to lose its splendor. The newness wears off, the sentimental value diminishes and it splendor tends to fade away. The earthly things just don’t mean that much to us over time. The inheritance that God gives never loses it glory. It is new every day, it never loses its importance and its glory remains forever.

You Cannot Lose Your Inheritance

On earth people can take your inheritance or your parents can write you out of the will. Once you receive Jesus you are guaranteed your inheritance. Peter says who are protected by the power of God through faith for salvation. God preserves the believer.

Joy in Suffering

In this world we can expect to suffer for the cause of Christ. The world does not receive Christ and it will not receive us. As a result we will suffer in this life. But our suffering is purposeful. James explains it this way

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything James 1:2-4

Suffering tests our faith. When we suffer we turn to Christ who strengthens us to endure suffering. When we turn to Christ, He gives us the perseverance necessary to endure. Once you endure the suffering, you mature and grow deeper in your relationship with Christ.

Joy in Glorification

We can have joy knowing that the life we live is but a vapor or a mist. It is here today and gone tomorrow.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

Everything we go through in this world will not seem to be anything when we get to heaven. The only thing that really matters in this life is your decision about Christ and who you disciple.