The Core of Christianity, Part 3

1 John 1:1–4 ESV

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Prayer

Story of Adoption

I once heard the story of young boy who was adopted from a village in Africa.

The family worked for several years to adopt their son.

Once they did, they brought him into their home with joy and exuberance.

They gave him a bed.

They gave him meals and fed him well.

They even bought him marvelous toys.

In spite of all of this, something was amiss.

The family began to notice a pattern of behavior within the young boy.

Every night when they would tuck him into bed.

But then every morning, they would awake to find him laying on a dirt pile behind their house.

They would find that in the night the child would sneak out his bed and hide food from the fridge.

Confused and bewildered they couldn’t figure out his issues.

The family came to find out that often times when an adopted child is brought to their new home, they would revert back to their old behavior.

Brothers and sisters, we are no different than this child.

C.S. Lewis said...

We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

The Bible says that we have been adopted into the family of God.

It says that we have been made “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”

It says that we are “no longer strangers and aliens”

But when we consider the course of our lives, we see that we so often live as strangers and aliens.

Most simply: the sin in the garden is repeated over and over.

It is asking the question, “Did God really say?”

Or asking, “Is God really good?

And temptation is simply placing before us the question if God really has our best interest in mind.

My concern for you and I today is to impress upon you the same thing that John did to his hearers.

What kind of fellowship do we have?

Is it a dull and boring fellowship?

Joy: The Product of the Fellowship

My concern for us here today is to press in upon us that there is really more joy in fellowship with God than anything else.

That there is more joy in fellowship with God than anything else!

That there is more joy in obeying God and walking with Him than anything else possible.

1 John 1:3–4 ESV

3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Now it should probably be mentioned that there is a textual variant in verse four, and if you want to hear a better explanation of that you can go back to the last time Colten Kisner was here.

He gave a great reasoning for the difference in the translations, but I am arguing that they are essentially the same meaning.

Joy: The Product of the Fellowship

Its helpful to begin by defining the word joy.

In a number of languages ‘joy’ is expressed with phrases like ‘my heart is dancing’ or ‘my heart shouts because I am happy.’

MLJ made the distinction between happiness and joy.

He says that happiness is the feeling of a child playing with a toy,

but joy is the overwhelming feeling the child has when they get a new toy.

If I were to ask you, what makes Christ happy?

What would you say?

This is not a trick question, and I suppose there are many answers we could give to it.

We as Christian know that Christ is pleased when we obey and follow him.

But we wonder, what does his heart do as we consider our weaknesses and failures?

Our initial gut reaction to Christ dealing with our weaknesses and failures are actually contrary to his actual reaction toward us.

We are apt to think that he, being so holy, is therefore of a severe and sour disposition against sinners, and not able to bear them.

Basically what Thomas Goodwin is saying is that our gut reaction to Christ is consistently thinking he is scowling at us.

I heard someone once say in referring to his church, “You all will be saved, but it will be by the skin of your teeth.”

My fear is that we all often tend to think in these terms.

“Oh, yes, I know Jesus loves me, but I am one of those second class Christians.”

“Yeah, I have fellowship with God but he only really tolerates me.”

And that could NOT be any further from the truth.

His Joy is Our Joy

The truth is that Christ while remaining completely holy is also compassionate which invigorates Him to come near to us.

1 John 1:4 ESV

4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

“Christ’s own joy, comfort, happiness, and glory are increased and enlarged by his showing grace and mercy, in pardoning, relieving, and comforting his members here on earth.”

What Goodwin is saying is that as we have fellowship with God, Christ’s joy actually increases.

Like the parent of the adopted child rejoices as the child comes to them for his needs.

Jesus is right now ascended to heaven and is indeed seated at the Father’s right hand.

His joy actually grows and increases as we come to Him for fresh healing.

Hebrews 12:1 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Hebrews says that since we should be spurred on by the great cloud of witnesses that have went on before us.

We are now to turn our attention to Jesus in a special way.

A way that was different than the cloud of witnesses.

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

It was the joy of the glory of God in the salvation of the church unto Himself.

And Christ does not do this begrudgingly.

It was for this joy of obedience to His Father that He went to the cross.

In that moment on the cross, Jesus valued the salvation of His people above life, honor, and reputation.

What I want you to see is that TRUE HAPPINESS, TRUE JOY, is only found in fellowship with God.

He delights in interceding on behalf of sinners.

Another word which is worthy of our examination is the word, “Complete”

1 John 1:4 ESV

4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

“Complete”

The word for complete means to be fulfilled or filled up to the brim.

John is saying that this whole message, the hearing, the seeing, the touching, and the proclaiming is for this end.

The end or the fulfillment of what John is proclaiming to us is the joy of being in fellowship with God.

What was broken in the garden has been reunited in Christ.

Namely our fellowship with God.

But brothers and sisters, when we experience the fellowship that John is describing.

We are bringing to completion this mission of God.

We are bringing to completion the reuniting of God with man in fellowship.

We should examine our hearts and ask if we experience this joy.

What gives you this kind of joy?

What gives you “a little kid opening a present on Christmas” kind of joy?

this is an invitation to me and you.

to examine our lives to find what we really find joy in, so that we may turn our affections upon Christ.

This is an invitation to find real true lasting joy.

There is only one kind of true happiness and it comes from fellowship with Christ!

What are some barriers to this joy filled fellowship?

Now we defined joy, but what is meant by “our joy”

1 John 1:4 ESV

4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Rightly Defining “Our Joy”

One barrier for us to experience the joy of our fellowship with God is actually ourselves.

We are actually the ones who get in the way.

The war we fight is against the world, the flesh, and the devil.

We begin to expect certain things from God which he never promised we would have.

Let me give you an example

The lie of feminism.

I see this lie actually manifested in both men and women.

"We should be the same.”

(Women) “I should be able to do it all.”

(Men) “I wish my wife would pull her own weight around the house.”

Let me give you an example

Often times as I am talking to people who have rejected “Christianity”,

if you listen long enough you realize that they are talking about a God that I would reject as well.

Because they have begun to define their joy by something other than the Scriptures.

For the one who understands what fellowship with God actually is, will be satisfied with it alone.

They will be satisfied with this fellowship over and above every other desire.

Listen to what David says about fellowship with God…

Psalm 16:5–6 ESV

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. 6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

This is not someone who finds his joy in just anything.

His joy is in the fact that he knows the Lord.

You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

David’s confidence is not in being “cared” for according to worldly standards.

Psalm 16:9 ESV

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.

The joy that David is describing is the joy that comes from fellowship with God.

Now remember, this was David, this was before the fellowship we currently experience.

Psalm 16:11 ESV

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

For David, the completeness of joy is actually found in God’s presence.

Know THIS: Our only true happiness, not just as Christians but as people made in the image of God,

IS to be brought into God’s unmerited favor and be joined to Christ.

It’s found in fellowship with HIM.

Unbeliever

And if you don’t have that joy here today, I would urge you...

No, I would beckon you to consider Christ and Him crucified on behalf of sinners.

1 John 1:4 ESV

4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Their Joy and Our Joy

In the upper room, just after he washes their feet, he tells them that he is leaving.

Their best friend and master is leaving.

This obviously causes a stir and confusion.

John 16:20–21 ESV

20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

The sorrow that Jesus is talking about is first the sorrow of him departing from them that evening when the mob comes and takes him.

Then it is ultimately when death will take him.

The disciples are like that pregnant mother who is working through the anguish of giving birth.

They will weep and mourn the loss of their master, but he reminds them that it won’t be forever.

John 16:22 ESV

22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

When Jesus says the He will see them again, he is referring to after the resurrection.

They will see His body

They will talk with Him.

They will eat with Him.

John 16:23–24 ESV

23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Jesus is saying that currently you haven’t really understood WHO I AM and what I have come to DO.

But when the Holy Spirit comes, then you will know.

Then you will be able to pray and ask things in MY NAME.

DON’T miss this: The disciples will be able to do this because Jesus will be interceding for the disciples at His FATHER’s RIGHT HAND.

Now the same Spirit dwelling in Christ's heart in heaven, that does in yours here, and always working in his heart first for you, and then in yours by commission from him; rest assured, therefore, that that Spirit stirs up in him bowels of mercy infinitely larger towards you than you can have unto yourselves.

Jesus is saying to His disciples that He will be at the Father’s side and that is infinitely better for them!

The disciples asked in Jesus’ NAME for US to share in this fellowship and JOY that they experienced.

Brothers and sisters, this shows us what this kind of FELLOWSHIP with God and complete JOY does to a person.

It makes us hunger to share it with them.

It makes us hunger to make known the kind of JOY that is possible for them.

When we see all kinds of manners of poorly lived lives, it should not create in us self-righteousness, but an eagerness to share.

We should be able to share with them like David, Psalm 4:7 “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.”

May then we like JTB share with others, John 3:29 “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.”

Another barrier to actually experiencing the joy of our salvation actually has to do with assurance.

The Necessity of Assurance for Complete Joy

I want to be really clear: we believe that a believer can have full assurance that they are a Christian and will not be cast out.

Assurance

Temporary believers and other unregenerate people may deceive themselves in vain with false hopes and fleshly presumptions that they have God’s favor and salvation, but their hope will perish. 

Yet those who truly believe in the Lord Jesus and love him sincerely, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him, may be certainly assured in this life that they are in a state of grace. They may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, and this hope will never make them ashamed.

This is in opposition to ideas that we can lose our salvation.

That we are fluctuating between “saved and unsaved”.

There can be no true joy of salvation while there is a vagueness or an uncertainty or a lack of assurance with respect to what we have.

John 6:37 ESV

37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

John 17:12–13 ESV

12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

Consider for a minute what the life of that adopted child would be like if he constantly wondered if he would be removed from the house.

Every time he spilled a glass of milk or made a mistake, he would be waiting to be thrown to the curb.

Do you think he would ever experience joy from being part of that family?

I found it really helpful and I agree fully with MLJ, who says that most of our troubles and most of the unhappiness comes down to us not really believing in Assurance of Salvation.

Assurance is not essential to salvation, but it is essential to the joy of salvation.

It is essential to the joy of your salvation because Christians are those who know the character of their God.

They know what He is like.

How he doesn’t just throw His children to the curb.

Now though Christ be in heaven, yet his people are his family still; they are retainers to him, though they be on earth, and this as truly as those that stand about his person now he is in his glory.

John 17:20–21 ESV

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

His Joy and Our Joy

Rightly Defining “Our Joy”

Their Joy and Our Joy

The Necessity of Assurance for Complete Joy