The Joy of Holiness

“God intends the Christian life to be a life of joy — not drudgery.” — Jerry Bridges

Do we think of holiness as a joyful thing? Why/why not?

John 15:10-11 “If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”

Jesus has linked joy and obedience in this passage. So, it is only on the path of obedience to the Word that we find joy! The question is, how?

First, it brings us the joy of fellowship with God.

David says in Ps.16:11 “You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.” After dealing with the muck and mire of the sin fall-out from his adultery and murder, David prayed in Ps.51:12 “Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.” We buy the lie that sin leads to life, but the opposite is actually true.

The daily EXPERIENCE of Christ’s love directly relates to our obedience. No, His love is not DEPENDENT on our obedience, but our experience of His life is directly tied to it.

William Hendriksen notes that God’s love, “by preceding our love…creates in us the eager desire to keep Christ’s precepts; then, by following our love, it rewards us for keeping them.”

Further, we have the joy of obeying God, not resisting Him with areas of our lives. Some might think of overcoming some deeply rooted sin in our lives as the joy of victory, but it truly is the joy of obedience.

Second, a holy life gives us the joy of an anticipated reward.

What are some examples of anticipation producing joy?

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus endured the suffering in part because of the joy of His reward.

Matt.25:21 ““His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’”

Matt.25:23 ““His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’”

So, Bridges would encourage us to not waste the talent of “holiness.”

Joy also helps produce a holy life.

Do you see this played out in real life? If so, in what way?

In order to experience this joy, we must make some choices:

Choose to forsake sin because a.) it defeats us, and b.) it grieves the heart of God.

How do we forsake sin?

Accept the responsibility of disciplining yourself for the purpose of godliness.

Have you adopted any new pursuits of godliness over the past several weeks? Have you renewed any pursuits of godliness?

Finally, pray. We must believe that He answers our prayers for strength in fighting temptation.

Do we often pray for strength to fight temptation?

Consider the farmer — who produces his crop, and how does He produce it?

Don’t forget that God has said, “Be holy, because I am holy.” That call, rooted in the very nature of God, extends to us today.

Has He left us on our own to be holy? What has He provided?

Walking in obedient surrender, practicing the means of grace God has granted us, will result in joy — what Jesus called the “full” or “abundant” life (John 10:10 “A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.”)