What has happened to the Joy of Salvation?

[Billyd]

I was talking with a young youth pastor a few days ago who asked me "What has happened to Christian's joy of their Salvation?" As we talked he mentioned one thing that stood out. He said "I've reached the point where when I feel I'm having fun, I look for what I'm doing wrong. I can come to a Sunday service with joy in my step, and leave feeling guilty because I am not living up to the message being preached. What am I missing?"

I would like to ask you to take on the "Joy of Salvation" from the scriptures.

 

[Nancyer]

Joy comes from knowing God, the Father and Jesus, His Son. Believing in our hearts that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that knowing that we will see Him one day in heaven. That is joy. No matter what happens to me, I "can do anything through Christ who strengthens me". That is joy. Knowing God will never leave me nor forsake me. That is joy.

I no longer fear death, though I may not be looking forward to dying, depending on how it may happen. My mother died in her sleep, peacefully and painlessly. Praise God!! This I would relish.

 

[Tintin]

Part of it has to do with many Christians having a non-biblical understanding of life after death. The New Heaven and the New Earth is either misunderstood or not taught properly. If Heaven is boring (there's already a bias) and it's God's place of residence and our final residence, how can God be one of joy? That's their reasoning.

 

[crossnote]

"I've reached the point where when I feel I'm having fun, I look for what I'm doing wrong." ..Ex Roman Catholic?


"I can come to a Sunday service with joy in my step, and leave feeling guilty because I am not living up to the message being preached."...Are they also preaching the Gospel and not just a list of do's and don't's?

 

[RedTent]

To have a church with joy in our heart, it needs to be a place that is sanctified, set apart from the rest of the world and shared in love with others who are also set apart. It is be OK to tell of the walk that Christ wants us to walk, because it doesn't make us feel guilty, but it is talk of what we all want as a follower of Christ. Every one there would share in the absolute security we have in Christ, every one would be eager to hear and do God's word. All would be secure in the love each has for the other in the church, also.

If a member starts having guilt and fear of God's instruction, everyone would hold him in prayer until he could just repent of his sins, accept forgiveness he is given, and give up not trusting the Lord to have forgiven them. He would need to share his guilt feelings that cause resentment to simple joy in the Lord's forgiveness and love for him.

It wouldn't be a church for evangelism. Just as Christ evangelized outsides the synagogue not during the service, that would be how this church would handle it. Anyone would be welcome, but they would need to accept Christ and join in the worship and wanting to walk the walk, then they would be true members.

Christians who truly follow Christ have joy. It is a secure, happy place to be.

 

[psychomom]

i love it that when David wrote the famous Psalm 51, he didn't ask God
to restore his salvation.
he asked for the restoration of the JOY of his salvation.

1 Peter 1 talks about salvation and joy (or re-joy-cing) in v. 3-8

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to obtain an inheritance whichis imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

 

[posthuman]

is any of good cheer? let him sing psalms
(James 5:13)

♪♫

[video=youtube_share;wbWuSnNYRzA]http://youtu.be/wbWuSnNYRzA[/video]

 

[Ukorin]

If instruction in righteousness brings guilt, then it is not done in love, and not of the Spirit.

Conviction is good for the Believer, and of the Spirit.
Guilt is not for the Believer, but only the unbeliever.

If the conviction of the Spirit is bringing guilt, one must ask oneself if they are looking to the Cross for their sanctification, or looking to self.

Encouragement in doing good works brings joy. Condemnation is not for the Believer, nor does it need to be a topic of regular discussion in the Church, but for evangelism.

 

[crossnote]

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23)

By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
(fruit of the Spirit) (works of the law)?

 

[Ukorin]

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23)

By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
(fruit of the Spirit) (works of the law)?

Amen brother.
Life, and life abundantly, is promised to the Believer, and fulfilled in the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. May we all reap the fruit that He plants and sustains within us.

Praise God!

 

[pastac]

Yet we do live among thorns and thistles and have to walk dark paths to reach the light! Our walk is not just a journey but a lifestyle that takes time to learn since we have to unlearn so much world stuff. The spiritual mirrors the natural yet we live in the natural trying to attain the spiritual. Some have better success than others, some try harder, others wait for prayers of others to sustain them, some are un willing to fight or don't know how and some are just lazy. The joy of the Lord is our strength. If you are weak Joy can fix it!

 

[RedTent]

If instruction in righteousness brings guilt, then it is not done in love, and not of the Spirit.

Conviction is good for the Believer, and of the Spirit.
Guilt is not for the Believer, but only the unbeliever.

If the conviction of the Spirit is bringing guilt, one must ask oneself if they are looking to the Cross for their sanctification, or looking to self.

Encouragement in doing good works brings joy. Condemnation is not for the Believer, nor does it need to be a topic of regular discussion in the Church, but for evangelism.

I should thing that looking to self wouldn't bring guilt, but not looking to Christ and trusting Him. That distrust would bring on a fear of works and a distortion of how works apply in their understanding of works in their walk with the Lord. It would cause them to feel they had to work more to please God, or cause them to give up on works on their walk to escape the guilt feelings. Both extremes not God's way.

 

[Ukorin]

I should thing that looking to self wouldn't bring guilt, but not looking to Christ and trusting Him. That distrust would bring on a fear of works and a distortion of how works apply in their understanding of works in their walk with the Lord. It would cause them to feel they had to work more to please God, or cause them to give up on works on their walk to escape the guilt feelings. Both extremes not God's way.

We are passing by each other by a hair.

There are 3 kinds of unbeliever shown in Scripture.
One is ignorant, and looks to self for pleasure.
The second knows what God desires, but rejects it and looks to self for pleasure.
The third knows what God desires, and accepts it, but looks to self to fulfill it.

Only a Believer knows what God desires, and can fulfill it through the Holy Spirit.

I in was the 3rd category for my early years.
Many people call themselves Christians, and know the Word, but have no faith to fulfill it. They rely on their own willpower.
Their successes are seen as failures to God. Their motive can never be pure, because they think they are earning God's love, or that they are maintaining what God says is freely given, and divinely sustained.

 

[Ukorin]

I believe you are in the 4th category Redtent. A Spirit powered Believer.
Your study of the Law does not show itself to be maintainance, but out of love for your Redeemed, and desire to know Him even better.

 

[Ukorin]

We are passing by each other by a hair.

There are 3 kinds of unbeliever shown in Scripture.
One is ignorant, and looks to self for pleasure.
The second knows what God desires, but rejects it and looks to self for pleasure.
The third knows what God desires, and accepts it, but looks to self to fulfill it.

Only a Believer knows what God desires, and can fulfill it through the Holy Spirit.

I in was the 3rd category for my early years.
Many people call themselves Christians, and know the Word, but have no faith to fulfill it. They rely on their own willpower.
Their successes are seen as failures to God. Their motive can never be pure, because they think they are earning God's love, or that they are maintaining what God says is freely given, and divinely sustained.

I will back down a bit on this position. I think that a person can be saved, and yet still a legalist, in many circumstances.
We all have times where we slip into trusting ourselves.
But when we do, we are missing out on the peace of God, and His Joy.
Also, it is impossible to truly grow in Christian maturity if you are still focused and dealing with your salvation.
One must get past that point to move on to the meat.

 

[pastac]

meat is only meant for them who can digest it.

 

[2Thewaters]

I was talking with a young youth pastor a few days ago who asked me "What has happened to Christian's joy of their Salvation?" As we talked he mentioned one thing that stood out. He said "I've reached the point where when I feel I'm having fun, I look for what I'm doing wrong. I can come to a Sunday service with joy in my step, and leave feeling guilty because I am not living up to the message being preached. What am I missing?"

I would like to ask you to take on the "Joy of Salvation" from the scriptures.

The true joy hs to be by the holy spirit.
When you give your life to God and he accepts your worship he puts joy and peace into your life.The spirit is given to those obedient to all that they know is right.



"VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word." -Psalms 119:41.


"CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word." -Psalms 119:81.


"Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness." -Psalms 119:123.


"Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes." -Psalms 119:155.


"LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments." -Psalms 119:166.


"I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight." -Psalms 119:174.

your sermons on sunday is breaking a commandment
so you cant have complete joy

the true delight is when you are obedient.

 

[SolidGround]

your sermons on sunday is breaking a commandment
so you cant have complete joy

Woah woah woah.
Where is this command to not preach on Sunday?
Are you mistaking Sunday gatherings as breaking the Sabbath?

Sunday and Saturday are two separate days brother.
I know your doctrine concerning keeping the Sabbath,
however, banning Sunday gathering and preaching is not Biblical.

 

[UndRenovation]

What has happened to Christians joy of their salvation? Well in my experience unless your in a space, maybe one on one or a small group and people are specifically asked to share their conversion experience then its not being shared much at all. Depending on the crowd your involved in. Everyone has that joy, buried somewhere within all that religion and junk that is added along the way and gets in the way of their relationship with Christ. Its like we experience spiritual amnesia..and when we see others experiencing joy or sharing their joy, in particular from their salvation experience well some people try and shut them up and call them a crazy!!

I remember when I was born again 15 years ago, it was at a conference and there were about 400 people there, my conversion experience was an intense and hard core supernatural one and after it took place I ran out side screaming to the heavens that everybody needed Jesus in their life, salvation is needed and your crazy if you reject the good news!! Out of the crowd a man came(a Christian leader) to me and told me to quiet down, that what I was saying wasn't appropriate and to not scare the crowd. I wont tell ya what I said back to him lol but maybe that's where the joy is...hiding, frightened in the corner and not willing to come out just in case other people, especially Christian's tell us to keep it down otherwise we may scare people off!

 

[BradC]

What has happened to Christians joy of their salvation? Well in my experience unless your in a space, maybe one on one or a small group and people are specifically asked to share their conversion experience then its not being shared much at all. Depending on the crowd your involved in. Everyone has that joy, buried somewhere within all that religion and junk that is added along the way and gets in the way of their relationship with Christ. Its like we experience spiritual amnesia..and when we see others experiencing joy or sharing their joy, in particular from their salvation experience well some people try and shut them up and call them a crazy!!

I remember when I was born again 15 years ago, it was at a conference and there were about 400 people there, my conversion experience was an intense and hard core supernatural one and after it took place I ran out side screaming to the heavens that everybody needed Jesus in their life, salvation is needed and your crazy if you reject the good news!! Out of the crowd a man came(a Christian leader) to me and told me to quiet down, that what I was saying wasn't appropriate and to not scare the crowd. I wont tell ya what I said back to him lol but maybe that's where the joy is...hiding, frightened in the corner and not willing to come out just in case other people, especially Christian's tell us to keep it down otherwise we may scare people off!

Matt 5:13-16
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

2 Cor 4:3
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

Rom 10:10
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

John 8:32
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Gal 5:1
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.