A few days ago, as I was whizzing through Des Moines on the illuminated interstate, my heart suddenly filled with joy. I don't know why I got so excited in that moment, but I rolled with it. I cranked up the volume on the radio and sang like no one was listening.
The next day, I tried to record my experience in my journal. But suddenly I felt guilty for being ok. For being better than ok! I had genuine thankfulness and I couldn't find it in me to admit it. I was scared of offending those who were hurting. How dare I smile and sing and be glad when people are suffering? When there is death, sin, rejection, and abandonment in this world?
Was I forgetting that the Christian life should be characterized by joy?
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith-- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." -- 1 Peter 1:3-9
In this post, I will discuss 3 different kinds of joy: (1) Joy in Circumstances, (2) Joy in Justification, and (3) Joy in Sanctification. Although I am making these distinctions, remember that all joy comes from God through grace in Jesus Christ and should flow out of us as we praise and worship him.
Joy in Circumstances:
This kind of joy is a gift of common grace. When you get the job you really wanted or the love of your life loves you back. It is easy to be joyful in these times. Moments like these are both unpredictable and unreliable, but they are not unreal. Even non-believers can be joyful in their circumstances... The difference is a disciple of God will not just feel happy, but let that joy overflow into praising God for the tangible gift He blessed you with. Recognizing these blessings is essential to practicing thankfulness; however, we cannot rely solely on this kind of joy. Circumstances are always changing, and we need to find hope that runs deeper if we want joy that lasts.
Joy in Justification:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you." 1 Peter 1:3-4
This kind of joy stands alone on the resurrection of Christ. Justification is a one time act in which we become free from the punishment of our sins and adopted as beloved sons of God, co-heirs with Christ to the heavenly kingdom. 1 Peter 3:18 describes it perfectly: "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit." Christ died once for sin. It was a historical act which sends joy pulsing through our new life.
This joy cannot be altered by our circumstances-- good or bad-- and it is a joy that doesn't rely on us feeling it to be true. No "in spite ofs" or "in the midst ofs" need to be tagged on to it to prove we are in touch with reality and sensitive to struggle. With Jesus Christ's atonement as its one and only foundation, this type of joy is secured as a the evidence of present salvation and future glorification.
"Though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith-- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." -- 1 Peter 1:6-7
Unlike joy in circumstances relying on good times for fuel, joy in sanctification leaves us praising in the very best and absolute worst. Unlike joy in justification that lifts our eyes and hearts to rejoice in our secured place with Christ at the hand of God, joy in sanctification keeps us rooted both feet on this earth utterly aware of our humanness.
A good way to describe sanctification is that we become who we already are. The Westminster Shorter Catechism answer to "What is sanctification?" is "Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and are enabled more and more to die to sin, and live unto righteousness" (Q. 35). We are already described as sinless because Christ's holiness has been imputed to us. However, we still sin. Sanctification is the process by which God gives us grace by allowing us to know Him so that we may become more like Him.
Yet this is not a painless process by any means. To become like Christ we must live like Chirst, which means dying to ourselves every day. 1 Peter 4:12-13 says we should not be surprised when we go through trials and persecution, but be encouraged that, in the midst of our suffering, we can rejoice because we share in Christ's suffering. When Christ died on the cross, not only were our lives imputed with His holiness, but our suffering was imputed with purpose. Because of the cross, our suffering draws us closer to Christ and gives us a chance to rely on His strength instead of our own.
Through the Holy Spirit in our lives, everything we experience-- whether it is victory or another chance to die to ourselves-- is useful in bringing us closer to God. Therefore, we rejoice.
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| "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!" Psalm 118:24 |
In conclusion, the Christian life should overflow with joy made possible by Christ. Sometimes we try to explain our rejoicing with our circumstances or we feel guilty that our joy doesn't correspond to the sorrow in the the world. Yet we are not required to explain or justify-- Christ's sacrifice is enough.
"How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds" by John Newton
How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.
It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.
Dear Name, the Rock on which I build,
My Shield and Hiding Place,
My never failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace!
By Thee my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defiled;
Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am owned a child.
Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
O Prophet, Priest and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.
Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.
Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of Thy Name
Refresh my soul in death!
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