Joy In Christ: The Joy of Peace With God

About this sermon

Introduction: We once stood before God condemned. We were guilty. We were without defense. We were under His wrath and destined for everlasting wrath. But now, our standing before God is one of righteousness. We are right with God. We have been justified. We once were alienated from God, with respect to fellowship. Our alienation was not just on paper (legal), it was personal. But now we have peace with God. We stand in the favor of God. We stand in the accepting light of His countenance. His face shines upon us. And this peace with God, this relationship with God, is not just ours IN Christ Jesus, it is ours THROUGH Christ Jesus. We are forever dependent upon Jesus as our mediator. John Murray – “The mediation of Christ is not dispensed with in the bestowment of the privileges which proceed from justification, and this reminds us that our dependence upon the mediation of Christ is never suspended. All spiritual blessings are in Christ. But they are also enjoyed through Christ’s continued mediatory activity.”1 Through that mediation we have our access into the grace of justification in which we are forever stationed. The additional emphasis that the apostle gives us, following the teaching of justification, and peace with God, is OPEN ACCESS to God. Unchanging access, free access, to the almighty, through Jesus Christ. It is THESE CERTAINTIES, it is that which God has done in our case, and the FINALITY of it all, that allows for and produces a JOY that is uniquely Christian. We think today about the joy of peace with God. I. THE REALITY OF JUSTIFICATION’S JOY (vs.2-5) Now, I want us to pause for just a moment and meditate on that fact. Twice in our verses there is a rejoicing that is spoken of. It is a joy that flows from the knowledge of justification, and peace with God, and open access to God, and our security in that grace through Jesus Christ. And it is not some small rejoicing. It is a word that is used in the New Testament to speak of boasting. That’s why the NASB translates it with the word “exult.” This is a confident joy. This is an exuberant joy. And the very mention of this points us to one of the great challenges that we face in the Christian life. We must beware a contentment with words, and phrases, and descriptions, that we aren’t currently experiencing. What good is it to talk about a joy that we are strangers to? What good is it to call something joy in our life that isn’t really joy? I could test us today by asking, “Do you know this kind of joy in your experience?” Is the Christian life, for you, a life of joy? Is your joy one that is confident and exuberant? Isn’t it true, that there are many Christians who have access to the kind of joy that Paul is describing, but who live today with a very minimal experience of it? Are there Christians who are miserable? Are there Christians who are dissatisfied, discontent, complaining, and mourning over their circumstances? I’m not asking whether you know that this joy exists, I’m asking whether it exists in you? DO YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS A REAL JOY THAT IS THE RESULT OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH AND PEACE WITH GOD?

Topics

• Peace
• Joy
• Jesus Christ
• Christian Living