"The Climax of Experiential Joy!"

 

“The Climax of Experiential Joy!”

 

You love Him, though you have not seen Him.  And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.     1 Peter 1:8-9

 

The EXPERIENTIAL JOY of a TRUE BELIEVER, comes through their FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ and His REDEMPTIVE WORK on the CROSS to FREE mankind from their SINS, and to PROVIDE an ETERNAL HOME in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Their FAITH is NOT a result of the   KNOWLEDGE of JESUS, but it is on the PERSON of JESUS.  And on whether they TRULY POSSESS a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Him and His Heavenly Father, God.

 

The Apostle Peter was focusing on those who were being persecuted for their FAITH, and ENCOURAGING them to KEEP THE FAITH.  Even in times of PERSECUTION they could EXPERIENCE JOY, because they were PRESENTLY receiving SALVATION, which is the GOAL of their FAITH.  Even though, they did NOT see JESUS, their BELIEF and FAITH in Him could bring them INEXPRESSIBLE and GLORIOUS JOY.  And SALVATION through Him, is PAST: He has given us a NEW BIRTH.  It is PRESENT: Through a FAITH that is SHIELDED by the POWER of GOD.  And FUTURE:  It is an INHERITANCE for the TRUE BELIEVER.   EACH DAY brings us CLOSER to RECEIVING the CULMINATION of our SALVATION.  And because we BELIEVE even when we have NOT SEEN our REDEEMER, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, we can EXPERIENCE INEXPRESSIBLE, GLORIOUS JOY, even in times of PERSECUTION.  CAN YOU?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then the outlook of your DESTINY is DARK and BLEAK, because you are FACING an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, after you are there.  And you surely cannot EXPERIENCE TRUE, INEXPRESSIBLE JOY, with that in your future.  However, God is giving you an opportunity NOW to CHANGE that DESTINY by: TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING TO HIM, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His Gift of SALVATION, and then EVEN though you have NOT SEEN HIM, BELIEVE in Him and place your FAITH in JESUS, and EXPERIENCE that INEXPRESSIBLE, GLORIOUS JOY all the way into your ETERNAL HOME, HEAVEN.  So, do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and COMING SOON!!!