Reading: 1 Peter 1:8
There is much in this world that causes despair and discouragement in the heart of the Christian. Sin without, combined with the sin that dwells within us. often mars our happiness. But over against those reasons for despair stands a glorious reason for rejoicing. The Puritan Robert Asty said, “There is enough in Christ Jesus alone for the soul’s full rejoicing.” As Peter testifies, “We rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
The Christian’s joy rests on the person of Christ. If the Lord Jesus was a mere man, our confidence and contentment in Him would be misplaced. Men fail and disappoint, but with Christ it is different. Christ is truly man but He is also truly God. The Lord Jesus occupies the unique position of having two natures in one person forever. He is both God and man at the one time, and therefore Christ is the perfect Saviour. We rejoice in that.
The Christian’s joy relates to his position in Christ. There was a time when we were without Christ. We were strangers to God and to grace. We were yet in our sin and without hope in the world. That changed when we were born again. Our salvation brought us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. It brought us from a state where we did not know Christ into a state of being found in Christ. When Christ saves, He brings the believing sinner into the blessing of the gospel and into a blessed union with Himself, a union which can never be broken.
The Christian’s joy remains because of his prospect with Christ. Salvation is permanent. The Christian’s future is sure. His place in heaven is guaranteed. His justification will be followed by his glorification. Nothing can separate him from the love of Christ, not even death itself. Because of Christ we can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
All grace and privilege, all mercy, pardon, everything else we enjoy in this world, and hope for in another, depends upon this, of relation to Jesus Christ; therefore, certainly it is a matter of rejoicing to believers.” (John Owen, Works, 9:466)
DOES WHAT A MAN THINKS AFFECT HIS SALVATION?
Does what a man thinks alter the fact of a man’s salvation?
Can a man say that he believes that Jesus is the Son God and then say, however, I do not think that it is essential for my salvation? Can that kind of thinking save anyone? (John 8:24’Therefore I say to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”)
Is it possible for someone to assert they they were baptized in water and say, however, I do not think it was not essential for me to be saved? Can that kind of thinking save anyone? (Mark 16:16 He who has believed and been baptized shall be saved…)
Is is plausible that a person can profess that they believe the God raised Jesus from the grave and then say, however, I do not think it is essential to believe that, in order to be saved? Can that kind of thinking save you? (Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.)
DOES WHAT A MAN THINKS ABOUT GOD’S TERMS FOR PARDON AFFECT HIS SALVATION?
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Thank you Steve, what we think is important and this is why the website is called “thinkGOSPEL”. Isn’t it great to know however that “salvation is of the Lord” and that if a man is saved nothing that he thinks can “un-save” him.
In Christ, Aaron