Fullness of Joy

Psalm 16:11  --  You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

This verse probably deserves an entire sermon series all to itself.  First, consider the idea of "fullness of joy."  God has graciously granted us the opportunity to experience joy in this life despite this world's profound brokenness.  Thanks to the Fall and man's sinfulness, this world is filled with heartache and sorrow.  It seems like all news is bad news.  As humans, we have the terrible talent of messing things up.  When God created this world, He looked at all of it and said, "It is good."  Now, we are surrounded with "it is bad."  But, as bad as it may seem sometimes, it could be much worse.  God has granted us many, many gifts that bring us joy in the midst of this broken world.  We should be extremely grateful for that.  

So we know what joy feels like, but we have no idea what "fullness of joy" must feel like.  We won't know that until we get to eternity.  Everything there "is very good."  Sin is gone.  Pain is gone. Death is gone.  Heaven will be empty of all things that steal joy.  So eternity will be wonderful because of what is not there.  But it will be even more wonderful because of what will be there.  Loved ones and all the perfected saints, beauty like our imaginations cannot fathom, activities that will delight us and never grow boring, blessing upon blessing, never-ending.  Incredible joy!  But all of those will still lack the ability to give us "fullness of joy."  There is only one thing that can bring the creature "fullness of joy," and that is the Creator Himself.  Being in the presence of God will bring "joy unspeakable and full of glory."  We cannot imagine the joy that we will experience because of all the things that will not be in eternity and all the things that will be in eternity.  And yet, the joy of being in the presence of God will make all those other things seem dim compared to His glory---far more unimaginable than even the lesser things that are yet beyond our imagination.  "Fullness of joy."  That is the eternal destiny of every believer in Jesus.  But to be separated from God for eternity....that will be the exact opposite---the absolute absence of joy and the unimaginable experience of extreme pain and loss.  Oh friend, make sure you are headed for the presence of God!

Notice that there is a path of life.  Man fell into sin and the path of death, but God has graciously made a path of life.  Proverbs 14:12 says," There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."  So there is a path of life, and there is a path that leads to death.  Man, even when he wants to seek the right path, ends up on a path of death.  It seems right to him!  But he's wrong.  

Also, we observe that God must "show me" the path of life.  Praise God that He made a way to life.  Praise God that He opens our blind eyes and shows us the way to life.  And what is this "life" the psalmist speaks of?  Where is this joy?  It's in the presence of God.  

John 17:3 -- "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

Free Will and Assurance of Salvation?

Salvation is not a one-time event in your life.  It’s not a prayer you prayed sometime in the past.  Salvation is by grace through faith.  Faith is a moment by moment trust in Jesus to save you from the wrath to come.  It’s a constant choosing of Christ as your Lord and Savior.  You don’t choose Christ at some point in your past, but then choose to not follow Him and not trust in Him for your salvation for the rest of your life, and think you’re somehow not in any danger. 

So if salvation depends on you choosing Christ—exercising your will—to constantly trust in Him for your salvation (and it does), two questions arise:

1)      Can I have assurance of salvation?

2)      Do I have something to boast in?

Assurance

“Once saved, always saved” is a familiar adage.  It’s true that salvation cannot be taken away from you.  God will not revoke His offer.  Satan cannot snatch you out of God’s hand.  If you are truly trusting in Him alone for salvation, you are safe, and nothing can change that.  But a possession of faith is far different than a profession of faith.  It’s possible to be motivated to respond to a gospel invitation for various reasons and make a profession of faith, but not actually possess saving faith.  Saving faith is that constant trust in Christ alone to save you.  It’s evidenced by a life of sanctification—an ongoing process of conviction for sin, repentance, and becoming more and more like Christ. 

Now, if salvation involves a consistent faith—a moment by moment choosing of and trusting in Christ; and if our theology says that our will has the ability to make the right choice regarding Christ without the sovereign grace of God providing that necessary faith; then we can have no assurance of our salvation.  If your salvation depends on whether or not you continue making the right choice—don’t change your mind—until your death, then you can have no assurance, because you cannot guarantee yourself that you will not fall from the faith. 

However, if it’s God’s department to give the gift of saving faith necessary to choose Christ; if it’s God’s department to keep you in the faith; then you have every reason to believe you will be kept in the faith, and thus have full assurance of your salvation.  If God has chosen you, your faith will be sustained by His sovereign grace and power, and you will endure to the end. 

   

Boasting

Also, if salvation involves a consistent faith—a moment by moment choosing of and trusting in Christ; and if our theology says that our will has the ability to make the right choice regarding Christ without the sovereign grace of God providing that necessary faith; then we have something to boast in.  We have the ultimate say-so in whether or not we are saved, because we have the ability to choose Christ on our own, and to keep choosing Christ.  So ultimately, our salvation depends on us—our choosing of Christ without any gift of faith from Christ to do so.  We’re not kept by His power, but by our own power, and we have something to boast in.  When we get to Heaven, we can brag to everyone about how we chose Christ, and kept choosing Christ, despite the earthly temptations, pressures, persecutions, etc. 

However, if it’s God’s department to give the gift of saving faith necessary to choose Christ; if it’s God’s department to keep you in the faith; then when we get to Heaven, we will fall down at His feet and thank Him and worship Him forever for saving us.  We will have nothing to boast in, but join with all the saints and say, “All the way my Savior led me!  The only reason I am here is because of Jesus!  I have nothing to boast in except His love, and grace, and mercy, and His choosing of me despite my rebellion against Him.” 

   

Great River, God's Word

 

Behold, a tower of strength by the river

   a tree whose roots drink deep

See its delight as it tastes of the water

   and sways in wisdom's breeze

The water, an anchor that keeps the tree steady

   yet sets the branches free

Great river, God's Word, a flow never ending

   I long to grow in thee

(inspired by Psalm 1)