True Christian joy all in Christ

I often think of our joy as springing from Romans 8:32. Paul says that since God did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all—now there is the great truth. This is the truth defining me and my life. The Father did not spare his Son, but gave him up for me. That is talking about sending him to the cross. Paul continues, Well, then, how will he not also, together with him, graciously give us all things? So here is the great truth of every Christian, no matter what is going on day to day in my life: the Father has given his Son to die for my sins.

And as a result, I have—well, everything. I have everything that I might need. John Lillie works out some of these things that we have. He asks, What is there that our ruined nature needs which it cannot find in Christ? Atoning blood to cleanse me from all sin; a righteousness in which not even the eye of divine holiness can discern a single splot or blemish. I have been washed of my sins. I am clothed in a perfect righteousness before the Father. He gives me subduing, renewing power and is forming us into the divine image. In Christ, he has given us a Teacher to instruct our ignorance; a Friend to cheer us; a kindred High Priest to intercede for us in the heavenly places and reconcile us unto God; a wise, faithful, gentle, almighty Shepherd to lead us, feed us, and guard us through the wilderness into the bright, spacious, ever-fresh and unfading pastures of eternity.” And people get excited today at the prospect of winning the lottery. Well, the Christian has gained far more than any lottery can give you with mere money. He gives us all the blessings of God that are found for us in the gift of Jesus Christ. And according to the Bible—the apostle Peter, for instance—this joy is one of the distinguishing marks of the Christian. I am a Christian now.

Now what does that mean for me? What should characterize me? Here is what Peter says: Though you do not now see him—and that also means that all these blessings may not be outwardly evident in your life. You are still afflicted. You may have no money. You may need a job. You may be lonely, forlorn. You may be persecuted, like the Thessalonians. All that is true, but Though you do not yet see him, you believe in him, and you rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. And I will say this: this is the Christianity that shakes the world.

Now, you say, Well, that’s easy for Paul to say. Oh, was it easy for him? Just a few months earlier in Philippi, he and Silas had been beaten, and they were in stocks and suffering. They were in prison. Who knows how long they were going to be there? But they lifted up their thoughts to Jesus Christ and who he is and all they had, and they began singing. And what happened? The earth shook. That is not just by chance. God was not randomly saying, Well, let’s do an earthquake today. He is saying, This is what happens when my people in affliction rejoice in Jesus Christ. I am going to shake the world and break the prison doors. And even the jailer came to faith in Jesus Christ. That is the Christian experience. It has always been that way. It was true of Abraham. What did Jesus say about Abraham? He saw my day and he was glad. What were the angels singing about in Bethlehem on the night of Jesus’ birth? Good news of great joy for all the people. In all circumstances, what cause we have for joy! Yes, maybe with tears on our cheeks as well, but a joy within because of the Father’s gift of the Son. He has given us Jesus, and in him, we have everything.¹

Richard D. Phillips