Inexpressible Joy!

Anticipation of Renewal

Believing in Christ is more than mental assent to the existence of Jesus in history. It is more than acknowledging His sacrificial death on Calvary or trusting in Him to save us from our sins. It is the development of an experienced reality, the fulfillment of hope within our lives, and the source of joy. The personal and tangible faith in Jesus Christ results in a reason to rejoice.

Peter wrote concerning this personal revelation of Jesus Christ, “whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith -- the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9).

Inexpressible joy (the KJV says, “joy unspeakable”) comes from knowing Christ in the reality of the Holy Spirit. It was noted in Acts 13:52 that the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. So parallel is the reception of joy with the spiritual baptism that the question has often been asked of one who had received the Holy Spirit, “Did you receive the joy?”

Joy is listed among the nine attributes of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, etc.” The absence of joy in the salvation experience causes questions as to the validity of an individual’s experience. Though speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of the Spirit’s baptism, joy (along with the other fruit of the Spirit) should be the outgrowth of the New Birth experience.

Thank God, there is more to the Christian life than joining a church, accepting Jesus, or practicing spiritual disciplines. There is the experiential involvement that changes our attitudes, that lifts our emotions, and instills an everlasting hope.

Paul provides us with an appropriate benediction. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Experience the inexpressible Joy!