In our home group last night we considered this question:
In his sermon this past Sunday, Phil said that the Christian life is one of humility (recognizing our sin and guilt) and grateful celebration (recognizing what Christ has done for us in justifying us). Our lives should be characterized by joy. What reasons do we have to be joyful? What is it that Christ has done for us?
Here are some of the answers we came up with:
- We will not experience judgment!
- Our sins are forgiven, once and for all.
- We have been given his righteousness.
- We don’t have to work and strive to achieve his favor.
- He has given us the Holy Spirit to equip us to love, serve and obey him.
- He has given us gifts to serve and encourage one another.
- He has set us in a church, given us one another to help us to grow and to enjoy fellowship.
- He has set us in his church.
- His word instructs us.
- Our eyes are opened to see and enjoy his greatness, goodness and glory.
- He disciplines us to make us more like him.
- When we continue to sin, we know that we can come to him in repentance and be forgiven.
- He loves us! Even more wonderful, he loved us while we were his enemies, completely unlovable.
- He intercedes for us now. We can approach his throne of grace and mercy.
- He experienced every temptation that we do; he sympathizes with us.
- We now have a hope, as we anticipate heaven, glorification, an end to our battle with sin, and eternal joy.
We have great reason to be joyful! What can you add to this list?
For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.