Joy is built-into & a natural by-product of salvation. If you are not enjoying your salvation, there’s a specific reason…
3 Reasons People Don’t Enjoy Their Salvation:
They aren’t really saved!
God knows I’m NOT being judgmental or critical – let me just read a few vss and you tell me… Matt 7:13-14 says that salvation is a narrow path and few will find it. Matt 7:21, 23 continues: many unbelievers say ‘Lord’ (it’s easier to call Him Savior than Lord) and still be unsaved. Implying salvation is more than a confession / profession! THe parable of the wheat and tares (Matt 13:24-25, 30, 37) is about lost people in churches. Jesus said that there are some in your church and the Angels will sort it out and pull them from among us and throw them into Hell.
I think it’s important that we think about what it is that keeps people from Heaven? Rom 3:23 says sin is falling short of God’s glorious perfection. Praying a little prayer and believing in Jesus/cross as a historical person/event isn’t enough to undo that lack of glory and perfection. Salvation involves faith, yes, but in no way does it stop there. Salvation is more than believing… it is: confession (Romans), repentance (Acts), commitment (John), application (James). I’m not preaching works-salvation. It is not by works… I’m actually emphasizing grace more than most do. Many who say it boils down to a ‘sinners prayer’ will trust in that prayer and experience to get them to Heaven. But:
Jesus + ANYTHING = False Gospel (leads to Hell). Jesus + NOTHING = True Gospel (leads to Heaven).
Give yourself a little test:If you plug your ears at talk of Hell you might not be a Christian! If you quit fighting against sinful habits and hold on you might not be a Christian. If you enjoy people of the world (unbelievers) more than family of God then you might not be a Christian. If you don’t feel conviction when you hear preaching / read God’s word then you might not be a Christian.
They have forgotten because of SIN!
We must deal with all our unconfessed sin & unresolved offenses. Sin is a joy-zapper / corrosive / acidic – adds guilt, pain, shame (prevents new joys). After David’s sin w Bathsheba… He prayed for forgiveness (confession) and for restoration (joy) – see Ps. 51:10-12. If we regard (knowingly allow) iniquity in our heart, the Lord will NOT hear us (Ps 66:18).
If sin is clouding your joy:
1 Confess to God (for cleansing)
2 Confess to another (an offense / trespass) for assurance & for accountability.
They don’t understand how awesome salvation truly is!
I’d like to overwhelm you with salvations greatness (Heb. 2:3)! Keep in mind that 5 sec after you were saved… these 4 dozen things about you were changed forever:
13 Permanent Changes to Your Standing with God:
spiritual death removed Rom. 5:12; 6:23; Jn. 5:24
wrath removed Jn. 3:36; Rom. 5:9-10; Eph. 2:3; 5:6
spiritual blindness removed 2 Cor. 4:3-4
spiritual alienation removed Eph. 2:12-15, 19; Rom. 5:6
enmity removed Rom. 5:10; Col. 1:21; Eph. 2:15-16
condemnation removed Rom. 8:1-3; 5:16-18
unrighteousness removed Rom. 3:10, 22-24; 10:10
transferred from spiritual darkness Col. 1:13-14; Eph. 5:8; Acts 26:18
freed from the curse of the law Gal. 3:10-13; Rom. 10:4
freed from the slave market of sin Gal. 4:7; 5:1, 13; Rom. 6:6-9, 17-20; Jn. 8:34-36
natural man status changed 1 Cor. 2:12-14; 15:45-46; Jude 19
perishing status changed Jn. 3:16; 10:28; 1 Cor. 1:18; 15:17-18; 2 Cor. 2:15
sinner status changed Rom. 5:8, 12, 19; 1 Tim. 1:15
You’ve been made…
holy brethren Eph. 3:15; Heb. 2:9-12; 1 Thes. 1:4
child of God Jn. 1:12-13; Gal. 3:26; Rom. 8:14-16; 1 Jn. 5:1-5
son of Light Jn. 1:4-9; 1 Jn.1:5-7; Eph. 5:8-9
child of promise Rom. 9:8-9; Gal. 3:7-29; 4:28-31
first born Heb 1:6; 12:23; Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:15-18; Rev. 1:5
accepted in the beloved Rom. 1:7; Eph. 1:6; Col. 3:12; Eph. 5:1-2
new creation 2 Cor. 5:17; Col. 3:10
elect/chosen/called Eph. 1:4; Col. 3:12
righteous 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 3:22-35; 5:21; 1 Jn. 2:1
possessor of eternal life Jn. 11:25-27; 20:31; 1 Jn. 5:11-13
ambassador 2 Cor. 5:18-20; Eph. 6:20
priest 1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6; Heb. 7:12
joint-heir of an inheritance Rom. 8:17; Gal. 4:7; Heb. 1:2
heavenly citizenship Phil. 3:20; Heb. 13:23
saint Rom. 1:7; Col. 1:2; 3:12; 1 Cor. 1:2
member of body of Christ 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23,30
bond-slave to Christ 1 Cor. 7:22-23; Gal. 1:10; Eph. 6:6-8; 1 Pet. 2:16
living stone 1 Pet. 2:4-8; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16; Eph. 2:19-22
Because of Jesus’ blood, you were given these 9 things:
redemption 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Heb. 9:12; 1 Cor. 6:20; Eph. 1:7
reconciliation 2 Cor. 5:17-19; Col. 1:20; Eph. 2:16
justification Rom. 5:1, 8-9, 18
sanctification 1 Cor. 1:2, 30; Heb. 10:10, 29; Col. 1:22
propitiation Rom. 3:24-26; 1 Jn. 2:2; 4:10
forgiveness Eph. 1:7; 4:32; Heb. 9:22
cleansing 1 Jn. 1:7-9; Heb. 9:14
new covenant Lu. 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25; Heb. 12:24
victory in the angelic conflict Rev. 12:10-11
By the Holy Spirit, You were given these 9 things:
regeneration Jn. 3:1-8; Tit. 3:5
spiritual life Eph. 2:5; Rom. 8:9-11; Gal. 5:16; 2 Cor. 2:16
sealed & baptized Eph. 1:13; 2 Cor. 1:22
earnest (down-payment) 2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:14
spiritual gift 1 Cor. 12:11; 1 Cor. 12:4-31; Rom. 12:6-8
indwelling of the Holy Spirit 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Gal. 3:1-3; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 2:22
access to God Eph. 2:13, 18; Heb. 4:14-16; 10:21-22
spiritual adoption Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 4:4-6; Eph. 1:5; Heb. 12:8
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