Joy in the Gospel of John

John's Gospel has a theme of the Christian's joy in Christ throughout. John the Baptist's message was "I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him" (John 3:28). He referred to Jesus as the Bridegroom who has the bride, and John the Baptist himself is the friend of the Bridegroom who has great joy just hearing the Bridegroom's voice; a complete joy (John 3:29). 

The day of Jesus, the I AM in flesh, was the joy of Abraham (John 8:56). Jesus had joy that He was not present at the death of Lazarus so witnesses would see the glory of God in the dead man's resurrection (John 11:15, 40).

There was joy in the disciples as harvest reapers shared with Christ the Sower (John 4:36). Jesus' leaving and being with the great Father who exalts the Son is a fountain of joy for those who love Jesus (John 14:28). 

In His lesson on abiding in Him and He abides in us like the relationship of vine and branches, Jesus said He teaches the disciples that His joy may be in them, and their joy complete (John 15:11).

Jesus promised that the world will find joy in the Christian's sorrow, but the church will have their grief turned into joy like a mother giving birth in anguish only to have joy at the sight of her newborn (John 16:20-21). In the meantime during our time of sorrow now, we can ask anything of the Father in Jesus' name and receive that our joy may be complete (John 16:22-24).

In Jesus' high priestly prayer, He asks His Father to keep the church united, abiding and sanctifying the church by the truth of His Word that Jesus would be glorified in the church. As Jesus comes to the Father that the church may have Jesus' joy fulfilled within them (John 17:13).

Finally, there was joy in the disciples as they saw the resurrected Jesus who blessed them with peace and showed them His wounds (John 20:19-20).

There is joy in knowing Jesus. There is joy in hearing and knowing His teaching and abiding in His Word. There is joy in soul-winning, a shared joy with Christ the Sower. There is joy in knowing and being known by Jesus while we must suffer sorrow in this world. There is joy in asking and receiving mercy from the Father. There is joy, complete joy, when we see Jesus in the finished kingdom. 

May this truth of Christ's joy in you, dear Christian, encourage and strengthen you for the journey homeward with the Lord.

Do Not Turn to a Gospel that Cannot Save

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.” –Galatians 1:6

In my experience, my greatest growth in Christ-likeness has come from honest encounters. Friends who labored in loving me, getting to know me, and over time developed a Christian love willing to even confront me. I have grown in being a good friend when I am confronted with Scripture where I have not been a good friend. Same in my role as a husband, a dad, a pastor.

Paul was such a godly, trusted man who had labored with the church in Galatia (Acts16:6, Acts 18:23). Paul knew the Christians of the church of the Galatians. This is why he could pen, “I am astonished.” He had spent time “strengthening the disciples” in Galatia (Acts 18:23), so he was confident they knew the gospel of the grace of Christ. In his letter of confrontation, he begins by saying just how astonished he was they would desert the preaching of the grace of Christ in favor of a false gospel.

Abandoning the grace of Christ for false versions of Christianity which cannot save is much of the pastor’s concern, and Paul’s concern led to direct confrontation. There are no other gospels (vs 7), and we Christians should be so confident in the gospel preached to us that even if Paul or an angel told us otherwise, we would quickly disregard them and hold to grace (vs 8).

Apparently, some Judaizers told the church that a real Christian must be circumcised and hold to Jewish dietary laws, but to add this to the gospel of grace severs one from Christ and has “fallen away from grace” (5:6). Paul desires to raise those fallen back to grace. He blesses with grace from God and the Lord Jesus Christ (1:3, 6:18).

The threat to the church in Galatia, and any local church, is another gospel which promises a higher spiritual life apart from the gospel of grace. How can I be perfectly right in the eyes of God to achieve the higher spiritual life and receive His blessings? This question is answered by false gospel preachers by changing grace from being free to being won by things we do. In Galatia, the Judaizers even used the Bible to teach that.

The Judaizers sought to boast in the markings of circumcision in the flesh of Gentile Christians who would fall prey to their boastings. What they wanted in their boastings was a tolerance from Gentile Christians who were taught a gospel of grace rather than an idea of being justified by works of the Law of Moses. Otherwise, if these Gentile Christians held to grace in Christ rather than be severed from Him, they would face “persecution” (6:12).

Paul reminds us that those preaching justification by works themselves do not keep the Law (6:13), but impose high standards on others simply to boast. Self-righteousness and boasting go hand-in-hand with false gospel preachers.

The local church is strengthened only in the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ. Paul’s efforts to “strengthening the disciples” should be imitated by the church. Her pastors and teachers should boast only in their weakness (II Corinthians12:9) and in the cross of Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14). The pulpits and Bible studies must be places where Christians are reminded we are justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. In the cross of Christ, the Father by His own choosing blesses with His favor which cannot be earned and freely justifies sinners and blesses we who deserve the death penalty with life. Everlasting life as if we lived the life Jesus lives. From our salvation of God’s free grace, we now live solely in grace; that is, solely by what Jesus Christ has earned for us giving us fellowship with God and one another (I John1:3).

Christian, be encouraged. Jesus saves sinners. Not our works or following along any powerful words of spiritual guides who promise higher spiritual life apart from the grace of God in Christ Jesus. The power to obey the commands of Christ are rendered no longer burdensome when the same power of the Holy Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead lives in you (Romans 8:11).

Heavenly Father, we as a church rejoice in Your unmerited favor for us in Christ Jesus. Protect us from false gospels which allure us into the devil’s traps of earning and boasting in our doings rather than rejoicing in the works of Jesus Christ. Remind us regularly of Your gospel of free grace, that You justify sinners by grace alone received by faith alone in Christ alone. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.