The Joy of Grace: sermon by Danson Ottawa @citamEmbakasi

The Christian life Podcast (TCLP)

It is almost too good to be true that God not only saves us from the eternal punishment we deserve for our sin, but he also satisfies us forever with himself. And this is the very joy for which we were made. God is not the cosmic killjoy many of us may have feared in our youth. Rather, he is the God who, in Christ, stretches out his arms to us, saying, “Come, all who are thirsty!” John Piper

The Scriptures are clear: God’s people are both commanded to rejoice and characterized by rejoicing.

It was commanded of God’s first-covenant people, Israel, perhaps especially in the Psalms. “Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!” (Psalm 149:2). “Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad” (Psalm 14:7). “Rejoice in the Lord” (Psalm 97:12). “Serve the Lord with gladness” (Psalm 100:2). “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (Psalm 32:11). With literally hundreds more instances throughout the Old Testament.

Beyond just Israel, God commands all nations to rejoice in their Maker (“Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,” Psalm 67:4), and even commands the natural world to join in the joy (“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,” Psalm 96:11).