What does it mean to be "In Christ?" Pt. 9 A joyful rejoicing in Him.
We have another sunny day in December and we are enjoying the beauty of this season. Yes, I would still like to have lots of snow on the ground but it looks like that will not happen until after the holidays.
I am very glad that you joined us this morning and I hope that your Lord's day was a God honoring reflection of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Our post today looks at another precious aspect of what it means to be "in Christ." It involves joy and rejoicing because we know Jesus Christ as savior and we continue to learn of all that He did for us at the cross, and all that He is currently doing for us in heaven and all of His sure promises regarding the future.
Rejoicing in Christ
1 Corinthians 15:30-34 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. 33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Paul completes his proof regarding the resurrection of Christ by reminding the Corinthian who believed false teaching about the resurrection, that if there if the dead are not raised then we should just do what the world does (eat, drink, be merry) because then we die.
It is in verse 31 where we find the phrase "in Christ." The apostle speaks of rejoicing in Christ. In this text the word means glorying in Christ or boasting in Christ in the sense of glorifying Him for who He is and what He has done.
Paul does not speak of boasting like the world does when people boast about their income, possessions or lifestyle. It is rather a true excitement that blossoms in the believers heart from knowing Christ and being more conformed into His image.
Philippians 3:1-3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Paul continued his theme on rejoicing in Christ in his letter to the Philippians. First he encourages them to "rejoice in the Lord" which refers to rejoicing in Christ. He used a different word in this text that means exceeding joy, exuberant rejoicing more in the sense of worship and praise and true happiness.
In verse 3 Paul employed yet another word that means to glory on account of Christ and what He has done, is doing and will do in eternity. We can all agree that if we think in those terms our hearts will be filled with love, joy and the glory of Christ our savior.
Paul has more encouragements (10 times) to rejoice in his letter to Philippians than any other New Testament book. Only Psalms, Isaiah, Proverbs and Deuteronomy have more references to rejoicing than the book of Philippians.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Joy and rejoicing ought to be an vital part of the life of any born again Christian.
Psalm 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
The psalmist shows us that rejoicing is commanded but the truth is that we should be so overwhelmed by all that Christ has brought to us that we should spontaneously explode with shouts of joy and rejoicing.
The word "rejoice" means to have a glad heart responding to the glorious grace of God. It is a joy driven exuberance from a believer whose whole heart is engaged with the God of Glory.
Notice the following verses from Psalms and how all this rejoicing is "in the LORD." LORD is the Divine name Jehovah and the name Jesus means Jehovah saves so there is certainly a connection to the phrase "in Christ."
Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Being glad in the Lord leads to rejoicing and shouts of joy because our gracious God has made us righteous in Christ.
Psalm 33:21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
We rejoice "in him" because we are born again through faith in the name of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
A joyful spirit is because of being born again which causes us to rejoice in the mighty salvation of God through Christ Jesus.
Psalm 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Rejoicing in the LORD and giving thanks because He is holy and He has made us righteous that we might have our sins removed.
Points to Ponder....
I am very glad that you joined us this morning and I hope that your Lord's day was a God honoring reflection of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Our post today looks at another precious aspect of what it means to be "in Christ." It involves joy and rejoicing because we know Jesus Christ as savior and we continue to learn of all that He did for us at the cross, and all that He is currently doing for us in heaven and all of His sure promises regarding the future.
Rejoicing in Christ
1 Corinthians 15:30-34 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. 33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Paul completes his proof regarding the resurrection of Christ by reminding the Corinthian who believed false teaching about the resurrection, that if there if the dead are not raised then we should just do what the world does (eat, drink, be merry) because then we die.
It is in verse 31 where we find the phrase "in Christ." The apostle speaks of rejoicing in Christ. In this text the word means glorying in Christ or boasting in Christ in the sense of glorifying Him for who He is and what He has done.
Paul does not speak of boasting like the world does when people boast about their income, possessions or lifestyle. It is rather a true excitement that blossoms in the believers heart from knowing Christ and being more conformed into His image.
Philippians 3:1-3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Paul continued his theme on rejoicing in Christ in his letter to the Philippians. First he encourages them to "rejoice in the Lord" which refers to rejoicing in Christ. He used a different word in this text that means exceeding joy, exuberant rejoicing more in the sense of worship and praise and true happiness.
In verse 3 Paul employed yet another word that means to glory on account of Christ and what He has done, is doing and will do in eternity. We can all agree that if we think in those terms our hearts will be filled with love, joy and the glory of Christ our savior.
Paul has more encouragements (10 times) to rejoice in his letter to Philippians than any other New Testament book. Only Psalms, Isaiah, Proverbs and Deuteronomy have more references to rejoicing than the book of Philippians.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Joy and rejoicing ought to be an vital part of the life of any born again Christian.
Psalm 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
The psalmist shows us that rejoicing is commanded but the truth is that we should be so overwhelmed by all that Christ has brought to us that we should spontaneously explode with shouts of joy and rejoicing.
The word "rejoice" means to have a glad heart responding to the glorious grace of God. It is a joy driven exuberance from a believer whose whole heart is engaged with the God of Glory.
Notice the following verses from Psalms and how all this rejoicing is "in the LORD." LORD is the Divine name Jehovah and the name Jesus means Jehovah saves so there is certainly a connection to the phrase "in Christ."
Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Being glad in the Lord leads to rejoicing and shouts of joy because our gracious God has made us righteous in Christ.
Psalm 33:21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
We rejoice "in him" because we are born again through faith in the name of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
A joyful spirit is because of being born again which causes us to rejoice in the mighty salvation of God through Christ Jesus.
Psalm 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Rejoicing in the LORD and giving thanks because He is holy and He has made us righteous that we might have our sins removed.
Points to Ponder....
- My attitude should drastically change when I am born again and am "In Christ."
- Rejoicing should be a character trait of all born again believers.
- Rejoicing is based upon the unchanging character of God and all He has done for us "In Christ."
- Rejoicing spills over into every aspect of a believers life "in Christ."
- Rejoicing in Christ fills our hearts even when our circumstances may be difficult.
I think we all tend to gravitate to a believer who is genuinely impacted by the Lord to the degree that they are consistently rejoicing. That person exhibits a gladness of heart and a happiness of spirit because God is at work transforming their heart and making them more like Christ.
Rejoicing is not being silly or over emotional. True rejoicing comes from the new heart and the new spirit and walking in newness of life that all flows from the new birth in Christ.
I pray that these simple thoughts today will encourage your heart and be a blessing to all of you.
Bob
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