The Gospel of Joy

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of joy. Never forget that the Bible describes it as “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10). Have you believed the glad tidings? Are you rejoicing in eternal life?

Make no mistake: the gospel does not make people happy in their sins. It makes them happy by delivering them from their sins. There must be freedom before there can be joy.

When the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, announced His mission, He said He was come to “preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18). His salvation is a mighty deliverance. It overcomes the world, sin, and Satan, and makes believers free in the Lord. You know real joy if this deliverance is your experience!

The world tells you that if you get converted to God you will cease to enjoy life. But the truth of the matter is that you can only begin to truly enjoy life when you receive God’s salvation. The world knows nothing about true joy. If someone has not known the joy of redeeming love, how can he compare it with worldly pleasure?

Would you like to be free from sin—free from its power and punishment? There is only one way. Jesus Christ laid down His life as a sacrifice for your sin and mine. He bore the penalty our sins deserve on the cross of Calvary. Now He is risen from the dead and offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who put their trust in Him.

Have you put your trust in Jesus Christ to wash your sins away? God commands all sinners to repent—to turn from our ways to His way. Call out to God today, admit your need of a Savior, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and experience true joy!

—Adapted from Echoes of Grace.