For the believer, the Scriptures teach us that the hope the Lord Jesus Christ provides us is our source of joy.
Rom. 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
What is our hope based on? Christ’s substitutionary death on the Cross. Christ alone is the foundation. You can not experience joy without Christ.
Christ is our Source of Peace and Joy
We experience joy because of our confident expectation in our salvation through Christ. Rom. 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Our belief in Christ as our savior produces joy and peace. Through Christ the believer experiences joy and peace in the hope (confident expectation) of the eternal life he has promised. To learn more about our hope, please read the article called Our Hope is Christ.
Eph. 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
As you can see our Joy is based on Christ alone. The believer’s joy is not a temporary thing but eternal as it is based on our anticipation of seeing our hopes fulfilled through Christ. Peace results from the assurance that God has promised us eternal life.
Rom. 5:2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom. 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Phil. 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Isn’t this amazing; that through the Spirit indwelling us, the believer has the capacity to experience joy, even when we are experiencing personal difficulties.
We have an eternal hope in Christ who has promised us every spiritual blessing. Eph. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
God has assured us a future. If you have not yet trusted in Christ won’t you do so now and experience this joy and peace associated with God’s promise of eternal life.