Summary

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Our keynote passage for this series has been Psalm 16:11, which says, "You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever."

B. In this final lesson, we will summarize the points made in this series.

II. THE FULLNESS OF JOY

A. The joy we have in the Lord is not conditioned upon this world.

1. Christians have joy in this life as we anticipate the full manifestation of our joy in the life to come (Rom. 15:13; Rev. 21:3-4).

2. This joy is possible because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:4-22; 1John 1:1-4).

3. Even when the conditions of the world are difficult, we maintain true joy in Christ.

a. In Philippians 4:4, the apostle Paul wrote from his Roman imprisonment, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!"

b. Just as the apostle Paul suffered much and yet rejoiced in Christ (2Cor. 4:8-9; 11:23-28; Phil. 1:18; 2:17-18), so also we should rejoice through Christ in every circumstance (1Cor. 11:1; Jas. 1:2-3; 1Pet. 1:6, 8-9; 4:13).

B. The fullness of joy is worth any sacrifice and any wait necessary to obtain it.

1. "For the joy set before Him," our Lord Jesus endured the cross (Heb. 12:1-3). In His likeness, the joy set before us may also require us to make sacrifices to obtain it (Matt. 13:44; 16:24-26).

2. We should gladly make any sacrifices necessary for the joy in Christ just as Paul and other Christians have done (Phil. 3:8-11; Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37; 5:40-42; 8:1-4; 12:1-2; Heb. 10:32-34).

3. We should also be patient as we wait for the fullness of joy in Christ.

a. Waiting is simply a part of the life of a Christian. Consider 1Thessalonians 1:9-10 -- "For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come."

b. The attitude of a faithful Christian who waits for the Lord is expressed in Habakkuk 3:17-18 -- "Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation."

C. The greatest joy of sinners is the joy of salvation.

1. The misery of sin in captured in David's words from Psalms 32, 38, and 51.

a. David described unbearable burden of sin that crushes the mind, body, and spirit.

b. He pleaded with God to remove the guilt of sin and forgive him.

c. At last, he rejoiced when God answered his prayer and relieved him of his misery.

2. Like David, we should rejoice in the salvation that has come through Jesus Christ.

a. Our sins forgiven and forgotten (Heb. 8:12).

b. Our debt is paid (Col. 2:13-14).

c. Our burden is removed (Matt. 11:28-30).

d. Our lost souls have been found (Luke 15).

e. Our fear has been relived (1John 4:17-18).

3. Not only should we rejoice for escaping condemnation, but also we should rejoice for obtaining a heavenly reward (1Pet. 1:3-9).

D. Joy is always associated with blessings.

1. Always count your blessings in the present and rejoice.

a. Our spiritual blessings (John 1:16; Eph. 1:3) and temporal blessings (Jas. 1:17) are abundantly given by God.

b. The key to joy with any blessings is an attitude of contentment and gratitude (Phil. 4:11-13; 1Tim. 6:6-8).

2. Always remember your blessings in the past and rejoice.

a. Our memories of past blessings should bring us joy, comfort, and trust.

b. Consider Romans 8:32 -- "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"

3. Look forward to your blessings in the future and rejoice.

a. Knowing that God has blessed us in the past and the present, we can rejoice in expectation of His blessings in the future (Ps. 37:25; Matt. 6:33).

b. The best is yet to come, for the eternal blessings in Christ will be fully realized after the resurrection (2Cor. 4:16-18; 2Tim. 4:6-8).

E. Much joy is found in serving the Lord.

1. Our purpose in life is to serve and glorify God (Eccl. 12:13-14; Isa. 43:7; Matt. 5:16; Eph. 2:10).

2. It is a joy and an honor to fulfill our purpose and serve the Almighty God, who is worthy of our service (1Tim. 1:12-16; 2Tim. 2:20-21; Rev. 5:12).

3. Our joy is increased by the anticipation of the reward for serving Him (Matt. 25:21; John 12:26; 1Cor. 15:58; Col. 3:23-24).

F. Faith in Christ naturally leads to joy.

1. Faith naturally produces joy, for it is "the assurance of things hoped for" (Heb. 11:1), and hope is joyful expectation (Rom. 12:12; 15:13).

2. Faithful joy manifests itself through trust and activity, for it is "the conviction of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1).

3. Christians can have joy even in the midst of trials (Jas. 1:2-4, 12; 1Pet. 1:6-9).

4. Christians can have joy when trials are passed and losses have been sustained (Acts 5:41; 1Thess. 4:13; Heb. 10:34).

G. Joy comes to honest hearts when they receive the truth.

1. In John 8:31-32, Jesus said, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

a. The truth of Christ's word in the gospel is the message of salvation from sin.

b. The freedom that comes by this truth is a release from the bondage of sin and death.

2. The truth of Christ's word and the resulting freedom from sin is the source of real lasting joy (Ps. 51:6-12).

3. Christians find joy when the truth lives in them and in others (1Cor. 13:6; 3John 4).

4. Christians also find great joy in the spreading of God's truth to those who do not know the Lord (Acts 11:18; Phil. 1:18).

H. Much of the joy of this world is false, but the joy that is in Christ is genuine.

1. True joy is directed toward God who gives all blessings, but false joy is directed toward the blessings themselves (Luke 12:13-21; Jas. 1:17).

2. True joy is found in bringing glory to God, but false joy is found in receiving glory for self (Isa. 43:7; Matt. 5:16; Esth. 5:9, 13).

3. True joy comes with righteousness, but false joy comes from foolishness (Ps. 33:1; Prov. 15:31).

4. True joy endures, but false joy is temporary (Ps. 16:11; Job 20:4-5).

5. True joy is realized when wicked men change their ways, but false joy results when wicked men suffer (Ezek. 33:11; Prov. 24:17-18).

6. True joy is received after godly sorrow, but false joy comes by celebrating wickedness (2Cor. 7:9-10; Isa. 22:12-14).

7. True joy is a companion of truth, but false joy is a companion of deceit (1Cor. 13:6; Hos. 7:3; 2Tim. 4:3-4).

8. True joy results from the endurance of trials, but false joy exists where there are no trials (Jas. 1:2-4; Matt. 13:20-21).

III. CONCLUSION

A. These lessons on the "fullness of joy" have had two main objectives.

1. The first objective was to understand and embrace the Biblical concept of true joy while casting aside the world's definitions.

2. The second objective was to obtain that full, Biblical joy on "the path of life" and maintain it throughout every circumstance and every season of life.

B. As we pursue happiness in this life and the life to come, let us always remember these words of praise to God in Psalm 16:11 -- "You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever."