Yearly Archives: 2023

Confessing Daily Sins – I John 1:9

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

Imagine growing up in a strict home where forgiveness was only granted after performing a required legalistic protocol. Now grown, you cling to the same mindset. When you offended a friend, you beg for their forgiveness, and they graciously accept your apology. Then, every time you see your friend, you plead for them to forgive you. Over and over this is repeated. Each time your friend assures you that they forgave you long ago and put it behind them. They also ask you to please stop begging for forgiveness. Should you still continue to plead with your friend to forgive you?

One of the most misunderstood verses in the entire Bible is I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” John was writing this instruction to Israel, not the Body of Christ! In order to experience God’s mercy, Jews were required by God to confess their sins (Proverbs 28:13). They were also required to (and frequently did) confess their national sins to obtain God’s mercy (i.e. Nehemiah 1:6; 9:3-38; Ezra 10:11; Jeremiah 3:13). The context of I John 1:9 reveals John was urging lost Jews to confess their national sins of rejecting Christ, so that they could likewise have “fellowship” (vs. 3) with God and be cleansed from all sins (vss. 7, 9). This was consistent with the conduct required of Jews for eternal life prior to our present Dispensation of Grace, as explained in Matthew 3:6 and Romans 10:10. However, confessing daily sins has nothing to do with believers today. Knowledgeable saints do not attempt to keep the Sabbath which required restricting travel and forbidding work. Nor do they practice circumcision as a religious requirement or keep Jewish feast days. Why? It is because all of these rituals belonged exclusively to Israel while under the Law of Moses. The practice of confessing sins also belongs to that same program and has been set aside.

When Paul wrote to Gentile believers in our present Dispensation of Grace, he explained we have already been “…forgiven you all trespasses” (Colossians 2:13), whether past, present, or future. Not one verse from Paul suggests we should continue to confess daily sins for forgiveness. It is appropriate to tell the Lord you are sorry for sin and ask for His strength to find victory. But rest and rejoice in your total forgiveness of all sins without asking Him to forgive what is already forgiven.

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Start each day with short, devotional articles taken from the book Daily Transformation by Pastor John Fredericksen. As Pastor Fredericksen writes in the introduction:

"We welcome you, as you journey with us..., to not only learn information, but to benefit from examples of faith and failure, and seek to apply God’s Word to every day life. Together, let’s transition from only studying theories of doctrine, to applying God’s truths in a practical way every day. May God use these studies to help you find daily transformation."

Canjear el tiempo – Colosenses 4:5

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

La canción número uno de Harry Chapin en 1974, “Cat’s In the Cradle” envía un mensaje a los padres sobre cómo redimir el tiempo. Las letras describen a un padre demasiado ocupado para su hijo cuando nació y cuando aprendió a jugar, porque había aviones para atrapar y cuentas para pagar. A medida que el padre crecía, quería tiempo con su hijo mayor y con la familia de su hijo. Pero su hijo no lo aceptaba, como hacía su madre, porque estaba demasiado ocupado. Después de que fue demasiado tarde, el padre se dio cuenta de que había criado a un hijo como él, tontamente corriendo por la vida sin tomarse el tiempo para lo que es realmente importante.

Cuando Pablo cierra su carta a los Colosenses, los insta a: canjear el tiempo (Colosenses 4: 5). La palabra “canjear” significa comprar o redimir. La gente solía recibir sellos verdes con las compras y luego los utilizaba para canjear o comprar productos. El tiempo que Dios nos da debe ser usado para comprar lo que Él cree que es valioso. Este principio es tan importante que frecuentemente ocurre en las Escrituras. En Colosenses 4: 5-6, Pablo les dice a los santos que rediman su tiempo “Que la palabra de ustedes sea siempre agradable…” El tiempo para guardar nuestro testimonio y procurar tener un impacto positivo para Cristo en las almas perdidas es ahora, no un día en el futuro. Canjea el tiempo. En Efesios 5:16, Pablo les dice a los santos que rediman “el tiempo, porque los días son malos”. El hecho de que vivamos en días espiritualmente oscuros tiene la intención de motivarnos con un sentido de urgencia en vivir para Cristo y alcanzar a los perdidos con el Evangelio de la Gracia. El contexto nos dice cómo: “no como imprudentes, sino como prudentes” (vs.15), “… comprendan cuál es la voluntad del Señor” (vs.17), y “dando gracias siempre por todo a Dios” (vs. 20). Salomón también instó a los jóvenes a canjear su tiempo. Él les dijo: “Acuérdate ahora de tu Creador en los días de tu juventud … antes de que vengan los días malos” (Eclesiastés 12: 1).

La mayoría de nosotros vivimos como si tuviéramos todo el tiempo del mundo para perder antes de tomarnos en serio tener una vida ferviente para el Señor. Pero no, Nuestro tiempo pronto se habrá ido. Canjea tu tiempo ahora tomando en serio una relación cercana y viva con Cristo que se está transformando día a día. Canjea tu tiempo.

De pie, caminando y corriendo para Dios

Posted on by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

En cierto modo, la vida cristiana es una postura; en otro es una caminata, y en otro más una carrera.

En I Cor. 15:1 el apóstol Pablo escribe sobre “el evangelio… en el cual estáis” y en Rom. 5:2 de “esta gracia en la que estamos firmes”, mientras que en Gálatas 5:1 nos pide: “Estad firmes… en la libertad con que Cristo nos hizo libres”. Quizás todo esto quede bien resumido en su llamado a sus amados filipenses:

“Por tanto, hermanos míos, amados y anhelados, gozo y corona mía… estad firmes en el Señor, amados míos” (Fil. 4:1).

Pero la vida cristiana es más que una postura: es un caminar (que en las Escrituras se refiere a la conducta). Una vez, dice Pablo, caminábamos “en delitos y pecados” (Efesios 2:1,2), pero habiendo sido salvos por gracia, mediante la fe en Cristo, ahora debemos “caminar en novedad de vida” (Romanos 6: 4). Así, el Apóstol nos invita a “andar como es digno del Señor” (Col. 1:10), a “andar con prudencia, no como necios, sino como sabios, aprovechando el tiempo, porque los días son malos” (Ef. 5:15-16).

Pero la vida cristiana es aún más que un paseo; es una carrera. Es triste decirlo, pero muchos cristianos cuyo “caminar” es consistente y encomiable, nunca han llegado a considerar la vida cristiana como una carrera. Estos nunca ponen lo suficiente como para que se pueda decir de ellos que están corriendo. Sin embargo, el mismo gran Apóstol escribió, por inspiración divina:

“Despojémonos de todo peso y del pecado que nos asedia, y corramos con paciencia la carrera que tenemos por delante” (Heb. 12:1).

La palabra “paciencia” en este pasaje señala el hecho de que la vida cristiana no es una corta “carrera de cien metros”; requiere mucha resistencia. Por lo tanto, debemos poner en ello todo lo que tenemos. “Los que corren en una carrera”, dice el Apóstol, “corren todos”, pero no todos reciben el premio. De ahí la amonestación: “Corred, pues, para obtener” (I Cor. 9:24).

Aquellos que no han confiado en Cristo como Salvador ni siquiera han comenzado a ponerse de pie o a caminar, y mucho menos a correr una carrera para Él. Estos también podrían olvidar las recompensas hasta que primero acepten “el don de Dios… la vida eterna en Jesucristo nuestro Señor” (Romanos 6:23).

Redeeming the Time – Colossians 4:5

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

Harry Chapin’s 1974 number one song “Cat’s In the Cradle” sends a message to fathers about redeeming the time. The lyrics describe a father too busy for his son when he was born and when he learned to play, because there were planes to catch and bills to pay. As the father grew much older, he wanted time with his grown son and with his son’s family. But his son declines, as his father had, because he was too busy. After it was too late, the father realized he’d raised a son just like him, foolishly hurrying through life without taking time for what is really important.

As Paul closes his letter to the Colossians, he urges them to: redeem the time (Colossians 4:5). The word “redeem” means to buy up, or purchase. People used to receive green stamps with purchases, then later use them to redeem, or purchase, products. The time God gives us needs to be used to purchase what He thinks is valuable. This principle is so important that it frequently occurs in Scripture. In Colossian 4:5-6, Paul tells the saints to redeem their time by walking “in wisdom toward them that are without [outside salvation]…Let your speech be always with grace…” The time to guard our testimony and seek to have a positive impact for Christ on lost souls is now, not some future day. Redeem the time. In Ephesians 5:16, Paul tells the saints to be “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” The very fact that we live in spiritually dark days is intended to motivate us with a sense of urgency in living for Christ and reaching the lost with the Gospel of Grace. The context tells us how: “not as fools, but as wise” (vs. 15), “…understanding what the will of the Lord is” (vs. 17), and “giving thanks always for all things” (vs. 20). Solomon likewise urged the young to redeem the time. He told them: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth…” before you arrive at old age having never done so (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

Most of us live as though we have all the time in the world to waste before getting serious about living fervently for the Lord. But we don’t. Our time will soon be all gone. Redeem your time now by getting serious about a close, living relationship with Christ that is being transformed day by day. Redeem the time.

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Start each day with short, devotional articles taken from the book Daily Transformation by Pastor John Fredericksen. As Pastor Fredericksen writes in the introduction:

"We welcome you, as you journey with us..., to not only learn information, but to benefit from examples of faith and failure, and seek to apply God’s Word to every day life. Together, let’s transition from only studying theories of doctrine, to applying God’s truths in a practical way every day. May God use these studies to help you find daily transformation."


Were First, Second, and Third John Written to the Jews or Paul’s Churches?

Posted on by Pastor Don Hosfeld

One of the most important keys to understanding Scripture is recognizing to whom they are written and to whom they are not. That’s not to say that any part of the Bible is to be avoided; it’s all for us and is profitable (2 Tim. 3:16); it just simply isn’t all to us. As one of the twelve apostles to Israel, John’s writings concerned the fulfillment of prophecy to Israel and were not to churches started by the apostle Paul (cf. Jas. 1:1; 1 Pet. 2:12; 4:3; 3 John 1:7).

The three epistles of John and the other so-called “General Epistles” were written for those who, in the last days (1 John 2:18), will face the Tribulation, which is why they teach a future salvation conditional on faith and works (1 John 2:3; 3:24; Jas. 2:14,24), and why the emphasis is on acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God, instead of believing in the death, burial, and resurrection (cf. 1 John 2:2; 4:2,3,15; 5:13,20). As far as to whom they were given upon completion, we are left to a certain amount of speculation.

In the case of the three epistles of John, he addresses the second to an “elect lady” (2 John 1:1) and the third to a man by the name of Gaius (3 John 1:1), and so we would conclude these letters were given to these individuals apart from any church.

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

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El primer mes del año

Posted on by Pastor Ricky Kurth

Incluso un niño sabe que enero es el primer mes de nuestro año calendario. Sin embargo, para el antiguo pueblo de Israel, el primer mes del año era el mes de Abib, que aproximadamente equivale a nuestro mes de abril. Hablando de Abib, Dios dijo:

“Este mes os será principio de los meses; será para vosotros el primer mes del año” (Éxodo 12:2).

Si se pregunta por qué Dios eligió abril como el comienzo de los meses para Su pueblo escogido, aprenderemos la razón en el siguiente capítulo:

“Moisés dijo al pueblo: Acordaos de este día en que salisteis de Egipto… Este día salisteis en el mes de Abib” (Éxodo 13:3,4).

Dios quería que su pueblo antiguo “recordara” que su nacimiento como nación marcó un nuevo comienzo para ellos, por lo que les ordenó “observar” este mes como algo especial para el Señor (Deuteronomio 16:1). El pueblo de Dios hoy a menudo hace lo mismo con sus cumpleaños espirituales. Muchos de los que pueden decir la fecha exacta en la que fueron salvos consideran que ese día vale la pena recordar cada año.

Pero, ¿qué pasa si no puedes recordar el día en que confiaste en Cristo como tu Salvador? Hay muchos creyentes que crecieron bajo el sonido del evangelio y fueron salvos a una edad temprana. De vez en cuando escuchamos a estos queridos santos, quienes nos dicen que están preocupados por el hecho de que no pueden recordar el día en que fueron salvos. Como no recuerdan la fecha, algunos incluso se preguntan si realmente son salvos.

Cuando escuchamos a creyentes así, nos gusta señalar que si bien no podemos recordar el día en que comprendimos por primera vez que nacimos ciudadanos estadounidenses, ahora que sabemos que así es, sabemos que todos los derechos prometidos Los ciudadanos en la Declaración de Derechos son nuestros. De la misma manera, aunque no recuerdes el día de tu nacimiento espiritual, ahora que crees, puedes estar seguro de que la promesa de vida eterna y todas las demás bendiciones que se encuentran en las epístolas de Pablo son tuyas.

La cuestión es, por supuesto, que no importa cuándo crees en algo por primera vez; lo que importa es lo que crees ahora mismo. Si crees que puedes llegar al cielo por algo que tú mismo puedes hacer, no eres salvo. Si prefieres creer que irás al cielo gracias a lo que Cristo hizo por ti en el Calvario, ¡algún día te veremos en gloria!

Con entusiasmo – Colosenses 3:23

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

El Pro Bowl de la NFL es una competencia donde participan jugadores de élite. Los jugadores, entrenadores y fanáticos de la NFL votan por quienes consideran los mejores cuatro o cinco jugadores en cada posición. Estos jugadores juegan un juego semicompetitivo. Los elegidos consideran un gran honor ser tan reconocidos por sus pares. Sin embargo, en comparación con el salario habitual de los jugadores, la compensación financiera no es lo suficientemente alta como para arriesgar a ser lesionados y ponerle un fin a su carrera. En consecuencia, los participantes solo juegan sin entusiasmo durante el juego. En 2015, la obra fue tan mediocre que algunos de los fanáticos asistentes comenzaron a abuchear a los jugadores.

El apóstol Pablo dio una serie de instrucciones a los santos en Colosenses 4:5 busca las cosas de arriba, mata a los hábitos pecaminosos, vístete con el nuevo hombre, deja que la Palabra de Dios more en abundancia en ti, y sométete ante la autoridad apropiada. Sin embargo, Pablo parece haber anticipado solo una respuesta poco entusiasta porque concluye diciendo: “Y todo lo que hagan, háganlo de buen ánimo como para el Señor y no para los hombres” (3:23). Como judío, Pablo fue muy consciente de las constantes impresiones en el Antiguo Testamento de no seguir simplemente al Señor a medias. El patrón de Israel era ser rebelde, luego regresar al Señor solo después de ser castigado. Pero, a menudo esto era con poco compromiso. Entonces, el Señor les advirtió que “… vuelves, tú con tus hijos, al SEÑOR tu Dios… de todo tu corazón y con toda tu alma …” (Deuteronomio 30:2). Lo que el Señor realmente quería de Israel era que lo siguieran de todo corazón. El Antiguo Testamento a menudo repite los mandamientos de Dios para que lo amen, lo sigan y le sirvan con todo su corazón. Entre los mejores versículos que demuestran esto se encuentra Josué 22: 5, que dice: “tengan mucho cuidado de poner por obra el mandamiento y la ley… amen al SEÑOR su Dios, que anden en todos sus caminos, que guarden sus mandamientos, que le sean fieles y que le sirvan con todo su corazón y con toda su alma”. Del mismo modo, el apóstol Pablo no quería ver solo un esfuerzo poco entusiasta por parte de los santos en Colosas. Quería verlos aplicar las instrucciones en la Palabra de Dios “de todo corazón”, o con todo su corazón y poder.

Al leer esto, que el Señor les hable a nuestros corazones acerca de cuán fervientemente le estamos siguiendo. El nos pide seguir Su Palabra, seguir las Escrituras, asistir a la iglesia, orar y servirle con todo nuestro corazón. Decide hoy que así es como seguirás a Cristo.

Wholeheartedly – Colossians 3:23

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

The NFL Pro Bowl is a one game competition between the elite players from both leagues.  NFL players, coaches, and fans vote for who they consider to be the best four or five at every position. These players play one semi-competitive game. Those chosen consider it a great honor to be so recognized by their peers. However, by comparison to the players’ usual salary, the financial compensation is not great enough to risk an injury that may end their career. Consequently, the participants only halfheartedly play the game. In 2015, the play was so lackluster that some of the fans attending began to boo the players.

The Apostle Paul gave a number of instructions to the saints in Colossians 3: seek things above, put to death sinful habits, put on the new man, let God’s Word dwell in you richly, and submit to proper authority. However, Paul seems to have anticipated only a half-hearted response because he concludes by saying: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (3:23). As a Jew, Paul was keenly aware of the constant promptings in the Old Testament to not simply follow the Lord half-heartedly. Israel’s pattern was to be wayward, then return to the Lord only after being chastened. But it was often with little commitment. So, the Lord warned them to “…return unto the Lord thy God…with all thine heart, and with all thy soul…” (Deuteronomy 30:2). What the Lord really wanted from Israel was for them to follow Him whole-heartedly. The Old Testament often repeats God’s commandments for them to love, follow, and serve Him with all their hearts. Among the best verses that demonstrates this is Joshua 22:5, which says: “But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law…to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all His ways, and…to cleave unto Him, and serve Him with all your heart, and with all your soul.” Similarly, the Apostle Paul did not want to see only a half-hearted effort on the part of the saints at Colossae. He wanted to see them apply the instructions in God’s Word “heartily,” or with all their heart and might.

As we read this, may the Lord speak to our hearts about how fervently we are following Him. He would have us read His Word, follow Scripture, attend church, pray, and serve Him with all our hearts. Decide today that this is how you will follow Christ.

Free Mail Subscription

Start each day with short, devotional articles taken from the book Daily Transformation by Pastor John Fredericksen. As Pastor Fredericksen writes in the introduction:

"We welcome you, as you journey with us..., to not only learn information, but to benefit from examples of faith and failure, and seek to apply God’s Word to every day life. Together, let’s transition from only studying theories of doctrine, to applying God’s truths in a practical way every day. May God use these studies to help you find daily transformation."


Los dos encarcelamientos romanos de Pablo

Posted on by Pastor Paul M. Sadler

“Porque ya estoy listo para ser sacrificado, y el tiempo de mi partida está cerca. He peleado la buena batalla, he terminado mi carrera, he guardado la fe: Por lo demás, me está guardada la corona de justicia, la cual el Señor, juez justo, me dará en aquel día; y no solo a mí, sino también a todos los que aman su venida”.
— II Timoteo 4:6-8

Aproximadamente dos años después de haber sido entregado en manos de las autoridades romanas, aparentemente las cosas le habían ido bien al apóstol, por lo que anticipó su pronta liberación de prisión. Por eso escribe a la iglesia de Filipos: “Porque sé que esto [su oración por su liberación] se convertirá en mi salvación [liberación de la prisión]” (Fil. 1:19).

Creemos que, de hecho, Pablo disfrutó de un breve período de libertad que le permitió continuar sus viajes apostólicos. Sabemos, por ejemplo, que según el registro de los Hechos el apóstol nunca visitó Creta en ninguno de sus viajes apostólicos anteriores. Pablo navegó alrededor de la isla en su camino a Roma como prisionero, pero no fue hasta su liberación de su primer encarcelamiento romano que realmente visitó Creta. La breve estancia del apóstol en la isla fue suficiente para ver que las iglesias allí estaban en un estado de caos (Tito 1:10-16). En consecuencia, Pablo deja atrás a Tito, su compañero de viaje, “para poner en orden lo que faltaba” (Tito 1:5).

Probablemente desde Creta Pablo se dirigió a Corinto donde le escribe a Tito para informarle que planeaba pasar el invierno en Nicópolis (Tito 3:12). Bien podría ser que el apóstol fuera detenido en Nicópolis y llevado nuevamente a Roma para predicar a Cristo. Esta vez, sin embargo, la sentencia le sería contraria. Así que sin dudarlo escribe a Timoteo, ya que se acercaba el invierno, para que le trajera su manto y también los pergaminos (II Tim. 4:13).

Reason for Joy

Posted on by Pastor Don Hosfeld

“If God wanted me to be happy, I would be happy. But He wants me to be miserable, sad, alone, and utterly useless. So, that’s what I am! My houseplants have more purpose than I do. That’s how God wants it, so that’s how it is! You might as well print out a copy of any other fairy tale. But an existence where there’s nothing wrong, no problems, and everything is perfect, everyone loves each other forever, like Peter Pan or Harry Potter—fairy dust, moonbeams, rainbows, lollipops, and unicorns!

“We’re only here for the powers that be to have something to play with. Sentient beings on strings. To be tossed aside when they are done. I can go on, but what would be the point? We don’t have a choice. If we did, the world would be a much better place. Puppets on a string. Period.”

The above is from an email I received recently here at Berean Bible Society from someone responding to our Two Minutes with the Bible daily devotion. Sadly, many people are convinced that a life without joy is their destiny. A recent study reported that 57% of teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless. It seems as the world advances in areas like science and technology, we increasingly hear about more and more people who describe themselves as feeling persistently depressed, totally hopeless, and full of frustration and anger.

We might understand these reactions by those who reject the existence of God and His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, we see Solomon, as if to warn his readers, question the meaning of life and declare the utter futility of an existence without God.

But the feeling that life is destined to be full of sorrow and frustration is not held by unbelievers alone. There are many believers who suffer from the idea that God takes little to no part or interest in the affairs of mankind, even when it comes to our happiness or joy. This issue extends far beyond theological boundaries or denominations. This pastor, and I’m sure I am not alone, has spent many hours counseling people of like-minded doctrine on the question of “Does God care that I am unhappy.”

The idea that God wants anyone to be miserable or sad is not only false, but it is a lie that goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. No doubt, when Satan asked Eve if God said they could not eat of every tree, he wanted to introduce the idea that man’s happiness was something that God was unconcerned about. That “old serpent” truly is the originator of “divide and conquer.”

Few things can be as far from the truth as the idea that God is not actively involved in producing joy in the life of the believer. In that great chapter about the Resurrection of Christ, 1 Corinthians 15, Paul acknowledges that “if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable,” but then he immediately says those two glorious words in which so many precious doctrines rely, “But now.”

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:20-22).

A believer, or anyone for that matter, would have reason to be “miserable” if it were not true that Christ died and rose again. But because Christ is risen, believers have no need to be miserable, and dare I say, or should we be. This isn’t to demean or question the legitimacy of pain and suffering, depression, or the difficulty faced by living in a sin-cursed world where cancer and other diseases strike not only the old but also the young. But if we truly want to be well, then we must use the correct remedy. If we want to have joy, then we need to understand how. We need to know where joy comes from.

Don’t Settle for Less

Still, this is not purely a question of how to have joy but also of what joy is. Joy is different from being happy. The words happiness and joy are not interchangeable and do not have the same meaning. Happy is related to the words happen and happenstance and is what you feel when something good comes along in your life. In their quest for happiness, many will forsake the very things necessary for joy. Many are so distracted in trying to be happy that they have yet to understand that it is far better to have joy.

“One Sunday, a preacher told how, while sitting in his garden, he had watched a caterpillar climb a painted stick that was for decoration. After reaching the top, the caterpillar reared itself, feeling this way and that for a juicy twig to feed on or some way to further progress. Finding nothing, it slowly returned to the ground, crawled along till it reached another painted stick, and did the same thing all over again. The preacher said: ‘There are many painted sticks in the world, those of pleasure, wealth, and fame. All these call man and say, “Climb me to find the desire of your heart, fulfill the purpose of your existence, taste the fruit of success, and find satisfaction.” But, they are only painted sticks.’ ”

Don’t make the mistake of searching for happiness at the expense of having Joy. Joy comes from the Greek word chara and is unrelated to shifting circumstances of health or sickness, whether you make a great salary or are homeless, if you’re in a relationship or are alone. Joy resides deep down in the soul and is unchanged by the winds of struggle, tribulation, and turmoil. It is having consistent and resolute satisfaction and contentment. Chara always relates to that joy that’s based on divine realities.

Joy is what allowed Paul and Silas to sing praises unto God after having been beaten with “many stripes” and cast into prison (cf. Acts 16:23,25). It’s what allowed Christian martyrs of the first–fourth century Rome to face almost unimaginable situations while likewise singing, and whose testimony still speaks today.

In the catacombs of the Appian Way, near Rome, lie the inscriptions left by Christians who buried fellow Christians killed for their faith and who, if caught, would likely also be tortured and killed. Remarkably, the majority of these inscriptions mention “In Pace,” which means “In Peace.” They were essentially saying, “At Peace Because I Know Where I Am Going After I Die.” A resounding witness to the truth of Nehemiah 8:10, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The Source of Joy

Joy is not dependent on our circumstances but rises above them; it stems from our unshakeable faith in God’s goodness and His faithfulness. It enables us to rejoice even in the face of adversity because we understand that God’s perfect plan will ultimately prevail.

Joy is not a product of our lives but produced in our lives by the One who gives us life. It comes not from what we have but from whom we are from. Joy is a “fruit of the Spirit” (cf. Gal. 5:22) and is thus something that is accomplished in us and through us, but we should never think it is accomplished by us.

What is fruit but that which is produced by the inherent energy of a living organism? As a fruit of the Spirit, it suggests those with the Spirit have within them the power and means to both express and have joy.

“A certain king instructed his gardener to plant six trees and place statues beneath them representing prosperity, beauty, victory, strength, duty, and joy. These trees were to show to the world that the king had tried to make his reign fruitful. They were also to typify the statues beneath them. The gardener planted six palm trees. When the king came out to inspect the work and looked at the statue of joy, he said, ‘I surely thought you would typify joy with some flowering tree like the tulip or magnolia. How can the stately palm symbolize joy?’

“ ‘Those flowering trees,’ said the gardener, ‘get their nourishment from open sources. They live in pleasant forests or orchards with hosts of other like trees. But I found this palm tree in a sandy waste. Its roots had found some hidden spring creeping along far beneath the burning surface. Then, thought I, highest joy has a foundation unseen of men and a source they cannot comprehend.’ Do you realize that if the light of Jesus Christ is within your heart, it can be the only place in which joy is found, and yet it will be sufficient? You do not need the company of others in order to experience the joy that the light of Christ brings. A palm tree does not need the company of other trees to flourish and bring forth fruit.”

The fruit of the Spirit is those gracious dispositions and habits that the Spirit produces in those whom He dwells—love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Nine are listed, yet they are not called the “fruits” of the Spirit but the singular fruit. Nine parts to one fruit expressed not by those that seek them but by those walking in the Spirit.

What If I Have No Fruit

What if you don’t recognize joy in your life? What if you are not long-suffering, gentle, or meek? Does it mean you have lost the Spirit or never were truly saved? The listed attributes are indeed a test; however, they are not, as some claim, a test of a person’s salvation but of their walk.

Don’t be quick to judge or assume there is no life in you or another because there is no fruit. As it relates to the Body of Christ, fruit does not reveal a person’s standing with God. It is not joy or any other attribute that is the test of salvation but faith. The Scriptures do not say we are justified by fruit but by faith (Gal. 3:24).

The power of salvation does not rest in fruit but in “the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Rom. 1:16). It doesn’t say to every one that believeth
and has fruit.

When my wife and I moved to Wisconsin, it was the end of January, and nearly every tree in the yard of our new home appeared dead. There were no leaves; the walnut tree had no fruit. If I were to judge the situation based on what I saw at that moment, I would have completely misunderstood the reality. Even at that moment, whether anyone could see it or not, life existed within those trees, ready to burst forth when in the right environment.

Much like trees in wintertime, Christians always have life within them; even when fruit is not being produced, if you put them in the right environment, what comes out is a product of that life that’s within.

What can inhibit the fruit of the Spirit? When I was younger, the term “killjoy” was thrown out, toward adults who stood in the way of the freedoms we wished to express. In the Christian life, there are many killjoys. Many things will kill joy and rob you of the fruit the Spirit desires to demonstrate in and through you.

Sin in our lives can quench the Spirit and is the quickest way to kill joy. A guilty conscience has the power to rob a person of joy, and a clear conscience is an environment for rejoicing. Consider Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1:12, “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.”

It’s no wonder then that Paul, when teaching the Galatians about the fruit of the Spirit, first warns:

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
“But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:13-16).

Walking in the Spirit is something we are told to do, not something God forces upon us, and it certainly is not the means to determine someone’s salvation.

Reason for Joy

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 15:13).

Not every Christian has joy, but every Christian has the means and the reason to. The nine qualities of the fruit of the Spirit are the natural product of the influences of the Spirit on the mind of man. Renewing our mind is what we are told must happen if we are to “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God” (Rom. 12:2). But what must our minds be focused on? Christ! “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).

Our reasons for joy are not found in what we have or if we are appreciated by others but in what Christ has done for us. We experience true joy as we allow Jesus to take His rightful place in our hearts and minds.

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed.
If you look within, you’ll be depressed.
If you look at God, you’ll be at rest.”

– Corrie Ten Boom

If we are to have the joy that God wishes to produce for us and in us, then we must put aside the love for this world and rejoice in knowing that “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). But His death was merely the end of the beginning, the tomb is empty, Christ is risen, and because Christ lives, we can face tomorrow.

God has already conquered and declared victory for Himself and for all those who are in Christ: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?…But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:55,57).

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent” (1 Cor. 1:18,19).

This is why Paul could boldly say of saints, “Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:8,9).

As happiness dissipates in a world destined to be judged by its Creator, we can have joy because “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7), and though “we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (2 Cor. 4:8-10).

“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” (Psa. 5:11).
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:1,2).

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