Please let us share with you the way to joy as found in God's Word, the Bible...

1. ALL OF US ARE CREATED TO GLORIFY GOD

"Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth whom I have created for My glory."
Isaiah 43:6-7

God made us to magnify His greatness the way telescopes magnify stars. He created us to put His holiness, goodness, truth, beauty, wisdom, and justice on display.

The greatest display of God's glory comes as we worship Him for all He is and all that He has done. Likewise, the greatest satisfaction in our lives comes as we find our delight in Him and fulfill the purpose for which we were created.

2. ALL OF US ARE COMMANDED TO GLORIFY GOD

"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 10:31

God made us for His glory and we are expected to live for God's glory alone. Our primary obligation to our Creator is to glorify Him by delighting ourselves in all that He is and all that He commands. Glorifying God is the essence of loving Him (Matthew 22:37), trusting Him (1 John 5:3-4), and being thankful to Him (Psalm 100:2-4). It is also the root of all duty to God, especially loving others (Colossians 1:4-5).

3. ALL OF US HAVE FAILED TO GLORIFY GOD

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
Romans 3:23

What does it mean to "fall short of" the glory of God? It means simply that none of us has lived for God the way we should. We have all failed to glorify Him by delighting in His goodness. We have broken His laws and violated His precepts, thereby rebelling against the authority of Scripture alone. We have sought our satisfaction in other things, and valued them more highly than God. Because of this, we are all guilty of idolatry (Romans 1:21-23) and rebellion against God.

4. ALL OF US DESERVE GOD'S CONDEMNATION

"The wages of sin is death."
Romans 6:23

The wrath of a holy God abides upon all who fail to glorify Him (Romans 1:18-21). And because of our sinfulness, God is completely just in shutting us out from the enjoyment of His glory now and forever.

"These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power."
2 Thessalonians 1:9

If left to ourselves we would be doomed to a hopeless future. However, the Bible brings us good news...

5. GOD SENT HIS ONLY SON JESUS CHRIST TO GIVE ETERNAL LIFE AND JOY

"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."
1 Timothy 1:15

The good news is that the sinless Son of God came to earth and died in the place of sinners like us (1 Peter 3:13). He then physically rose from the dead to validate the saving power of His death and to open the gates of eternal life (1Corinthians 15:20). This makes it possible for God to completely forgive guilty sinners and yet remain perfectly righteous and just (Romans 3:25-26).

6. CHRIST'S DEATH SECURED ETERNAL LIFE AND JOY
 FOR ALL WHO REPENT AND TRUST IN HIM

"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved"
Acts 3:19, 16:31

To "repent" means to turn from all sin. To "trust" means to turn to God, believing all He promises to us in the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation cannot be earned by good works; it is a free gift given to all who will believe (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is by God's grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Acts 4:12).

7. GOD IS CALLING OUT THROUGH HIS SON A PEOPLE
WHO WILL GLORIFY HIM BY ENJOYING HIM FOREVER

"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me and the one who comes to me I will in no wise cast out"
John 6:35

Do you desire the kind of joy that comes from being reconciled to God and being enabled to enjoy Him forever? If so, turn from the deceitfulness of sin and self-righteousness and turn to God in Christ. Answering God's call to repentance and faith will result in forgiveness, eternal life, and abiding joy. And the purpose for which you were created will be restored - to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!

Has God saved you by His grace? One of the many evidences of having received salvation in Christ is a deep desire to know more about God and to live in a way that honors Him. Start by reading God's Word daily, learning His promises and the truths that set us free from the bondage of wrongful thinking. Then begin to prayerfully search for a Bible-believing church where you can worship God and grow in your love for Him with others who delight in Him above all else.

If you are not part of a Bible-believing community of faith, we invite you to worship with us at Gatlin Baptist Church.