Salvation's Inevitable Joy

When a person truly repents and trusts in Jesus Christ, he receives a pardon from God – he knows without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ has taken his sin and punishment and granted him eternal life. At that moment, joy and peace flood into his heart – he has finally found a place of rest. A place of safety – not from the trials of this life – but from the shadow of death that hangs over him, and from the judgment that is to come.

Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:10, 11, 12)

It’s not an abstract, intellectual exercise in metaphysics! It is impossible for a man to be born again and not find rest! For Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest". Likewise, it is impossible for a believer to receive the gift of eternal life, by faith in Jesus Christ, and not be filled with an inner joy! Salvation's inevitable joy!

Imagine for a second the plight of a condemned man walking the green mile. At the end of the corridor his death awaits him - no one has ever returned from where he's headed. As he is strapped into the electric chair, a man steps forward and produces a legally binding document declaring his pardon. He has been spared at the eleventh hour. Do you not think that his dread will turn into relief, his terror into joy? In the same way, a when a man receives eternal life from the hand of his Lord, when he realises that his pardon is assured, his salvation is complete and such joy fills his heart!