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The word salvation (Greek. soteria) means safety or wholeness. Jesus said, "As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full".1
The disciple must realize that their salvation is a final and eternal work of Jesus Christ in which the person can greatly rejoice. The act of John 3:16 2 has been performed in that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world to redeem sinful man 3, and because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we can have great joy. We have joy for the removal of our sins 4, and the sins of the whole world.
5 Salvation is the beginning of all joy.
Joy can be realized from several perspectives. First, the joy of the believer as taught in the parable of the lost sheep, coin, and son; "But we to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found".6
Secondly, the joy of angels before God. When one sinner repents there is joy in heaven.7 We also know God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to REPENTANCE.8
The joy of the Lord Jesus is seen as he prayed for His disciples, and in faith, saw His prayer fulfilled in John 17 9. In fact, the Lord became very joyous in realizing that salvation was actually accomplished by His willingness to sacrifice Himself.10
Lastly, the body of believers can rejoice and be joyful when one is saved.11 Each of us must remember the joy of salvation when we see a particular person saved. Our joy is made complete by knowing the Father, and the Son, and being in fellowship with them.12 "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." 13
Additional Scripture References:
2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:15
2 Peter 1:20-21
Romans 15:4
Hebrews 5:12
Titus 1:9
John 1:1
1. John 15:9-11
2. John 3:16
3. Hebrews 10:10
4. Hebrews 9:26
5. 1 John 2:2
6. Luke 15
7. Luke 15:7,10
8. 2 Peter 3:9
9. John 17
10. Luke 22:42
11. Acts 2:44-47, Acts 6:4-8
12. 1 John 1:4
13. Romans 5:8-9, Ephesians 2:1-10, Titus 3:5, Romans 3:23, 6:23, Galatians 5:22-23
© Copyright 2001 Lighthouse Ministries. All Rights Reserved.
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