How sad it is for people professing to be Christians to fail to experience joy in life.  These people may go through life with a negative outlook, pessimistic attitude, and perhaps even harboring bitterness in their hearts.  This is certainly heartbreaking – not what God intended!  Christians, more than any other people on this earth, have reason to rejoice!

Consider Paul’s words to the church at Rome, recorded in Romans 5:1-4: “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.  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”

First, Christians ought to rejoice because they have been justified by faith.  To be justified is to be considered righteous, or “right with God.”

Second, Christians ought to rejoice because they have peace with God.  The strife that existed between them and God, before they obeyed the gospel, has been taken away.  They now enjoy a harmonious relationship with their creator.

Third, Christians ought to rejoice because they have access, by faith, to God’s grace.  Knowing we can never deserve, or earn, heaven, Christians can rejoice in God’s “unmerited favor” toward them (without which, no man can be saved).

Fourth, Christians ought to rejoice because they have hope – a sincere expectation that all the promises of the gospel will be fulfilled.  Christians enjoy a genuine hope of an eternal home in heaven with God.

Today, as a Christian, I will rejoice because I have been justified by faith, have peace with God, have access to God’s grace and live in hope of heaven.