Think Wink.

In my previous post Objections to Calvinism Part 4 of 5, I took the reader to Luke 10:21-22 where Jesus responds to the report of the missionaries with this prayer,

21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will (or good pleasure). 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

In that post, I argued that unconditional election and effectual calling are two things that bring joy to the entire Godhead. Jesus and the Holy Spirit rejoice in this, and it is the Father’s good pleasure to do this. Election and effectual call is the the joy of God. God rejoices and delights to reveal himself through Christ to those whom he choses. It is his joy.

Now I want to go further with this idea. God rejoices when a person comes to salvation, when the elect are effectually called to faith. Jesus says in Luke 15:10, “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Whose joy is Jesus referring to in heaven? It is not the angels’ joy because it is before them, not in them. Luke uses the Greek preposition enwpion to say that the joy is in the presence of the angels. I would argue that this joy is that of God’s. God is rejoicing over this sinner repenting–which is a gift of God (2 Timothy 2:24-26). God rejoices in the salvation of sinners. The angels share in this joy by virtue of being in his presence in heaven.

Now there is a difference between the angels and us: God has ordained to save sinners through the preaching of humans (Romans 10:13-17) where as angels do not preach the gospel through which God effectually calls sinners to faith and repentance. God brings about salvation through our efforts of preaching the gospel in evangelism and missions. Thus through our exercise of the preaching of the gospel God performs that which brings him joy: saving his elect. Therefore we are participating in that joy of God. We, thus, share in God’s joy. His joy in saving sinners becomes our joy as well. We have the joy of God in our preaching!

Thus as a Calvinist, I preach the gospel so that I may gain the joy of God, that I may enjoy the joy of God. Evangelism and sharing my faith unites me to an infinite joy that exists within the Trinity. I partake of that joy through my evangelistic outreach. I am not worried about trying to convince sinners to accept Christ as both Lord and Savior (I hear too much on the radio these days about Christ being Savior but never anything about him being Lord, cf. Romans 10:9-10, we confess Christ as Lord, not Savior). I am preaching and receiving the joy that I am participating in through that proclamation of the gospel.

Now apply this to missions in the remotest parts of the world, peoples who have never heard the gospel and if they have they are hostile to it and will kill you if you dare preach it. What can motivate you to stay there? Some people are indeed motivated by their lost condition. But this can be overwhelming, trying to combat this lostness that only God can defeat. But if there is joy, divine joy, in what the missionary is doing, oh how much easier it will be to remain focused, on task, and to persevere in this Great Commission. So to all of the missionaries out there, preaching the gospel to people who would have them killed for it, cling to the joy of God that is in the salvation of sinners. Let his joy sustain you in your darkest hours. Let his delight lift your burdened soul as it becomes your delight. God’s joy is one hundred thousand times brighter than any darkness Satan and this world can throw at you.

This applies to the person sharing their faith with random people down the street. Share the gospel with these lost people. Your joy will be complete because it is a perfect and infinite joy that you receive: the joy that is shared by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Stand on the corner and when people mock or ridicule you, savor the gospel call that God will issue through your preaching, for you will be rewarded beyond measure.

This applies to those witnessing to friends and family. Friends may look down upon you for your faith. Family may laugh and ridicule you and your Lord. But having his joy is ten thousand times greater than the acceptance of friends and family. Preach to them the gospel and let Christ’s joy sustain you as you face the mockery and are shamed.

Let God’s joy be your joy. Preach the gospel and share in that divine joy.

Related posts:

Luke 15 and Lostness

I Evangelize Because of Joy

Another look into euaggelion