'Yes, I'm Saved, But There's No Joy In It' (Joy)

Read Galatians 5:22-23:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Are you ready to make an investment in the Fruit of Joy?

In your opinion, what is the connection between repentance and the forgiveness of sins?

Write your answer in the space provided.

Go to 'DOCUMENTS' and read Oswald Chambers' comments on forgiveness of sins.

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Oswald states:

"We trample the blood of the Son of God underfoot if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only reason for the forgiveness of our sins by God, and the infinite depth of His promise to forget them, is the death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the result of our personal realization of the atonement by the Cross of Christ, which He has provided for us."

How aligned is this explanation with your answer in Step 2?

Oswald continues:

"Once we realize that Christ has become all this for us, the limitless joy of God begins in us. And wherever the joy of God is not present, the death sentence is still in effect."

In all honesty, how often do you experience the 'limitless joy of God'?

What does it mean to be living your life with the 'death sentence still in effect'?

Oswald states:

'No matter who or what we are, God restores us to right standing with Himself only by means of the death of Jesus Christ. God does this, not because Jesus pleads with Him to do so but because He died. It cannot be earned, just accepted.'

How much do you feel like you have to do something 'good' to earn your salvation?

Oswald continues:

"All the pleading for salvation which deliberately ignores the Cross of Christ is useless. It is knocking at a door other than the one which Jesus has already opened. We protest by saying, “But I don’t want to come that way. It is too humiliating to be received as a sinner.” God’s response, through Peter, is, “... there is no other name...by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12)."

Describe any difficulty you experience with coming before God as a humble sinner, with 'no good thing' within you?

Given your answer in Step 8, is there anything you would like to repent of (express your sorrow)?

If so, you can do so privately, or is the space provided.

Oswald concludes:

"What at first appears to be heartlessness on God’s part is actually the true expression of His heart. There is unlimited entrance His way...God is just in saving bad people only as He makes them good. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The atonement by the Cross of Christ is the propitiation God uses to make unholy people holy."

Is there anything you would like to thank God for? If so, you can do privately, or in the space provided.

How much has this Trail increased your current level of joy?