William Orme speaks of the glorious realities of the gospel in his 1823 introduction to the book titled, "The Life of William Kiffin". In it, he writes -
"Of nothing is the writer of these pages more strongly convinced, than that the design and tendency of the gospel are to make those who receive it happy. This is the revealed affirmation respecting its object. Its sublime discovery of the infinitely perfect and amiable character of God - its statements respecting the sacrifice and mediation of Christ, as the ground of hope, and the means of pardon and healing to the guilty - the elevating influence of the spirit which it communicates - and the grandeur of hope which it inspires, and of which it furnishes so sure a foundation - all prove how admirably adapted it is to relieve the heart from sorrow, and to produce 'joy unspeakable and full of glory' (I Peter 1:8)."
Orme is speaking of the joy that is produced by realizing the hope and surety which are found by knowing the perfect and amiable character of the Father, the sacrifice and mediation of the Son, and the influence of the Spirit. It is none other than the gospel of Jesus that can produce such thoughts of relief and confidence.
I am a Baptist by denomination and we Baptists have been deemed to be a bit stodgy, or dull, in our worship of God. Admittedly, this is a reputation we have earned. But not only Baptists, many others denominations are far more buttoned up and reserved than even we are. This question is, is this good?
The correct answer depends upon the reason and the season. Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us that there is, "A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn; and a time to dance." We know that worship is to be done in an orderly fashion, but we also know that King David was so moved with emotions of praise and gratitude upon the return of the ark of the LORD that he leapt and danced in the streets to the shame of his family (II Samuel 6). We also know that Mary worshipped Jesus by pouring an expensive fragrant oil (the cost was equivalent to 300 days of labor) onto him to the ridicule of some who followed Him (Mark 14:3-8).
Some would say that such outward displays of worship are "over the top". Some would even say that this type of worship is wrong or sinful. But what did Jesus say? Speaking to the disciples of Mary's extravagant worship, Jesus said, and I quote, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me...Truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”
Jesus said that this "out of the ordinary" act by this woman is an enduring example of a God-pleasing expression of joy and gratitude in response to the gospel.
My questions to us all today are these, Has the gospel produced the kind of joy within you that is spoken of by William Orme? Has this gospel joy ever been made manifest in such a way that could be considered "over the top" or maybe even a little embarrassing? I'm not advocating that we orchestrate such moments, but I am advocating that we ponder deeply on the gospel of Jesus and become willing to respond to it according to the gloriousness of it.
And finally, think of this, we have not yet heard the half of the glorious realities of the gospel -
"I have found His grace is all complete,
He supplieth ev’ry need;
While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet,
I am free, yes, free indeed.
Refrain
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory,
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Oh, the half has never yet been told.
I have found the pleasure I once craved,
It is joy and peace within;
What a wondrous blessing! I am saved
From the awful gulf of sin.
I have found that hope so bright and clear,
Living in the realm of grace;
Oh, the Savior’s presence is so near,
I can see His smiling face.
I have found the joy no tongue can tell,
How its waves of glory roll!
It is like a great o’erflowing well,
Springing up within my soul."
- "Joy Unspeakable", Barney Warren (1900)
Let us enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise!
Pastor Jeremy
