INEXPRESSIBLE JOY
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoiceG21 with an inexpressibleG412 and glorious joy,G5479 now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9
G412. aneklálētos; gen. aneklalḗtou, masc.–fem., neut. aneklálēton, adj. from the priv. a (1), without, and eklaléō (1583), to utter. Unutterable, inexpressible (1 Pet. 1:8).
The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, Zodhiates
The Apostle Peter is writing to people who never saw Jesus in the flesh but have instead come to know Him by being drawn by the Holy Spirit through the ministry of His apostles. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, the God-Head. As the Holy Spirit is an equal member of the Trinity, He should not be referred to as “it.’ He is the One who beckons people to surrender to the Lord, indwells believers, and clarifies God’s word to them as they study. Just as Jesus is equal with the Father, the Holy Spirit is equal with Father God and Jesus as well. It is by the work of the Holy Spirit that these people could know Jesus and rejoice in Him even though they had never met Him as a man on earth. They were speechless at the wonder of having a personal, intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Have you experienced the astonishment of knowing almighty God personally? Even though “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), He still desires to save people for Himself. Jesus died to pay the price of our sin for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and now He offers us the gift of God which is eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Have you surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s tug on your life and accepted this gift of salvation? If not, why wait? Experience true, complete, lasting joy now! Turn to the “Jewels of Salvation” toward the back of this book to learn more about becoming a follower of the Lord Jesus.
Father, words are inadequate to express the pure joy a relationship with Jesus brings us. Having Your Holy Spirit living in us enables us to experience this joy even during life’s most difficult struggles. Thank You for the gift of joy!
Worship with Steven Moctezuma singing “Holy Spirit, Thou Art Welcome:”