Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

God intends the Christian life to be a life of joy not drudgery. Only those who walk in holiness experience true joy.

Jesus said, “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:10-11).

Joy results from obedience.

There is joy in the fellowship with God. “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11).

When David committed the awful sins of adultery and murder, he lost his sense of God’s joy because he lost fellowship with God. His response was “restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12). A life of disobedience can not be a life of joy.

His love is not conditioned on our obedience. Our experience of His love is dependent upon our obedience.

Dr. William Hendriksen observes that God’s love both precedes and follows our obedience. God’s love, he says, “by preceding our love…creates in us the eager desire to keep Christ’s precepts; then by following our love, it rewards us for keeping them.”

Another cause of joy is knowing that you are obeying God- that I am no longer resisting Him in some particular area of my life

The joy of fellowship with a Holy God, a holy life also produces the joy of anticipated reward. Hebrews 12:1-2, Matthew 25:21, 23

Joy not only results from a holy life, but there is also in sense in which joy helps produce a holy life. “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

1.Read chapters 16 and 17 in the Pursuit of Holiness. Write down the major observations, illustrations, or questions you have from your reading.

2. After studying the following verses, summarize what they teach about the Christian’s relationship to an unholy world.
Matthew 5:13-14, John 17:14-16, 1 Peter 3:15-16

3. From the following verses, explain what the Christian’s response should be when he is ridiculed or abused for his holy life.
Matthew 5:11-12, John 15:19, 2 Timothy 3:12, 1 Peter 2:12, 4:12-13

4. How can we follow the example of Jesus in associating with unholy people (Luke 5:29-32) and at the same time keep ourselves holy as He did (Hebrews 7:26)? List some actual situations you might face in which this would be difficult.

5. Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. How can this promise help you in some unholy environment you may be in?

6. (For additional study) Examine how each of the following verses relates to holiness in an unholy world, or to the joy of holiness. Write down those which are the most helpful to you and explain why they are. Psalm 51:10-12, 1 Corinthians 5:9-10; Ephesians 5:5-12, Philippians 2:14-15, 1 Peter 4:3-4, 2 Peter 2:7-9, Hebrews 12:1-2

7. What does each of the following verses teach about the joy of a holy life?
Nehemiah 8:9-10
Psalm 16:11
John 15:10-11
Romans 14:17

8. What application of the truths in this lesson do you want to make in your life?