Delighting In Christ

 Delighting In Christ


Here are some of the things that every true Christian is promised, in this life: persecution (2 Tim. 3:12); trials (Jas. 1:2-3); tribulation (Jn. 16:33); the necessity of bearing one's own cross daily (Lk. 9:23); the hatred of the world (Jn. 15:19); harassment from Satan (1 Pet. 5:8); and the nuisance of false believers (1 Jn. 2:19). . . .

 

So, someone is (probably) rightly asking, "If all this is true, then how can you speak of 'delighting in Christ'?"  This is a perfectly good question; and it deserves a solid answer.  True regenerate Christian churchmen may (and do) "delight in Christ" partly, because this delight has nothing to do with all those troublesome dynamics we just mentioned (in the first paragraph).  "Delighting in Christ" may be done in a prison, a gulag, a concentration camp.  Wherever the Spirit of God dwells in a heart, the shining and warming lamp of true liberty abides; and this glory cannot be overwhelmed by any force devised by men or demons.

 

On the other hand, "delighting in Christ" is also done by the saints as we enjoy all the good blessings of the temporal life--so long as they (these blessings) are conceived of in and through Jesus alone.  In other words, we do not need to be overtly "suffering" in order to enjoy our wonderful Triune God (in Jesus Christ).

 

Why is it, then, that so few (of even Christian) people seem to "delight in Christ"?  The answer is probably because they do not understand what it means to "delight" in anyone or anything; and they have never fully "tasted" and "seen" that "the Lord is good," (Ps. 34:8).  It is this "seeing," and then "tasting" of Christ, by faith, that makes all the difference.  Once this actually happens, a soul understands Who it is he or she may "delight" in; and he or she is instantly "able" to do this "delighting."

 

On a practical level, what does this look like; how is it manifested?  The answer to this question is easy: the new-born sinner/saint now longs to be in the presence of his or her beloved God; and he or she totally comprehends that this access is through the God/Man Second Person of the blessed Holy Trinity.  So, two things happen in the life of a heaven-born saint: he or she wants to be in God's "house," His church; and he or she truly and earnestly desires to be in God's presence, in daily times of sweet communion with Him, in one's "prayer closet."  Everything in the Christian life flows out of these two places, (and no others).

 

For those who learn, by grace, to "delight in Christ," it is not "pulling teeth" for them to spend time with God in prayer--instead, it is their chief (and sincere) desire.  They do not do this to "please" God, (and certainly not to "appease" Him); they do not do this out of "obligation," or because someone in authority told them to do it; they do not do this grudgingly or unwillingly.  The true saint, in love with God in Christ, does this communing with God joyfully, willingly, happily, enthusiastically, genuinely, and from the very core of their new nature (in Christ).

 

Think about this: true Christianity is the only religion in the world, that is meant to be enjoyed.  ALL other forms of religion--without exception--are meant to assuage guilty consciences, puff-up proud works-righteousness, and prop-up false hopes of salvation.  The true gospel faith does none of this.

 

But here is the thing, and it must be said: unless we see Jesus Christ by faith, we will never experience the heavenly joys of the true religion.  You might be saying, "How may I see Him?"  Ask God to show Him to you; come to Him (Jesus) by faith.  Then, ask your Father to unleash you in your delighting in His Son.  Trust me: you will never regret doing this.

 

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #78

3 March 2026

https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com

https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How Do we Know we Are Right?

  How Do we Know we Are Right? Have you ever asked yourself this question?  What gives  us --and, for sake of clarity, I will mean by  "us"  (particularly) those convinced and convicted members of the Reformed expression of the Christian religion-- both  the  "right"  and the  "confidence"  to boldly state that we  are,  with regard to religious debate,  "in the right"?   This is actually a very good, and important question.  I would like to forthrightly  answer  the query; and then seek to work out some of the details (that I am quite certain may be on many people's minds). . . .   The  true regenerated  saints of Christ's church--and in this case, we will include those who are members of any number of orthodox Christian communions (denominations)--know that they are "in the right" because of the  internal witness of the Holy Spirit within them,  (cf. for now Rom...
Read more

What Is Preaching?

  What Is Preaching? Dedicated to all truly-called church ministers of the gospel When I ask the question, "What is preaching?", the context I have in mind is mostly, (but not exclusively), the church's Sunday worship services.  I also hope to address the issue of the goal (or end) of preaching.   Paul's 10th chapter of Romans is probably the most comprehensive treatment of this sublime subject; and his (Paul's) Holy Spirit-inspired injunction of 2 Tim. 4:2a: "Preach the Word!", says it very succinctly.   I believe that preaching is the authoritative verbal presentation of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ in the message of His gospel of grace and mercy.  I also believe that anything short of this, is not preaching at all.  It is also my conviction that every text of Holy Scripture not only  lends  itself to this grand enterprise; but  exists  so as to facilitate it.   Therefore, when a true gospel preacher approach...
Read more

Persecution of Real Christians in America

  Persecution of Real Christians in America Dedicated to all regenerate churchmen in the United States A lot of times we hear people say, "There is no persecution of the church in America."  This statement, though understandable on one level, is  entirely  false.  In fact,  every  truly regenerated (born again) Christian  does  get persecuted; and it depends  not at all  on where we live, or in what era of human history we live.   Here are Paul's Holy Spirit-inspired words of 2 Tim. 3:12: "Indeed,  all  who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus  will  be persecuted," (ESV/italics mine).  This means that if you are a  real  Christian you  will  be persecuted--and it does not matter  where  you live.  There is simply no way around this inevitable spiritual law of the gospel.   Somebody might say, "Yes; but Christians in America are not thro...
Read more