Whatever happened to glad tidings of great joy?

Luke 2:10) Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

11) “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14) “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15) the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”

18) And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

20) Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Glad tidingsGreat JoyAngels praising GodPeace with GodFavor toward menShepherds praising GodExcitement!!!

How about this guy?Luke 2:28) he took Him up in his

arms and blessed God and said: 29) “Lord, now You are letting

Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;

30) For my eyes have seen Your salvation

31) Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

32) A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

BlessingSalvationWhich God has preparedLight to GentilesGlory to Israel

Where is our joy?

I’m not talking about happiness.

That depends on our circumstances.

I’m talking about Joy. That depends on our confidence in the…

finished work of Christ.

Check these out. They’re not too difficult to understand, nor are they some text awkwardly drawn in to make a point.

Hebrews 8:8) Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD,

when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah–

9) “not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt;

because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD.

10) “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of

Israel after those days, says the LORD:

Galatians 3:10) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”13) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),

Galatians 3:21) Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.22) But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and

I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 12) “For

I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and

I will remember no more.” their sins and their lawless deeds

Heb 9:12) but with… His own blood He entered the Most Holy Placeonce for all, having obtained

eternal redemption. Heb 9:28 Christ was offered

once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly (expect

fully) wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Hebrews 10:19) Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter

the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,20) by a new and living way which He consecrated (inaugurate)

for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,

21) and having a High Priest over the house of God,

22) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

23) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

John 1:11) He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

12) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

13) who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.