Introduction
Do we think of Gods joy and what makes Him joyful? We think of His deity, His sorrows, but not His joy. We tend to possibly have harsh views or unbalanced views of Christ.
God in Christ rejoices in the finding of lost sinners. This is the main theme of chapter 15.
V7, 10, 32 we see rejoicing. This is about what should make us joyful and celebrate with Christ.
Do we have the joy that God has? Our joy comes from our creator. True and full joy is to experience what God joys in. He lets us share His joy.
Romans 14:17 (NKJV) for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
““These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” – John 15:11 NKJV
Deuteronomy 30:9 (NKJV) “The LORD your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers,
John 17:13 (NKJV) “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
V4 – The 99 may be the pharisees. They think they are righteous, they don’t think they need repentance.
“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” – Luke 5:32
People who believe they are righteous and don’t believe they are sinners who need to repent.
Luke 15:1-10 (NKJV) 1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 “And when he has found [it,] he lays [it] on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 “And when he comes home, he calls together [his] friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. 8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds [it?] 9 “And when she has found [it,] she calls [her] friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”