Eternal treasure - make it yours! (and study questions)

Has the devil been bothering you lately?

As we have studied this week, have you been wondering, how can I be certain of the eternal joy and pleasure that God promises? At some point, I think we have all been bothered by thoughts like that. We look at the prospect of life here on earth, with persecution and suffering coming our way, and we want to KNOW that we will have pleasures forever with God.

The end of Psalm 16 speaks prophetically of Christ, the One Who secured our promises from God. Peter quoted David when he was speaking about Jesus:

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.  This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.  But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.  David said about him:

“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
    Because he is at my right hand,
    I will not be shaken.
 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest in hope,
 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    you will not let your holy one see decay.
 You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ (Acts 2:22-28)

Paul repeats these verses later on in Acts (in chapter 13) and tells his listeners that the verses were not fulfilled in David, since he died and his body underwent decay. The verses were fulfilled in the son of David, the Savior, Jesus. He came to this earth to bear the curse of God's wrath for the sins we have committed. 

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

Paul explained it clearly for the Galatians in his letter:

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:13-14)

The whole of our Christian faith rests on the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the grave. If His body is in the tomb; if His body decayed, then we are not forgiven. But Peter, the women, Thomas, and many others were faithful witnesses and testified that He rose! The two believers met Him on the road to Emmaeus. Paul met the risen Lord on the road to Damascus. A large crowd saw Him and witnessed His ascension into heaven. All of these faithful witnesses joyfully told the story -- God did not leave Jesus in the tomb. 
He rose!  God's promises of joy and pleasure in His presence for all eternity are secure for us. For all those who trust in our risen Savior.

Surely we have no need of wealth, power, or fame. Infinite joys and pleasures are offered to us in Jesus. Whatever we have to give up is nothing compared to what we will gain. We should sell all that we have to buy the field with that great treasure. We should sell all the small pearls to gain that pearl of great price. We can have fullness of joy and peace here and now. We will have joy and pleasure forever in the hereafter!

Now, I've talked enough - I'd like to hear from some of y'all. Give some thought to these questions and leave a comment below. We always have some interesting discussions, and it helps me make certain that y'all are reading and thinking, and not asleep. (Grin)

Pick one, or answer both!

1. If our friend claims to be a Christian, but she says she is not experiencing joy in Christ. She asks our help. Where should we begin?

2. Is it sin to be depressed? Why/why not?