OUR JOY MADE COMPLETE - 1 JOHN 1:4

Verse 4: These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

What John means by ‘these things’ is the entirety of this epistle, not just what he has written in the previous 3 verses concerning Christology—the doctrine of Jesus Christ. This epistle contains many doctrinal teachings that are designed to instruct believers on how to live this life of faith: fellowship (1:7); the love of God (2:5); abiding in Christ (2:24); antichrist (2:18,22; 4:3); brotherly love (3:11-12; 4:7); the world (2:15; 5:4); prayer (3:21-22); and sin, discussed in every chapter. These Biblical truths are what John means by ‘these things.’

Joy Complete

Now John presents a second purpose for writing his epistle: that our joy may be made complete. The phrase ‘made complete’ denotes to make perfect or to accomplish an objective.1 The Greek stresses not only the completed state of joy but that it continues to remain full2 and not sporadically exhibited throughout the believers’ life.

What is this joy that John is referring to? The Apostle Paul states that joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), meaning that it originates from the Holy Spirit, Who enables us to demonstrate the joy of our relationship with God. It is displayed by the “inner happiness, enthusiasm, and animated thinking”3 of the believer filled with the knowledge of God’s Word and thus empowered by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). For the believer, true spiritual joy is not meant to be a psychologically induced or a contrived ecstatic emotion. Dr. L.S. Chafer notes:

Exhibiting the same general characteristics as love, likewise divine joy can neither be increased nor decreased by the command of the human will, and equally certain is the evidence that such joy cannot be imitated.4

John seems to be contradicting the Apostle Paul who maintained that “in Him you have been made complete” (Colossians 2:10, emphasis added). The distinction is that Paul is specifying the believer’s eternal position in Christ at the moment of believing in Him for salvation. By clarification, John is referring to joy as a quality of the Christian after salvation that can be made complete; emphasizing that joy is an essential aspect of our fellowship with God.

There is an expression about successful athletes, entertainers or professionals that they have the “complete package.” This means that they are the best in their field and have acquired and applied all the skills necessary to be an expert in their field of endeavors. There is a sense in which a believer is considered incomplete if they lack joy. What can be said for certain is that believers who are lacking joy indicate that they are incomplete, that they do not have the “complete package,” and do not take seriously their fellowship with the Father and with His Son.

Genuine Demonstration of Joy

The objective of the Christians’ joy is the genuine response of gratitude for God’s provisions—eternal and earthly. John notes in particular “that our joy may be made complete” suggesting that this is a possibility and not an assured thing. However, our joy can be made complete, but only if we progress and grow by studying His word and applying His principles in our daily lives. The Apostle Paul stated this in Romans 15:13: “may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.” Paul was not inferring to believing for salvation, but believing the doctrines of His word. The infusion of God’s truths in the believers’ conscience is the enabling power for the expression of joy to become evidenced in the mature believer.

Genuine joy is generated by the realization in one’s soul that the event observed or a situation undergone conforms to a doctrinal truth. Sometimes the reaction may be apparent with tears, laughter or cheering upon seeing God working in one’s own life or in the lives of others. But more often joy is observed by a person’s steady mood—even when all about them seems chaotic, that “deep down there is joy”5 that the believer is sharing with God.

The Apostle Paul declares when the believer is to express joy with a double command: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4; cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:16). The Greek word for ‘rejoice’ is the root word for joy and means to be joyful. Just to be clear, Paul commands that we are to be joyful always—this means that the mood and expression of our lives is to be the exact opposite of gloominess, despair or miserable. We who are believers in Jesus Christ should be responding with joy to the fact that we possess the very eternal life of God, Who has bestowed us with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3).

But take into account the extreme case which James presents: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” (James 1:2). Human nature is inclined to deplore challenging situations, sometimes expressing doom and gloom. Now this doesn’t mean that in the midst of a tragedy (illness, death, etc.) that we are to jump up and click our heels and yell “Hallelujah!” But God anticipates that our spiritual growth will enable us to endure any and all obstacles. By concentrating on God’s wisdom we can understand and overcome the testing that comes in our lives. What James tells us is something we should already know: “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” (James 1:3)

In Conclusion

 James is stating that by a genuine demonstration of joy—just as John aspires for the believer—we are able to endure the trials and testing of life and thus we “may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4). This perfect and permanent joy that John aspires for us is a repeating of Our Lord’s desire for us:

“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” (John 15:11)

 We can rest assured of the Lord Jesus’ promise that this joy of ours, made complete, that “no one will take your joy away from you” (John 16:22).

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[1] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, G4137.

[2] Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 6.206.

[3] Thieme, R.B., Jr. (2022). Thieme’s Bible Doctrine Dictionary, Houston, TX: R.B. Thieme, Jr., Bible Ministries, p. 152.

[4] Chafer, Lewis Sperry (1976). Systematic Theology, Dallas, TX: Dallas Seminary Press, 6.205.

[5] Barnhouse, Donald Grey (1994). “God’s Glory”, In Romans, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 4.3.15.

 © 2024 David M. Rossi