Well, Jesus is my substitute.

He became sin for me that I might stand before God righteous and forgiven.

It's beautifully true.

And second Corinthians 5, 21.

But as Jesus also my joy substitute, too, my hope for when I fail to delight in God as

I ought to.

So really sharp question from a listener named Jake.

Hello, Pastor John.

Thank you for this podcast.

I love the fact that Jesus is my substitute.

In any way that I display Christ's likeness, it's something all made possible by the cross

of Christ and the spirit to work inside of me.

Christ was sexually faithful for me because I was not in him.

I find forgiveness for my past and power to fight my lust today.

Similarly, Christ was never arrogant for me so that I can be forgiven of my angry past

and given the power to fight my own arrogant heart today.

So I wonder if this paradigm also applies to my joy.

Is it true that Christ was fully satisfied in God for me so that I am not condemned

for my sourness so that my lack of joy in God is forgiven and I can be freed to pursue

my joy in God daily?

When I fail, I rest in Christ the perfect Christian hedonist who paid for all my heart's

idols and there I find renewed hope to press on in seeking after God.

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