I think that very often unbelievers sit under the preaching of the gospel, waiting and hoping for some kind of experience or feeling of peace and joy before believing the testimony of God concerning His Son (1 Jn. 5:9-13; Jn. 3:21-36, 8:24). If you are doing this, then you have, to use an old proverb, "put the cart before the horse," and are actually looking to yourself rather than to Christ for your soul's salvation! Believing is the key which opens the door (Christ) through which sinners enter in "rejoicing." Thus, the great apostle to the Gentiles writes that we obtain "joy and peace through believing."
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