[ovrtaxt]

What specifically would someone want to celebrate?

The communion of the Holy Spirit? nah.

If we recognized our calling we wouldn't be celebrating that we've crossed over to the Perly Gates. Instead our baptism would serve in showing how far short we fall and how many miles we need to walk to those gates.

If we recognized the kindness, beauty and glory of Jesus, we would be smiling at the thought of His love for us, despite our flaws, and the prospect of walking with Him for the rest of eternity!

Lighten up. Life is supposed to be fun, we're free from sin now, we have all things that pertain to life and godliness, we've entered into the Kingdom. We have the opportunity to change the sinners around us into saints! Why should we be so dour? Not me.

[HarleyD]

Life is supposed to be fun, we're free from sin now

I'm not as "dour" as I would seem. Life hasn't been fun since God kicked Adam and Eve out of the garden and made Adam toil in the earth. This is a cursed planet we're on full of war, strife and misery (and I mean that in the most happiest sense). If life was fun everyone would be in Orlando. Our Lord Jesus promises us joy, peace, love and all the other stuff that helps us to cope in this world while we radiate God's love through us.

While sin no longer holds power over us, we're still prone to sin and we do sin, which is what I believe you meant to say.

If we recognized the kindness, beauty and glory of Jesus, we would be smiling at the thought of His love for us, despite our flaws,

God doesn't accept us as we are; He is in the business of conforming us to the image of His Son. He wants us to be holy even as He is holy so, like the good Father that He is, those who He love He chastens. This helps us to glorify the Father through His Son.

We have the opportunity to change the sinners around us into saints!

And here's the whole problem to this chain of thinking; we can't change anyone.

[lupie]

Life is supposed to be fun, we've entered into the Kingdom.

Can you give your biblical basis for saying that the life of a believer is suuposed to be FUN? we're free from sin now,

Are you saying that believers cannot get entangled by sin?No! That is not true, the bible teaches quite the opposite. We are NOT free from sin now. Not yet. That comes when we are with Him. But we are free from the power of sin in our lives when we abide in Him and walk in His way. When we don't, when we fall prey to sin. If we are free from sin, how do you explain Romans 7:14-25, much less 1 John 1:6-9:

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

we have all things that pertain to life and godliness,

Yes, we do. In Christ. But we must abide in Him to avail ourselves of that. Abiding in an action verb, it is something me must be doing. If we are not abiding in Him, if we are not standing firm in Him, then sin will overcome us until such time as we rest in Him. It sounds as if you are confusing justification with sanctification. Big difference!

[Terriergal]

Life is supposed to be fun,

Got a Bible verse for that?

ideas like...

Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.

Die to yourself, deny yourself,Take up your cross and follow me

The world will hate you because it hated Jesus first.

In this world you shall have tribulation.

Sounds fun!