Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place. Let heavens be glad, and let earth rejoice: and let men say among nations, The LORD reigneth.

And at dedication of wall of Jerusalem they sought Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever king's commandment and his decree came, Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day.

Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in time that their corn and their wine increased. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; Be glad in LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

My soul shall make her boast in LORD: humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in prosperity of his servant. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.

Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into king's palace.

There is a river, streams whereof shall make glad city of God, holy place of tabernacles of most High. Let mount Zion rejoice, let daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Oh that salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. The righteous shall be glad in LORD, and shall trust in him; and all upright in heart shall glory.

O let nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge people righteously, and govern nations upon earth. Selah.

But let righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in works of thy hands. Let heavens rejoice, and let earth be glad; let sea roar, and fulness thereof.

The LORD reigneth; let earth rejoice; let multitude of isles be glad thereof. Zion heard, and was glad; and daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.

Light is sown for righteous, and gladness for upright in heart. Serve LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing, and wine that maketh glad heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.

My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in LORD.

Egypt was glad when they departed: for fear of them fell upon them. And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness: Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

This is day which LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into house of Lord. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is heaviness of his mother. The hope of righteous shall be gladness: but expectation of wicked shall perish. Heaviness in heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother. Whoso mocketh poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

Draw me, we will run after thee: king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: upright love thee.

Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with crown wherewith his mother crowned him in day of his espousals, and in day of gladness of his heart. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Ye shall have a song, as in night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into mountain of LORD, to mighty One of Israel.

The wilderness and solitary place shall be glad for them; and desert shall rejoice, and blossom as rose. And ransomed of LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Many people are confused as to relationship between faith and works? Just how is one saved? “Believe in Jesus” is common response. But how does one “believe” in Jesus? Is this an act of sheer spiritual willpower? Do you just force yourself to believe?

I remember asking this question, “What does one do to believe in Jesus?” I was told as a response, “Give your heart to Jesus.” “How do I give me heart to Jesus?” I asked. “Come to foot of cross,” was response. Frustrated with metaphors, I asked “How do I come to foot of cross?” The circular answer was, “Give your heart to Jesus.” I am an engineer and like things concretely defined. Answering my questions with metaphors, much less a circle of metaphors, frustrates me to no end.

So, finally, after years thought, reflection, and advise from trusted counselors, I have come up with following outline. Please forgive any theological nuances, as I am not a professional theologian.

1. All human beings (save Christ, Eternal Son of God) are born sinners with a sinful nature that separates us from God. Even though a baby might be too young to willfully sin, they are still born with a sinful nature. In other words, it is your sinful nature that gives rise to sins. You sins do not make you a sinner, but fact you were born a sinner gives rise to your committing sins. As a result, we all need to be saved. This was accomplished through Christ's atoning, substitutionary death on cross. (cf. Rom. 3:23 - 26)

2. Salvation is, and has always been, by grace through faith alone in work and Person of Jesus Christ alone. I.e., salvation has always been through gospel. In OT times they did not know coming Redeemer by name "Jesus Christ", but they knew gospel in some form or fashion. (cf. Heb. 3:1 - 4:2)

3. Grace means "unmerited favor." Faith means "trust, based on evidence, that result in action." As for relationship between faith and works, John Calvin hit nail on head I think when he said "It is faith alone that saves, but faith that saves is never found alone." That, in my opinion, is best one-line resolution between Paul (cf. Rom 3:20) and James (Jas 2:24).

4. Salvation consists of three things: (a) Justification, (b) Sanctification, and (c) Glorification. (a) Justification -- is going from being a condemned sinner to a saved sinner. It is righteousness of Christ, none of our own, put to our account. In other words, it is Christ's imputed righteousness. It is obtained by grace through faith alone in work and Person of Jesus Christ alone. It's function is to save us into heaven.