HE IS OUR PEACE

By Tim Sullivan

 

Those times we are alone with our thoughts can be either be an occasion of rest or torment. For a certainly, the peace we desire is promised by the LORD.

Psalm 4:8:
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm 119:165:
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them [cause them to stumble].

Isaiah 32:17:
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

But simply knowing of this peace is not enough to bring it into our lives.

Jeremiah 8:15:
We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!

How do we get from here to there?

"MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU”

Peace is a gift from Jesus.

John 14:27:
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Jesus was not talking about world peace. He was talking about a peace that overcomes the world.

Matthew 10:34:
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

John 16:33:
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Jesus was not talking about making peace with our unconverted selves. We should not be complacent about those things that need correction in our lives.

2 Corinthians 10:5-6:
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Jesus was talking about the most important peace of all – peace with God!

HOW WAS THIS PEACE ACCOMPLISHED?

In the Old Testament, there were five offerings given to address man’s enmity with God: the BURNT offering, the MEAT offering, the PEACE offering, the SIN offering and the TRESPASS offering. Each offering was a picture of Christ's sacrifice for us.

Ephesians 5:2:
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

The Burnt Offering was a picture of CHRIST OUR REDEEMER (Gal. 2:13). The Meat or Grain offering was a picture of CHRIST OUR LIFE (Col. 3:4). The sin offering was a picture of CHRIST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (2 Cor. 5:21). The trespass offering was CHRIST OUR JUSTIFICATION (Rom. 4:25). The peace offering represented CHRIST OUR RECONCILATION (2 Cor. 5:19).

Why don’t such sacrifices continue today? Christians fall back on their old ways just as much as the Israelites! But the offering of God's only begotten Son was once for all, one sacrifice for ever.

Hebrews 10:10-14:
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Jesus was chastised for our peace.

Isaiah 53:5:
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

John Wesley wrote, “Those punishments by which our peace, our reconciliation to God, was to be purchased, were laid upon him by God’s justice with his own consent.”

Colossians 1:20-22:
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Now he is our peace:

Ephesians 2:14-16:
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

HOW DO WE ENTER INTO THIS PEACE?

First, we must grow in the knowledge of God.

2 Peter 1:2:
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

We must learn to be spiritually minded, looking to the unseen, eternal things of God.

Romans 8:6:
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

2 Corinthians 4:18:
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

We must learn to relinquish our cares to God. We have all tried to cast our cares out of our mind only to have them blow back and hit us in the face. We must cast our cares TO GOD!

1 Peter 5:7:
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

The precept of 1 Peter 5:7 is explained by Philippians 4:6, and vice-versa. This is now we receive the results promised in Philippians 4:7 and Isaiah 26:3.

Philippians 4:6-7:
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 26:3:
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Let the Prince of Peace rule your hearts. Give Jesus the best seat in the house.

Colossians 3:15:
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

These are the things which make for peace. We must be faithful to follow after them.

Romans 14:19:
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

As we do these things, the Holy Spirit produces his fruit of peace in your life.

Galatians 5:22-23:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Let us enter into and enjoy the peace Jesus accomplished for us.

Romans 5:1-2:
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

 

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Presented 10 September 2017 in Baton Rouge