Celebrate Peace

Celebrate Peace this Christmas

Long ago, a prophet by the name Isaiah spoke. He prophesied the coming of a messiah, a descendant of David, which would save Israel and be a light for the Gentiles. He said,

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

It is of this child and his kingdom of peace which we are here to celebrate today and during the Christmas holiday. He is the great Prince of Peace. Where he moves, peace follows.

And in a world full of turmoil, ripped apart by sin, peace is exactly what the doctor ordered.

And it might surprise many that God’s plan for the earth is peace. In fact, when he sent his son Jesus into the world, the Lord’s angels proclaimed,

Luke 2:14 ESV

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Peace among those with whom he is pleased.

Some of you might be more familiar with the King James Version of this verse, which is how I first learned it. The King James Version reads, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Indeed, the coming of Christ is an announcement of God’s plan of peace and good will toward men, but unfortunately the KJV misses out on the condition of peace, which is an important part of this picture. And what is that condition? It is right relationship with God. Notice the English Standard Version says “peace among those with whom he is pleased.” God’s peace is made available for mankind only through Jesus Christ his son.

And the arrival of Jesus is significant. It is the emptying of God the Son, descending down to man, humbling himself, so that he might obtain a reconciliation between God and man. If Peace then is so important that it required the only Son of God to come to earth, emptying himself to take on a human nature and to suffer and die, shouldn’t we pay attention? So, what then is Peace?

And peace, not as the dictionary defines it … all a dictionary does is give you an option of what a word means, but what is Peace according to the infallible, unshakeable word of God? How does the Bible describe peace?

If we asked for worldwide peace, what would we actually receive?

A Peace to be Obtained

Four areas- There are four areas in which we as humans have conflict in our lives, whereby we need to have peace.

1. Between Man and Man

2. Between Man and the World

3. Between Man and the Self

4. Between Man and God

1. Man and Man

James 4:1–2 ESV

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

What was the first act of violence between one man and another? Cain and Abel. Cain saw what Abel offered and was jealous and so he struck his brother and murdered him. Sin causes division between man and man. The passions within us, the covetousness, the forbidden desires, the selfish motives, the lack of dependency upon the Lord and his provision.

We sometimes forget the cost of the forbidden fruit of sin. One of the costs is the division it causes within mankind. We are told in Revelation that God has sent this division upon the earth,

Revelation 6:4 ESV

And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

Because we choose not to follow God, mankind has enmity with one another. You ask yourselves the question, why is it that the world seems poised for war? There active wars in Ukraine, in Israel, in Africa, in South America (and yes, some are advertised more than others). The whole world seems like a powder keg poised to blow into another World War. War is the condition of Sin. War is the condition of this world, because humans have selfish desires and motives and want more and more and more and are not satisfied or dependent upon God to provide for them. So we fight one another for resources, for territory, for expansion, out of covetousness and greed. We want it all.

But we are given this wise counsel from scripture,

Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:8 ESV

a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

The counterbalance to war is peace. Peace is contrasted to war. We see again in the book of Deuteronomy,

Deuteronomy 20:10 ESV

“When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it.

Peace is the other option from fighting, from conflict between man and man.

While mankind strives against each other because of their sin nature, peace occurs when mankind strives together in harmony.

So far, the Biblical definition of peace includes some sort of reconciliation between one man and another.

But that’s not all.

Peace also extends to the divide between man and nature.

2. Man and Nature

Ever since sin entered the world, the whole of creation has been brought under the curse of sin.

Romans 8:20–21 ESV

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

The order of creation itself, of nature itself, was shuffled and submitted to futility, out of consequence of sin. It is bound to corruption.

Because of this we see many acts of nature that take life from men: Tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, fires, tornadoes. Before the fall, before the entry of sin into the world, these things did not exist. But a condition of sin and mankind’s rebellion against God brought thorns and hardship into this life.

But there is a hope that nature itself is reconciled with God and with God’s people, that along with the children of God there is freedom.

This freedom is brought through the man, Jesus Christ.

Read with me this passage from Mark.

Mark 4:37–39 ESV

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

The very words of Christ usher in peace from God. A peace upon nature, whereby nature no longer is bound to its corruption, no longer strives to take away and destroy, but is put into alignment with God. It is set free from the destructive evil to which it was subjected.

Indeed, the gift of Christ, the gift of this babe which we celebrate at Christmas, accomplishes peace between God and mankind.

We live in a world where part of that peace is already realized. But we also look forward to the day when that peace will fully come.

Isaiah 55:12–13 ESV

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

Isaiah 65:25 ESV

The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.

Through Christ, the conflict between man and nature and nature and nature shall be settled and be put at ease. Only, once his kingdom is fully recognized.

So our definition of peace has something to do with healing the divide betwen man and man, and man and nature.

It also includes healing the divide between man and himself.

3. Man and the Self

Part of the cost of sin is that our hearts are darkened and our passions within us lead us astray. Because of sin we struggle with worries, anxieties, Turmoil. Racing thoughts. Panic attacks. Confusion. Indecision. Frustration. Feelings of guilt. Shame. Regret. All the world on the outside could be at peace with one another, and man could be at peace with nature, but when you go home at night and lay your head on your pillow, what thoughts fill your mind? Thoughts about you, your condition, the battles you face.

But what are the words of Jesus?

John 14:27 ESV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

The peace of Jesus overcomes the divide we have within ourselves. (repeat)

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The world is on a quest to settle this matter of inner peace. Some simplify it to just personal happiness. But “Inner peace” is not just personal happiness, but also the removal of conflict. If we try to ignore and stifle our problems and push them down, it doesn’t solve our issues. But God’s peace for us, peace for us from within, solves the issue. He removes the conflict from us so that we might have peace.

But we don’t have that fully yet, do we? We still struggle with our sin nature, though we taste in part and we see in part. We all like Paul have that thorn in our flesh which we struggle with day in and day out. But we have partial peace. We have that victory over sin because of Christ. And isn’t that victory sweet when it comes? When we are able to rely upon God to carry us through affliction and we have that peace which surpasses all understanding?

Peace, according to scripture, not only includes healing the conflict that mankind has between man and man and man and nature, but also peace within.

But we are still missing the last and most important part of our definition, which includes healing between the relationship of man and God.

4. Man and God

When Adam chose, as a representative head of mankind, to partake of the forbidden fruit and to turn away from God, he chose a declaration of war against the creator. Sin entered the world and corrupted the hearts of mankind, so that no one who is alive today is not born without sin or has not tasted of the forbidden fruit, seeing good and evil. We know that because we have tasted and seen of this evil, wickedness abounds. And where there is wickedness, God does not dwell. God has distanced himself because he is holy, perfect, spotless. And once God is removed from the picture, his peace is removed as well.

Isaiah 48:22 ESV

“There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

When we live in sin, we live in war against God, declaring our way, our own path, is better than God’s. We live in Armageddon against him and dwell under his wrath. Even if the world were to find a way to promote a sense of peace within ourselves and in nature and in the individual, it would be lacking the harmony which once existed between mankind and God.

Where is that relationship we once had, where Adam and Eve walked with the Lord in the Garden of Eden, and the Lord knew them and they knew him? Indeed, the definition of peace would not be possible and the condition of the world restored unless one’s relationship with God were also restored.

There cannot be peace, true peace, unless one is unified with God.

We are told there is a sense of false peace which goes into the world. People will think they have obtained peace. But we know otherwise.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 ESV

While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Even if you force a sense of false peace between man and within your self, you still haven’t solved the issue of peace with the Lord. One day Christ will return and the time of reconciliation between you and the Lord will be over. Either you will be found in a healed relationship with him, inheriting his peace, or you will be found in sudden destruction from which you cannot escape.

Peace requires right relation between you and God.

So what is our definition of peace then, according to God’s word?

I would say that Peace is the absence of conflict. It’s the absence of conflict between man, God, the individual, and nature. Whereas conflict is striving against, peace is striving with. Peace is the outcome of all of these components, God, man, nature, the self, moving and flowing with one another in harmony. It is not discordant. It is not one part swimming upriver from the others. But peace flows in one direction, all together, like one whole complete river.

How is this peace obtained?

Cost of Peace

Peace is not cheap. It has come at a cost.

Peace is Given by God and found in Christ

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

When we choose to follow Christ, we also take on his tribulations. We know we will be sojourners and strangers in this land. We know that against Christians there will be trials and difficulties and persecutions, that as we hold on to the true faith of Jesus Christ there will be forces that stand against us that can and will deal bodily harm to us. But what are our Lord’s words to you? He says, “In me you may have peace. You may have tribulation in this world but take heart, I have overcome the world.” Christ says that if he was able to trust God and have peace with God in the midst of tribulation, you are able to accomplish that as well. He gives you hope to remain in the path of peace, to remain following the will of God.

This peace comes only with following Christ.

Romans 5:1 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Just as Jesus walked with the Lord, we too are to walk with God in harmony. Not against him, not drifting off to the side. When we drift off to the side we lose sight of that peace.

How was Christ able to accomplish peace for us? He was crushed for our iniquities.

Just as an olive is crushed and the oil from it is poured out, so Christ was crushed for us that we may receive his peace. He is the olive branch which was offered to us from God.

Isaiah 53:4–6 ESV

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Ephesians 2:14–16 ESV

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

God has already wished for world peace. You don’t have to make that wish. You don’t have to pay the cost of what it would take to obtain peace. It has been gifted to you.

Live by the Rule of Peace

Colossians 3:15 ESV

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

We celebrate Peace from God at Christmas by dwelling together in unity, by gathering together for family time, by inviting the foreigner and stranger into our home to gather together under one tree, the tree of the kingdom of Christ. We celebrate the peace we have with each other by giving tokens of love toward each other

Often times we expect peace to feel more peaceful than what it really does. Sometimes we look for conflict in areas where there is no conflict, because we become so uptight and are fighting that battle. But we need to learn to stop our fighting and to rest in God’s arms.

Commissioning

2 Thessalonians 3:16 ESV

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.