Peace on Earth

Introduction

Horatio Spafford was a lawyer and businessman in Chicago. He and his family were leaving on a boat for a vacation in Europe when he was called back to work. He told his family he would get on a boat within the next few days.

On the way, the boat carrying his four children and wife collided with another boat.

The boat sank with only Spafford’s wife surviving. When she arrived in Europe, she wired Spafford a message, “Survived alone, what shall I do?

Horatio jumped on the next boat, one that would take him by the wreckage where his children were lost.

When he arrived in Europe, he had penned the hymn, It Is Well.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Can you really have peace like that? Can we really have so much peace that if our entire life came crashing down, we could say, “It is well.” ONLY IN JESUS.

Luke 2:13–14 ESV

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Explanation

And on earth peace

What is peace? There are three types of peace in the Bible for the Christian.

The first type of peace is the peace we have with God because of our justification before Him.

The second type of peace is the inner peace we feel from the presence of God.

This type of peace is tricky. We can feel like we aren’t at peace with God even though we are.

May our feelings never cause us to discount God’s love and grace for us who are in Him.

The third type of peace is the peace with one another than happens as a result of knowing Christ

Matthew 5:9 ““Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

There are many forms of alternative peace.

There is peace between nations. While this is good, it is unstable.

There is peace of unbelievers amongst each other. It is temporary and based often upon external desires.

There is inner peace that is not real central, inner peace that Christ brings.

The only true, abiding, eternal, and perfectly complete peace comes from Christ.

John 14:27 “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.”

Peace is the commodity that people will sell anything to attain.

among those with whom he is pleased!”

Peace is not for all people. Peace is for those with whom God is pleased.

The problem is God is not pleased with any of us. We have all sinned against God, and therefore, we have a need to walk with God.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious though! My sin, not in part but the whole is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Oh my soul!

Invitation