Observing the Peace that is ours
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OPEN: An armistice was signed on Nov. 11, 1918 which ended the fighting of WWI. It was not a real peace, as 21 short years later WWII began. Another armistice was signed in 1953 between North Korea and the USA. Tensions remain high.
OPEN: An armistice was signed on Nov. 11, 1918 which ended the fighting of WWI. It was not a real peace, as 21 short years later WWII began. Another armistice was signed in 1953 between North Korea and the USA. Tensions remain high.
Transition: By definition, an armistice is an agreement between opposing sides to stop fighting; it is a suspension of hostilities. It is not a peace treaty, and it does not bring peace.
Transition: By definition, an armistice is an agreement between opposing sides to stop fighting; it is a suspension of hostilities. It is not a peace treaty, and it does not bring peace.
One of God’s precious gifts that He gives mankind is the gift of peace, the one that goes beyond the mere cessation of hostility. While Jesus Himself declared that the world will experience war and upheavals until His return, He also stated that He is our peace; a peace that exists in the here and now. One of His titles as found in Isiah 9:6 is The Prince of Peace. This morning we are going to see how we can more effectively treasure this wonderful gift that God gives through His Son.
READ TEXT:
READ TEXT:
We can more effectively value the gift of peace by Remembering our prior condition when we were enemies of God ()
We can more effectively value the gift of peace by Remembering our prior condition when we were enemies of God ()
Explanation: Paul is reminding the Gentile believers of the barrier that existed between themselves and the Jewish believers. In the worldview of an OT Jew, there were only two groups of people: the Jews, and the goyim (pretty much everybody else!). This was not just a superficial division either; the Jews excluded Gentiles from entering the Temple and taking part in worship.
Illustrate: Our prior condition as unsaved was like living in a leper colony. We were social outcasts and unwelcome anywhere outside the colony. We mistakenly tend to remember our prior existence similar to being a transfer student at a new school. It was a bit awkward at first, but since we are essentially the same, we fit in quickly.
Arugment: we do well to remember our condition. We were separated and alienated, we were strangers at the gate, we were hopeless and without God in this world. In our sin we were not attractive to God, none of us were strategic assets to the Kingdom. None of us were even seeking God when He came to us, () and we were dead in our sins and trespasses () against a holy God. All of humanity inherits a sin nature through Adam (); we sin because that is our nature.
Application: Reminding ourselves where we came from gives us a certain sense of humility and prevents pride from obscuring our reality. Left to our own devices, it is not too hard to think we are doing God a favor by joining up with Team Jesus.
We can effectively value the gift of Peace by Rejoicing in our present status as members of God’s own family ()
We can effectively value the gift of Peace by Rejoicing in our present status as members of God’s own family ()
We can effectively value the gift of Peace by Rejoicing in our present status as members of God’s own family ()
We can effectively value the gift of Peace by Rejoicing in our present status as members of God’s own family ()
Explanation: Paul describes the change in relationship when Jesus is present. The old divisions are gone; hopelessness has been replaced with hope; alienation has been replaced with community; and hostility has been replaced with peace. Jesus makes all the difference. His voluntary, substitutional sacrifice changes everything. He is truly the Prince of Peace, the One who brings calm out of the chaos, and grants a reprieve from the storms.
Illustrate: Ben Affleck’s statement on superheros from the Nov. 13 edition of USA Today. “We certainly are in need of heroes in 2017,” Affleck says. “There’s a lot of stuff going on in the world, from natural to man-made disasters, and it’s really scary. Part of the appeal of this genre is wish fulfillment: Wouldn’t it be nice if there was somebody who can save us from all this, save us from ourselves, save us from the consequences of our actions and save us from people who are evil?”
Argument: Sadly, the world is looking for the answer in the wrong places. Jesus, the God-Man is superior to any imagined super-hero. Instead of a creation of fantasy and make-believe, Jesus is real, and through the Incarnation, the Creator entered His creation at a definite point in history and lived among us. His perfect life, substitutionary death, and victorious resurrection make all the difference in the Universe.
By our reception of God’s gift Grace through Faith in the finished work of Jesus we are fundamentally and forever changed! No longer outcasts and strangers without hope, we are joyously welcomed into His family and cleansed from our sinful condition. We are justified with the imputed righteousness of Christ and we are sealed with His Holy Spirit. We celebrate this reality and can now live free from the anxiety of a troubled world and rest in His peace.
Application: Consider how we value the gift we have been given. Does our attitude reflect constant anxiety, a sense of dread, and endless worry? Does our attitude display a disregard for His precious gift of Peace? ()