The Gospel Gives Us Peace

Colossians 3:15 ESV

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

INTRODUCTION

In 3:15, the apostle Paul through the Holy Spirit speaks of the peace of Christ as it relates to our relationship to others.

“to which indeed you were called in one body”

INTRODUCTION

Q - Ever had to get something off your chest before?

YOU/ME/WE

We all know what it’s like:

Something happened with you and your friend

Unspoken anxiety about something

Why aren’t they texting me back!? Why am I still on red!?

White elephant in the room

You have an opinion you want to voice

“Clear the air”

“Public Service Announcement”

Illustration: sign of having something to say (finger & thumb)

Out of all those things, the list goes on, we know one thing to be true: something left bound up inside of us tends to eat us up inside. And what that does is hijack peace.

Peace is a crucial factor to all of our lives. AM I RIGHT? Without peace in our lives what do we have?

Fear

Anxiety

Doubt

Anger

Lack of peace can eat us up. Lack of peace takes confidence from our lives and replaces it with insecurity.

Q - Did you know that you have an active role to your peace?

GOD’S WORD

Colossians 3:15 ESV

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

TRUTH: THE PEACE OF CHRIST SHOULD RULE OUR HEARTS

In 3:15, the apostle Paul through the Holy Spirit speaks of the peace of Christ as it relates to our relationship to others.

“to which indeed you were called in one body” The peace of Christ in the life of the believer acts as a foundation to every area of our lives. Before we explore the effects of the peace of Christ in relation to other people, we must understand the impact the peace of Christ has on our own lives.

I. THE GOSPEL GIVES US ULTIMATE PEACE

Jesus died and was raise to give us peace with God

Once enemies >> Now children of God by repentance and faith

Romans 5:1 ESV

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

Jesus died in our place to give us peace:

Forgiveness of sin

Restored to right relationship with God in Christ

Rest on the completed work of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection.

II. THE GOSPEL FUELS OUR PEACE WITH OTHERS

Peace is the umpire of our heart

Umpire’s authority = peace of Christ’s authority in our lives

Peace is the umpire of our heart as Christians

God forgave us so we should forgive others.

Every way you & I interact with others testifies about our relationship with Jesus. We display what Jesus has already done in our own lives. What actually happens is a direct reflection on whose the actually “umpire” in our lives.

Q - Isn’t silly to intentionally be at odds with someone when the most important Someone made things right when we were the ones’ at fault?

Christians display the peace of Christ to others because the peace of Christ is present in their lives.

III. THE GOSPEL ENABLES US TO BE THANKFUL

Thankfulness for reality of the gospel in our lives

YOU/WE

Q - What rules your heart?

What if you stopped being at odds with that one person and surrendered to the peace of Christ in you? And as a result, made things right with him/her?

What if because of the peace of Christ in your life, you finally rested in Him instead of always feeling as if you have failed Jesus? And what you will find out is that the peace of Christ fuels our living for Christ.

Be at peace with the peace of Christ.

Students, for one some of you — you need to finally surrender to the peace of Christ in your life.

RESPONSE

Invitation for salvation

Receive the peace of Christ for the first time

(People at the back)

Invitation for Christians

Surrender to the peace of Christ you already have - rest in Him