Untitled Sermon (2)

Series Intro

Christmas, the season of traditions. From hanging Christmas lights to baking cookies for friends and family, we all have our own Christmas traditions.

Have you ever noticed that during the Christmas season four little words keep popping up everywhere – joy, hope, love and peace. Those are happy words aren’t they? Everyone loves to be loved. We all want to experience genuine heart-felt joy, we want to hope that good things happen to us and we all want to experience peace. Have you ever asked yourself why these words are so prominent in our Christmas cards, songs and lawn decorations? Each of these words, in and of themselves, are Christmas traditions and we are going to spend the next month or so talking about each one of them.

Take the word “peace” for example. Why do we every Christmas sing about peace? What does that word have to do with presents, lights and egg nog?

Peace – A simple word filled with complexity and meaning

Think about it, what do you think about when you think of the word peace?

A baby sleeping soundly

Standing in an empty field of flowers

Having a conversation with your spouse without having (1) single child interrupt you at all (ok, sorry, we are talking about peace, not miracles today)

Yet, we use the same word to describe the situation after two waring nations cease a conflict

The basic definition for the word “peace” = tranquility or quiet

In relationships

Within your own mind (freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions)

Between governments

Question: What does ‘peace’ have to do with Christmas?

Transition: To answer that question, we are going to have to go back to the beginning, where the concept of Christmas begins. To a story found in the book of Luke 2. It’s a story you may have never heard before and if that’s you, I’d encourage you to listen. If you do know where I am going here, listen carefully b/c I think you might learn a thing or two along the way.

I. The Setting For The Announcement

Context of Luke 2

Key indictor = All the land surrounding the Mediterranean was at peace under Roman law (no further military expansion)

Political Impact

Many government jobs were created for the unemployed (‘civil service’ jobs)

Development of a uniform system of law to make justice more equal throughout the Empire

Social Impact

Life became more stable for most people throughout the Empire

Increased emphasis on the family as life became more stable and prosperous

Economic Impact

Uniform system of money helped expand trade

Safer roads helped improve and increase travel and trade throughout the Empire

Prosperity and stability increased for most people throughout the Empire

You can’t help but notice notice the similarities to our present day Western culture.

No ‘Peace’ under Roman Occupation

Roman officials wielded terrifying power (Herod killing babies of Bethlehem . . . )

Unjust but lawful tax collection practices

The Romans even viewed the Jewish people with suspicion and persecuted them on several occasions, resulting in great persecution in 70 AD

Going a bit deeper

Luke 2:14 TNIV

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Seems like an odd pronouncement, especially since neither during Jesus’ day nor until now has the world really experienced “peace.”

History of Rome

Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.

Rome fell in 395 A.D.

2020

There are international conflicts in the news with Iran, North Korea, China, Russia, Syria.

Division is rife with no apparent hope in our own government or society.

Take it more close to home, our homes are rife with financial strain, substance abuse and sickness.

Would any of us use the word “peace” to describe 2020?

Further Detail

Luke 2:8–13 TNIV

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

Defining Terms

Town of David – Bethlehem, same town that king David was born

Savior

Person who saves someone or something from danger or harm

People under Roman rule came to call the emperor “Savior”

This baby was given this title instead

Messiah (Christ)

Israel had a belief that One would come, Anointed by God, to bring redemption/rescue, peace from, their people from their enemies

Jesus was this Messiah, this Anointed one, but He came this time to bring His people a different kind of peace

Lord – God Himself (Jehovah)

It was in connection with the birth of this child, the “Savior, Christ the Lord”, that the Angels proclaim “peace on earth”

Transition: He certainly has the credentials for it so, what type of peace then is this child going to bring?

II. Peace With God

Romans 5:1–2 TNIV

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

“Therefore” =

“Peace with God”

“With” (prόs) = Carries shades of meaning we are not used to today

“It’s more than ‘You-and-me-and-God standing near each other”

An active word “implying motion or direction”

Ancient idea is deliberate movement toward something

Few trusted 19th-century Bible translations translate this word:

“We have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Young’s Literal Translation, 1898)

“We have peace towards God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Darby Translation, 1890)

Place that within Paul’s context and you see a picture of a man or woman moving forward, unhindered, toward a welcoming God. Peace with God.

Transition: How is this possible?

Romans 5:8 TNIV

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We lash-out in defiance and disobedience and selfishness and pride. We miss the mark - and we misunderstand how our own sin blows up in our faces (cf. John 8:34)

You and I? We’re that obstinate child shouting “I hate you!” as we stomp off and slam the bedroom door.

Meanwhile, our Heavenly Father refuses to retaliate, waiting instead for us to return again to His presence in peace, making it possible, a deliberately move forward in Christ’s sacrifice.

This kind of peace is, at its core, a spiritual reconciliation between family members.

It’s a restored relationship between Heavenly Father and earthly child, made possible simply because Jesus wanted it so—enough that He was willing to suffer, die, and rise from death for it.

Because Christ Himself has guaranteed our peace with God, we live with unfettered “access” (prosagōgē) to our Father—a word “used in the ancient world to refer to a person’s being conducted into the presence of royalty” (verse 2).

Transition: This little child, God in the flesh, would be born to restore this relationship between God and people. He would take the penalty for our breaking God’s law, resulting in our having “peace” with God.

Differentiate between believer and non-believer

Not merely a subjective feeling (peace of mind) but primarily an objective status, a new relationship with God. Once we were his enemies, but now we are his friends (

III. Peace of God

Peace with God is an objective fact

Peace of God is a subjective reality

Yet, it finds it’s foundations on the fact that we have peace with God through Jesus, our sins are forgiven and we are right with Him

Not merely a psychological state of mind, but an inner tranquility based on peace with God,

Philippians 4:4–7 TNIV

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Chapter 4:1-3 Paul address specific individuals within the church of Philippi. He now turns to give instructions to all the members

vs. 4) Joy

vs. 5) Gentleness

That is because the peace that is being promised here is a different kind of peace. It’s a kind of peace that allows you to pillow your head at night with a profound sense of assurance that everything is going to be ok in the world, with you and with life.

Let’s go back to this brief little story and take a look at it in a bit more detail:

The Gospel allows us to see ourselves as who we are in Christ.

II. Peace of God

Passes all understanding

With ourselves

We carry around so much guilt, anxiety and shameGuilt/shame from past decisions Anxiety over unexpected things happening in life or physical sickness The peace Jesus gives us is not to be found in the abundance of our blessings, how well we control our lives or can control our future This peace comes as we trust JesusFor God never asked you to figure it all out on our ownAs we “lay all our cares before Him because He cares for” us (1 Peter 5:7) As we do that, He calms our hearts + minds, giving us the assurance that He is in control of all things

John 14:27 TNIVPeace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

II. Peace with Ourselves