The Advent of Peace (2)

It’s hard to believe but we are entering into our third week of advent. Each week we have looked a different aspect of Christ’s birth and the promises it brings.

Week-1 - Hope

Week 2 - Love

And today Week 3 is the Advent of peace through Jesus Christ.

Don’t you long for peace. How long has it been since our nation has had peace socially, politically, and geographically. We live in a world that is ever increasingly shaped by violence, anger, hatred, and instability. In God’s people I sense there is a yearning and longing for day when peace will reign. I know that the desire for peace is only increasing in my heart and I am sure it is in yours. We long for the day that Christ returns and sets all things right.

Much in the same way the nation of Isreal was longing for the savior to arrive.

One author put it this way:

"In a world full of trouble and doubt human hearts yearned for peace, yet it ever eluded them. For true peace begins with God, and it was well beyond their means to achieve it. Comfort and joy, darkness and dread, hung together in a balance, and only the Lord Himself could tip the scales in our favor. On behalf of lowly man came a lowly yet sinless savior, to redeem us all and bring forgiveness, and our reconciliation with God. In times of great peril, the peace He gave us would arise from within Himself.

The nation stirred with trouble as His coming drew near."

Loren D. Bishop, The Christmas Story: Scripture From The Gospels And The Prophets, (Torrance, CA: Rose Publishing, 2010), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "The Advent of Peace".

In the same way our world is stirring with trouble as the time of Christ's return draws near. It is like the forces of hell are preparing to launch their final failed assault on the people of God and while we know the war is coming. We also know that peace has ruled the day.

I. The Prediction of Peace

So once again we find ourselves some 700 years before the birth of Christ

Isaiah 9:1–7 CSB

1 Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations. 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before you as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils. 4 For you have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as you did on the day of Midian. 5 For every trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.

In this passage of scripture we see this promise of peace to the world through coming through one that would hold the following titles:

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

II. The Pronouncement of Peace

Luke 2:8–14 CSB

8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!

III. What is this message of Peace?

Peace (Greek concept): The Greek concept of peace was not one of an emotional feeling, but rather of a current state. It was the opposite of being at war. This word is linked to treaties being made between to warring states.

Peace (Jewish concept): "shālôm is a common noun found in approximately 240 places with the primary sense of "peace," or "well-being," in the majority of these contexts." However, this is not a metaphysical or emotional sense of well-being but rather the reality of it.  It also, carried with it the idea of being "safe" or "safety"

IV. The Promise of Peace

Luke 2:14 CSB

14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!

Our Christmas songs, movies, and legends depict a day where on Christmas everything will always turn out right. Where wars will cease and good will finally win. Where the lonely find true love and the rejected find acceptance, and The poor are rescued from their poverty. If we will only believe in the "spirit of Christmas" all of these things will come true. But we know in our hearts that these are empty promises because in this world things don’t always turn out right.

Trans: and we see a very different idea of this given in this Luke 2 passage: Peace on earth to a people he favors. We don’t see this guarantee of peace to everyone, but to a special group of people.

Trans: So who is this people that he favors?

Romans 5:1–11 CSB

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.