Let's begin this study in prayer...
Isaiah 27:2-5... "Sing about a fruitful vineyard: I, the Lord, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it. I am not angry. If only there were briers and thorns confronting me! I would march against them in battle; I would set them all on fire. Or else let them come to me for refuge; let them make peace with me, yes, let them make peace with me."
In our last study we saw that as a born again believer in Jesus
Christ we are a child of God, are a temple of the Holy Spirit and
have our citizenship in Heaven. Lord willing in this study we shall
find that now, in our new position in Christ Jesus, we have peace!
However, before we begin our study with the wrong impression, the
peace that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ gives us is the peace
that comes from Him and not from the world. To see this, let us read,
John 14:27
Notice: I do not give to you as the world gives.
OK?
And so, let us begin. Let us now explore this peace that we can have
from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We take our theme from something Jesus had said while approaching the
city of Jerusalem.
Luke 19:41-42
Namely, know what makes for peace.
QUESTION: What did Jesus mean?
Well, in order to find out, we begin in the Old Testament.
I. OLD TESTAMENT FORESHADOWING
In a previous lesson we saw how the nation of Israel was commanded to
sacrifice various animals so that the shedding of their blood would
make atonement for their sins. As we study the old testament we also
find that sacrifices were also made as fellowship or peace offerings
to God. For example,
A. SACRIFICES
1. THE COMMAND
Exodus 20:22-24
2. CONFIRMING THE COVENANT
Exodus 24:3-7
Notice: Sacrificed young bulls as fellowship
offerings.
Throughout the old testament we find that Israel offered sacrifice
upon sacrifice. However after a period of time, these offerings
became just a ritual and the people's hearts fell far from the
Lord. Hence our Lord's Words to Israel,
Isaiah 1:10-20
But God does not stop here because we also find that at this time
He also promises Israel that the Messiah will come to bring them
back, i.e. restore them to fellowship. In fact let us go and read
some examples of these promises or prophecies.
B. THE PROMISE OF THE MESSIAH (i.e. CHRIST)
In our first prophecy notice that one of His names or attributes
is the,
1. PRINCE OF PEACE
Isaiah 9:6-7
In our next prophecy, we find that the coming Messiah will
shepherd His people, i.e. care for them and be with them.
Thus, we find that,
2. A SHEPHERD WILL BE RAISED
Ezekiel 34:1-16
Finally, in our last prophecy we find that He will bring
peace to Israel and the rest of the nations.
3. MESSIAH IS TO COME
Zechariah 9:9-10
By way of reminder, let us return to the New Testament and
read about Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. However, this time
let us go to the account written in,
Matthew 21:1-11
In fact what we find is that all these prophecies were,
II. FULFILLED IN JESUS
To see this, we first find that,
A. JESUS CHRIST IS OUR SHEPHERD
To see this, let us read how Jesus once described Himself.
John 10:11-18
Notice vs 17&18
QUESTION: What is Jesus referring to about laying down and picking up
His life?
His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of our sins. However,
what we also find is that in addition to being our sacrifice for the
atonement and redemption from our sins, Jesus Christ was also our
peace offering to God the Father. And so what we find is that,
B. JESUS IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE
To see this, let us read what the Holy Spirit tells us in:
Colossians 1:19-20
Hence, we find that in Jesus Christ we have peace. In fact this
is one of the things He told his disciples when He was preparing
them for His upcoming ordeal. In fact let us go and read it,
John 16:33
QUESTION: What is this peace that we have in Jesus?
Well, as it turns out, in Jesus Christ we have three kinds of
peace:
With God,
Of God,
-and-
With Our Brethren
And so, let us now explore each one of the three types of peace.
III. THE PEACE WE HAVE IN JESUS
First of all we find that in Jesus Christ we have,
A. PEACE WITH GOD
To see this we must understand the essence of the Gospel, namely,
Romans 6:10-11
Notice: First what Jesus did... vs 10
Second what we are to do... vs 11
Therefore, we can now go and read about the peace we have with God,
Romans 5:1-2
Or put another way,
Colossians 1:15-23
Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!
But God does not stop here, for we also find that we have,
B. THE PEACE OF GOD
Our first clue to this peace, which is different than peace with
God comes to us from the beginning of all the Epistles of Paul.
For example,
Romans 1:7
Notice vs 7 Grace and peace to you from God.
1 Corinthians 1:3
Notice vs 3 Grace and peace to you from God.
2 Corinthians 1:2
etc.
QUESTION: Are these just nice polite standard greetings of that
day? (or) Is there more to it?
Well, in order to find out let us return to one of the scriptures
that we read at the start of this study. Namely,
John 14:27
Notice: Peace I leave with you
Peace I give you
Be not troubled or afraid
QUESTION: What did Jesus mean?
Well in order to find out let us first go to the sermon on the
mount and read how Jesus encourages us to place our complete and
total trust in Him.
Matthew 6:24-34
With this in mind, let us now read from,
Philippians 4:4-7
Now that we have peace with God and of God, we are now
instructed to,
C. MAKE PEACE WITH OUR BRETHREN(i.e. OUR FELLOW CHRISTIAN)
In order to see this, let us remember that Jesus Christ is
creating for Himself a new person, i.e. the Christian. To see
this let us read,
Ephesians 2:11-22
Consequently, there is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free,
male or female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus. This is
given to us in,
Galatians 3:26-29
With this background, let us begin our instruction by reading,
Romans 14:12-23
QUESTION: Are the scriptures only talking of food and drink?
(or) Should this also be expanded to include minor theological
and religious issues that divide the body of Christ?
Well, in order to find out let us read the instruction given
through Paul concerning the divisions that had occurred within
the Church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 1:10-31
IV. CLOSING
And so with all this in mind, let us close this study with praise and
thanksgiving to our Lord by reading the following Psalm.
Psalm 146:1-10
Let's end this study in prayer...
Luke 2:8-14And there were sheperds 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 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 Christ, 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, "Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests."
Read the book by John Sweet, Jr.
Send e-mail to John Sweet... Internet address is jsweetj@jsweetj.cnc.net Send e-mail to web page curator... Internet address is kenzy@kenzy.com
Home page for web page curator...