PEACE – Jesus is Our Peace – Sermon 22 December, 2013

God’s Peace – Jesus is Our Peace

Romans 1:1-7

Every day brings us closer and closer to Christmas when we remember God’s gift of grace to us. Jesus, our Saviour, is God’s gift of grace. As with any gift God freely gives his Gift. No one deserves any of God’s good gifts. “But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared,he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (Titus 3:4,5a).

God’s peace comes through grace

I. God sends Christ to provide grace

A. God’s message contains two constant teachings – law and gospel. God’s law is connected with sin.

1. God’s gospel is always connected with Christ, verse 2. God promised a Saviour after first sin.

2. Verse 3. Jesus was born in Bethlehem; son of Mary and Joseph  from the line of David.

B. Verse 4. There was more to Jesus’ life than his birth. Jesus lived, suffered, died, and rose again.

1. Almost everyone recognizes Jesus as a good teacher or a miracle worker.

2. Jesus is also God’s Son. This truth takes a “leap of faith”. Jesus’ resurrection proves his deity.

C. Verse 4b. Jesus is the name that saves. Christ is Messiah and means anointed.

D. Grace is God’s undeserved love for mankind. This very fitting description beautifully describes God’s Gift – His Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord. God’s grace at times goes beyond our limited human understanding. Therefore it is important for every believer to faithfully and carefully examine God’s undeserved love with deep thought and grateful joy. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). This is Jesus our Saviour, God’s grace. Jesus left his throne of glory and was born in a cold manger at Bethlehem. Jesus lived a humble, poor life so that we would inherit heaven.

E. God’s promises also sometimes move beyond our human understanding. God promises and fulfils all of his promises. The Lord promised Adam and Eve a Saviour. God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob a Saviour. Joseph and Mary were told about that promised Saviour. Every one of God’s promises made are all always kept. This is quite different from promises that we make and do not always keep. This is quite different from the rest of the world that makes promises and seldom delivers. A promise made and a promise kept is God’s grace. “He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” (Gal. 3:14).

F. At Christmas we closely examine the manger in the town of Bethlehem. It is not always that easy to also connect the manger with the cross. Birth and death have very little in common. Jesus’ birth for mankind has everything to do with his death to save mankind. There is a vital connection from the humble town to a tortured death on a cross. Jesus is the only one ever born with the specific purpose of dying. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18b, 19). It is only the perfect blood of Jesus that can and does cleanse us from sin and purify us from all unrighteousness.

God’s peace comes through grace.

God sends His Son Jesus as a Gift of grace for us. Jesus is truly God’s Gift of peace and joy and hope to us and for us to show others sitting in the dark.

II. God sends His saints to proclaim peace

A. Verse 1. Paul is a servant of Christ. Paul is no longer a self-serving, selfish, proud Pharisee.

1. The Lord Jesus Christ has called Paul out of darkness. God appointed Paul to preach.

2. Paul is God’s apostle – sent to proclaim God’s gospel. It is not Paul’s gospel, but God’s.

B. Paul was greatly humbled by God’s choice upon him. Paul wanted other believers to understand.

1. Paul was not God’s only one called to proclaim peace, verse 6. All believers are called.

2. All believers belong to God. All believers are loved by God and forgiven by God, verse 7.

3. Knowing God’s call, love, and forgiveness gave these believers God’s grace and peace.

C. Verse 5. Called and loved and forgiven by God each believer is now sent by God to others.

1. Paul was an apostle – sent by God. All believers are given this same “apostleship”.

2. There is only one, singular message to proclaim. It is the message of peace through Christ

D. Today many wish everyone well without Christ. There is no Christmas without Christ. There are many who celebrate the season and then wonder if that is all there is. People un-wrap their gifts and clean up the mess. Sadly, many lives remain empty. There is no spiritual joy. There is no hope because there is no peace. “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.” (Eph. 4:18). God’s grace has been showered on us.

E. God has worked faith in each of our hearts. We look at the manger and see our Saviour. We look at the cross and see our Saviour. We look at God’s word and see our peace through Christ our Saviour.

We say we are filled with joy, hope and peace but we still live in a sinful, wicked world. Our lives do not always seem happy or joyful. Joy, hope and peace take work. We are not born into this world with such Christian characteristics. We are born as enemies of God filled with wickedness, rebellion and sin. By God’s grace we are pulled from that darkness and brought into the very light of Christ. How can we live lives that proclaim God’s peace? If we begin to appreciate God’s grace then we will want to proclaim God’s great peace to others.

F. We cannot talk about God’s peace without remembering Jesus’ promised peace. God’s word even today still provides us with Jesus’ strength. Jesus spoke the following words to his disciples to prepare them for difficult times. “Peace 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.” (John 14:27). Thus Jesus still speaks to our hearts. The peace of Jesus is ours. Our lives will proclaim God’s peace to a world of unrest.

At Christmas, God’s peace does indeed come through his gift of grace to all of mankind. This is an important truth at this time of year. Christmas is not all about our joy. Christmas is all about joy to the entire world. The joy of salvation is ours. We know God’s grace. We proclaim God’s peace. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Col. 3:15). We should reveal God’s grace and display God’s peace.

God’s peace comes through grace.

God sends our Saviour Jesus as a Gift of grace.

We live in the joy of God’s Grace to proclaim God’s peace daily. Amen.

Krikor Youmshajekian