Good Will To Men 3
Good Will Toward Men • Sermon • Submitted
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· 14 viewsThis is a quick trip to the past and future to deal with God's plan for Peace.
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Text: Luke 2:8-16
In His Christmas classic “A Christmas Carol” Charles Dickens imagines the transportation of his protagonist Scrooge. Through the mechanism of three apparitions Dickens addresses the subjects of Past Present and Future. So the declaration
“Peace goodwill toward men” does not sit in a vacuum of God’s expression on one lone night in the presence of a few shepherds.
As a matter of fact the first expression of God’s Good will toward men was first spotted in Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
The first mention of God’s plan of redemption was not some declaration in the middle of the OT rather within the span of God’s curse on creation, man, woman and serpent. We find this precious promise of one who will come to remedy the divide between God and man. This divide of course is sin.
I referenced a couple of weeks ago the origin of Peace.
In the Garden
Man was at peace with God
Man was at peace within
Man was at peace with others.
With each of these statements should be divided by the word THEREFORE...
Man is at peace with God, therefore he is at peace within...
It was the disruption between God and man at the Fall called sin that caused this peace to be lost.
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
This is what I want to call Peace Abolished.
At one time peace with God was the norm it was who we were in our very design.
Peace with God brought peace within, which brought peace with all creation.
Three levels of Peace
This gives us an understanding of the Levels or Objects of Peace.
Peace with Men
Most of human history has been caught up with peace with one another. No large historical research needs to be done to find the atrocities that humans can do to each other.
History is a long record of the barbarism of people groups on others and one another.
I would submit to you that most humanity would like to live in some level of peace. This would be desirable for all invovled. Even though as we speak our world has a few hot points of war, and if we are honest there have been rare occasions in human history that have not had these wars brewing or roaring.
Yet there is a longing in the human heart to have tranquility and hope and peace from which to live this life.
Peace within
Our culture in the last few decades has given considerable thought to inner peace. Guru’s of one kind or another have popped up for the purposes of leading the masses to their nirvana, success, their 10X or what have you. Each promising the hope that when completed you will have a position of inner rest and happiness to this point unattained.
They give themselves to “self-care” and “mental health” a consideration that by merely saying it suggests that man is dysfunctional without some steps to reconciliation with the man within.
Long before there was a consideration God was promising this peace as a by-product of being walking, and living “in Christ”
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Peace with God
Even fewer still have pushed further to a spiritual answer assenting to the reality of a Spiritual need that lies unmet, but denying the one with the power to bring real healing.
CIT: One will never have the “PEACE OF GOD” (others) without “PEACE FROM GOD” (within) that only comes by “PEACE WITH GOD”. (God)
This PEACE WITH GOD is what is referenced in Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace,
Good will toward men.
2. This is “Peace Attained”
This peace is not God promising the by-product Peace with one another.
Neither is this peace the much sought after peace within
Rather it is the greater peace PEACE with GOD.
Theologian William Newell reframes it this way, “Our peace with God is not as between two nations before at war; but as between a king and rebellious and guilty subjects.”
“You and I standing near God”
These angels were announcing this night that
“God has made a deliberate step toward us.”
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
When God’s peace is in us even when the circumstances are bad we are experienceing
3. Peace Animated
It is here were you and I can experience that second level of peace that peace within. We are not strapped to the whims of circumstance or the instability of our emotion. We have confidence in God’s word that allows us to stand on what we can’t feel or see.
And the church begins to enjoy that third level of peace because of the bond they share in Jesus
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
If we are honest even for those that experience with God this earth can be a very unpeaceful place. True because have not fully applied God’s peace.
4. Peace Applied
Scripture describes the full application of God’s promise of Peace. This will happen at his appearing.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Isaiah described the day or our Lord in these words.
And he shall judge among the nations,
And shall rebuke many people:
And they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruninghooks:
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war any more.
The question then is which peace should the believer most prioritize for those in his life.
A believer understanding this peace must prioritize the Peace with God.
CIT: One will never have the “PEACE OF GOD” (others) without “PEACE FROM GOD” (within) that only comes by “PEACE WITH GOD”. (God)
If we are honest it is much easier to pick up political causes.
We can pick up causes of moral importance
Abortion
Marriage
Gender Ideology
Injustices
Bigotry
But understand that...
CIT: One will never have the “PEACE OF GOD” (others) without “PEACE FROM GOD” (within) that only comes by “PEACE WITH GOD”. (God)
If we are honest many of us are willing to deal with the peace in our lives with the same philosophy as the one who is at odds with God. This can’t be. I don’t think Christians should be silent on topics of importance. But recognize the cure is not political, or social.
Man stands divided from God.
CIT: One will never have the “PEACE OF GOD” (others) without “PEACE FROM GOD” (within) that only comes by “PEACE WITH GOD”. (God)