Rooted in Christ-Part 28- The Peace of God
Rooted in Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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· 23 viewsThe peace of God is unique to the believer and is a guiding force in the life of every disciple of Christ
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Last week we discussed the importance of charity/love in the life of the believer. We learned that love is an action not something that we say or feel.
We also came to understand that love is the fundamental virtue which undergirds and unites all other Christian virtues and that without love we shall not make progress towards maturity in our spiritual growth.
Tonight we will consider the peace of God and the role that it plays in the life of every believer.
In Christ we who believe now have peace with God:
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
In Christ we are no longer to be considered enemies of God, but rather we have become children of God.
Now we must consider the the peace of God that is ours.
Peace Defined
Peace Defined
There is much effort in our world to find peace, peace between nations, peace between families, peace between individuals, peace between political parties, peace between races, etc...
Just like love, the world has a definition of peace which does not align with the peace spoken of in the scriptures.
The worlds idea of peace is simply a state where there is no war or conflict between nations and yet the peace of God is much more than this.
The peace that is spoken of here has God as its source and goes beyond any peace that the world can imagine. Biblical peace is more than the absence of conflict, it is an active force that brings rest and tranquility and which alleviates anxiety in the life of believers.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Before Jesus Christ left the earth, He knew the fear and anxiety that was present among His disciples, but He promised them peace.
Now that we have a fuller understanding of what peace is, we must explore what Paul is saying to the Colossian believers about it.
This brings us to...
Th Operation of Peace
Th Operation of Peace
IN THE HEART OF THE BELIEVER:
One key word in this verse is the word “let.” This word serves to denote the fact that we have a responsibility in the matter of peace.
Why is it that so many Christians live in turmoil and continuous strife?
Through our relationship with Jesus Christ, we have peace with God, but this does not mean that we shall daily enjoy the peace of God.
So what must we do to enjoy the peace of God in our daily lives?
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Peace is among the virtues listed as fruits of the Spirit.
The peace of God will rule in our hearts only as we yield to the Spirit’s leading and thus abide in the will of God.
If we rebel against God and choose instead to go our own way, we shall not know the peace of God.
Illustration- the utter lack of peace in my own life when living a carnal life.
If we have no peace in our hearts, then we should examine ourselves to determine if we have rebelled against the leadership of the Spirit of God in some area of our lives.
The peace of God is a wonderful indicator which serves to help us to remain inside the will of God and to help us to know when we have gone astray.
It is of note that the same word translated rule here is used in a negative sense of the false teachers attempts to “beguile” the Colossian believers in Colossians 2:18
Paul contrasts the persuasive efforts of the false teachers with the peace of God, showing that the peace of God will actually serve to lead us in the way that we should go rather than deceiving us as the persuasion of the false teachers.
IN THE BODY OF CHRIST:
The peace of God is also of great importance to the function of the Local New Testament Church.
It has been rightly stated that a person cannot be right with God and at the same time in conflict with a brother or sister in Christ.
When each of us allow the peace of God to rule in our hearts individually, we shall find ourselves at peace with one another as well.
Division appears in the body when we have failed to yield to the Spirit of God and have thus failed to let the peace of God rule in our hearts.
Great peace have they which love thy law:
And nothing shall offend them.
When we allow the peace of God the rule our hearts we shall find ourselves in perfect harmony with one another laboring with a unity of mind and purpose.
Gratitude for Peace
Gratitude for Peace
How thankful ought we to be for the operation of the peace of God in our lives.
We should be thankful for how the peace of God serves as a sort of GPS in our Christian lives to alert us when we have gone off course and stepped outside of the will of God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
We should be thankful that the peace of God allows us the opportunity to find rest and tranquility even in the most tumultuous times.
When chaos reigns, the believer who is abiding in Christ shall yet have peace and shall know rest.
This is why believers around the world who find themselves in the midst of fiery trials, and terrible circumstances can still pillow their head at night and enjoy sweet rest in Christ.
In 1555, Dr. Nicholas Ridley was sentenced to be burned at the stake in England because of his witness for Christ. On the night before Ridley’s execution, his brother offered to remain with him in the prison chamber to be of assistance and comfort. Nicholas Ridley declined the offer saying, “I intend (God willing) to go to bed, and sleep as quietly tonight, as ever I did.” Because he knew the peace of God, he could rest in the strength of the everlasting arms of his Lord to meet his need.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on thee:
Because he trusteth in thee.
We ought also to thank God for the unity and harmony that we can enjoy in the body of Christ because of the peace of God.
Conclusion
There are really two vital questions regarding peace.
Do you have peace with God? If you have never come to Christ in faith and repentance then you remain at enmity with God today.
Believer, is the peace of God ruling your heart today? If there is fear, anxiety, unrest present in your heart then it may be that you have stepped outside the will of God, but all you must do today is again yield to the Spirit of God and allow Him to restore that peace which has been lost.