Peace

I. Introduction
   A. Romans 15:33, Philippians 4:7
   B. Constant message within the Gospel is the message of peace
   C. Christians are called to be peaceable people (Galatians 5:22, 
      2 Corinthians 13:11)
   D. Why is peace so important?
   E. How may we become peaceful people?
   F. Let us consider what the Scriptures teach

II. Desiring Peace
   A. In general, peace is recognized as a desirable attribute
      1. As Galatians 5:22-23 declares, there is "no law" against peace
      2. Peace is generally associated with prosperity and growth
      3. While many may be "anti-war," how many are "anti-peace"?
   B. But what kind of peace is generally sought?
      1. People do appreciate peace…but what kind of peace?
      2. A "tolerant" peace, a comfortable zone where everyone gets 
         along
      3. There is no room for "wrong" in this idea of peace
      4. As long as there is political stability, many believe that 
         there is peace
   C. Is this the idea present in Biblical peace?

III. Jesus and Paradoxical Peace
   A. In the New Testament, Jesus Himself presents a paradoxical form 
      of peace
      1. Paradox: two seemingly contradictory statements that are both 
         true
      2. "Win by losing" or "we have to destroy this house to save it"
   B. Jesus is heralded as the Prince of Peace, bringing peace to 
      mankind
      1. Isaiah 9:6
      2. Luke 1:79, 19:38
      3. John 14:27
   C. And yet Jesus says that He does not bring peace, but a sword!
      1. Matthew 10:34-39 (cf. Luke 12:51-53)
      2. Internal strife and discord to be present
   D. How can it be that Jesus brings peace but yet does not bring 
      peace?
   E. We cannot take either idea in exclusion, but see how they work 
      together!
   F. Note that the peace of Jesus comes only to those who believe in 
      Him
      1. cf. John 16:33
      2. Romans 2:10, 5:1
   G. The conflict and strife is due to Jesus is not because of Jesus' 
      personality or that believers are to be marked by strife and 
      division, but is the natural result of sin being exposed
      1. If a family consisted of believers, the sword would not 
         divide!
      2. Hebrews 4:12
      3. The works of darkness do not like being exposed 
         (Ephesians 5:11)
   H. Thus we understand Jesus' paradox and a bit about Biblical peace
      1. The peace that Jesus brings does not rejoice in error or 
         unrighteousness
      2. Such are contrary to Jesus' peace
      3. The peace that Jesus provides is for believers in Him

IV. The Peace of Jesus
   A. What is the peace that Jesus came to bring?
   B. Reconciliation of Jew and Gentile
      1. Ephesians 2:14-17
      2. Where there was once hostility between Jew and Gentile on 
         account of the Law, Jesus came and reconciled the two in 
         Himself
      3. How was that even possible?
   C. Acts 10:36: the Gospel as the "good news of peace"
      1. Also seen in Ephesians 6:15
      2. How can the Gospel be a message of peace?
   D. The Gospel is a message of peace because it promotes the 
      reconciliation of man and God in the blood of Christ
      1. Colossians 1:20
      2. Romans 5:1: peace through having been justified in Christ
      3. Romans 15:13: peace in believing
   E. The peace of Jesus, therefore, is an internal peace, the result 
      of our reconciliation with God
      1. God as a God of peace-- 1 Corinthians 14:33
      2. 1 Peter 2:25 
      3. When we are right with God, no matter what may befall us, we 
         can still have inner peace, since our association with God 
         remains unbroken (Romans 8:31-39)

V. Manifesting Peace
   A. The peace of a Christian, therefore, is rooted in his 
      relationship with God
   B. It is to flow from the inside!
      1. It cannot be that we have an exterior of peace with internal 
         turmoil or hostility
      2. Philippians 4:7
   C. Peace, alongside love and joy, is to come from inside the 
      Christian and be manifest to fellow Christians and to all those 
      in the world
      1. 2 Corinthians 13:11
      2. Romans 8:6, 14:19
      3. Romans 12:16, 18
      4. Ephesians 4:1-3
      5. Preeminently, Colossians 3:15
   D. While the promotion of the Gospel leads to strife and persecution 
      on account of the reaction of unbelievers, it must never be that 
      Christians are the ones acting in contentious ways, engendering 
      strife!
      1. Contentiousness and strife represent works of the flesh, not 
         the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-23)
      2. Hence Paul's statement: as much as it depends on you, live 
         at peace with all men (Romans 12:18)
      3. This never justifies a spirit of retribution or vengeance 
         (cf. Romans 12:19ff)!
   E. In the end, we as Christians are to manifest peace because of 
      the peace that God has given us!
      1. We are at peace with God since we have been reconciled to Him 
         through His Son
      2. We wish that all men would be able to find that peace
      3. We have peace because we have been delivered from the strife 
         of the world of sin!
      4. Why would we seek to return to that world of strife?
      5. Why would we wish to fall prey to strife and hostility, by 
         which God's purposes can never be accomplished (James 1:20)?
      6. If we seek to lead people to the God of peace, we ourselves 
         must manifest His peace in our lives!

VI. Conclusion
   A. We have examined what God has said about peace
   B. We have seen the nature of the peace that God provides
   C. Let us all strive to manifest the peace given to us by God in 
      our lives!
   D. Invitation/songbook