Peace On Earth Series

Dakota Community Church

December 9, 2012

Peace on Earth

Luke 2:8-20

So And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Glory to God – peace to men!

Jesus in the song you wrote

The words are sticking in my throat

Peace on Earth

Hear it every Christmas time

But hope and history won't rhyme

So what's it worth

This peace on Earth – (From Peace on Earth – U2 “All That You Can’t Leave Behind”)

Hope and history don’t rhyme – so what’s it worth?

What did these angels come to announce and has it turned out to be a false message?

Look at the news tonight; did God accomplish the announced objective?

Just as the majority who awaited the Messiah did not and in fact still do not believe that He has come, the majority are misinformed because of their own preconceived notions.

They awaited a conqueror; not a suffering servant.

They awaited a political enforcer; not a spiritual healer.

They awaited an earthly kingdom; not an eternal other worldly one.

They interpreted with carnal intent and missed the work of a spiritual God – same with the peace on earth message.

What the angels announced to those lonely shepherds – has come to pass and is coming to pass everyday! On this planet, this sick, sinful, fallen planet; we now have:

1. Peace with God

Because our sins are forgiven

Colossians 2:6-15

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

The written code that was against us that stood opposed to us (THE LAW) has been taken away.

It has been nailed to the cross!

You want to come to God, you want eternal life – but God cannot receive you because you are a lying, thieving, murderous adulterer who hates God and serves only himself.

The written code is against lying thieving murderous self lovers like you.

Now Christ comes and takes the punishment you deserve.