Sermon Central
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Enjoying The Peace Of Christ
Contributed by Barnabas Park on Jan 5, 2026 (message contributor)
Summary: this sermon examines how God’s grace restores our broken relationship with Him. True peace is a relational status achieved through Christ’s sacrifice, not a worldly feeling. Believers must reflect this harmony within the church through prayer and mutual love.
Sermon Outline: Enjoying the Peace of Christ
Scripture Text: Philippians 1:1-2; Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:20
Introduction: Enjoying the Peace of Christ
In the opening of his epistles, the Apostle Paul consistently greets the church with a specific blessing: "Grace and peace". This is not merely a polite greeting; it is a profound theological statement.
* Grace Always Comes First: We cannot experience true peace without first receiving God’s grace. Peace is the fruit that grows only in the soil of Grace.
* A Divine Source: This is not a peace the world can manufacture. It is the "peace of God," a gift that only the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ can provide.
I. The Definition of Peace: A Restored Relationship
Biblical peace is more than the absence of conflict; it is a relational status.
Original Harmony: In the beginning, humanity was created in a "righteous relationship" with God. This resulted in perfect peace between man and God, man and neighbor, and man and all creation.
The Disruption of Sin: Sin shattered this harmony. We see the immediate result in Genesis 4, where the first family was broken by murder, reflecting a world now dominated by division and anxiety.
II. The Restoration: Peace Through the Cross
God did not leave us in our brokenness. Throughout the Old Testament, He promised a Messiah who would restore this lost peace.
"It is Finished": Jesus fulfilled this promise through His death and resurrection. While we were still enemies, He reconciled us to God through His blood.
The Gift of Justification: Because of what Christ has done, we are "made right in God's sight". This justification is the bedrock of our peace.
A Bridge Between Two Creations: We currently live in the "in-between" time. We look back at the peace of Eden and forward to the complete restoration of the New Creation. Jesus stands at the center of this history as our Reconciler.
III. Living the Peace: The Role of the Church
The promise, "My peace I give to you," was spoken specifically to Christ’s disciples. As His followers, we are called to experience this peace even in a world of sin and death.
One Body: We are not called to enjoy this peace in isolation. As members of "one body," the church is meant to let the peace of Christ rule in our collective hearts.
A Reflection of Eden: Our church should be a "light and salt," a community that reflects the harmony of the Garden of Eden and the coming New Heaven and Earth.
IV. Application: How to Cultivate a Community of Peace
A biblical community of peace cannot be manufactured by human effort; it is a work of Grace. To reflect this peace, we must prioritize two things:
1. Knowing and Loving the Lord: We grow in grace and peace through the knowledge of God. Without a life of prayer and immersion in the Word, we cannot truly experience His peace.
2. Loving and Encouraging One Another: We are commanded to "strive for full restoration" and "live in peace" with one another. Our ability to reflect God’s peace to the world depends on how much we love both the Lord and our brothers and sisters.
Conclusion: "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). May our families and our church be guided by the Spirit to reflect the peace that Jesus bought with His own blood.
