Title: The Cross of Christ-the place of God’s peace
Text: Colossians 1:19-23
Introduction
Today we are on the 3rd of 4 places Jesus visited over Easter week and connecting each place with God’s peace
To recap here are the 2 places we have already visited.
1st place – the upper room – the place of the last supper – Here we have the promise of God’s peace
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)
2nd place – the garden of Gethsemane – Here we have the price of God’s peace
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” Stay here and keep watch with me. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matt. 26:38)
Today we want to visit the 3rd place which is the cross of Christ –
which is the place of God’s peace
Text: Colossians 1:19-23
"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
This morning we want to answer the following question. What is the proof that the cross of Christ is the place of God’s peace?
Lots of people would disagree that the Cross of Christ is the place of God’s peace.
They would argue that you can find God’s peace in other religions/places
- You can find God’s peace in a Hindu temple, Buddhist monastery,
...in the woods/on the golf course
What is the proof that the cross of Christ is the place of God’s peace?
Colossians 1:19-23 gives us not 1 but 3 reasons why the cross of Christ is the place of God’s peace
1. The cross of Christ is the place of God’s peace because of the pleasure of God
Col. 1 19 begins with the words “For God was pleased…”
“For God was pleased are the 4 most important words in our passage
Because it implies that everything that is about to be said must be true! And only that which is true pleases God.
So what then pleases God? (v19-20)
"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."
It pleased God to make the cross of Christ the place of God’s peace.
Or it delighted God to make the cross of Christ the place of God’s peace
It also means that everything that contradicts what we just read displeases God
If I said “I believe something or somewhere else is the place of God’s peace; by saying that I would not please God.
Why? I’ve just contradicted what pleases God
How can any place other than the Cross of Christ be the place of God’s peace if it displeases God? You can’t have the peace of God and and at the same time displease God. No only if you please God do you have the peace of God!
I’ve been saying that it pleased God to make the Cross of Christ the place of God’s peace.
Maybe someone here is thinking to themselves;“How can you be so sure that it pleased God to make the Cross of Christ the place of God’s peace?”
Proof #2
2.The cross of Christ is the place of God’s peace because of the participation of God (v19-20)
"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."
The Cross of Christ must be the place of God’s peace if God participates. How do we see God participating in the Cross of Christ?
God participates in the cross of Christ in 2 ways
1.We have the participation of God in Christ
2.We have the participation of God through Christ.
1. We have the participation of God in Christ (v19)
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.”
All the fullness of God was in Christ. This means that in the person of Jesus Christ, God was in his fullness and not simply in his manifestation. If all the fullness of God was in Christ then Christ must also be God. (John 1:1)
And if Christ is God then the cross of Christ is also the Cross of God. The cross of Christ is different from every other cross!It was the cross that God died on.
B. The participation of God through Christ (v20)
"...and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
God was not only in Christ God also worked through Christ. In both the life and death of Christ God worked miracles. God worked through the blood of Christ shed on the Cross to reconcile to himself all things.
Proof #3
The cross of Christ is the place of God’s peace because of the provision of God (v19-22)
"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.
The cross of Christ provides us with the place to find reconciliation with God
How does God uses the cross of Christ to provide us reconciliation with God?
1.God is love.
Because God is love He wants every person to spend eternity with him in Heaven
2.God is Holy
Because God is holy he can’t let sinners into heaven.
"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior." (v21)
The solution
On the cross Jesus took the punishment for our sins
“He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isa. 53:5)
At the cross of Christ you always get more than you could ask for
If we only got forgiveness that in itself would be enough
"But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation." (v22)
Through the Cross of Christ God does more than forgive us .He also presents us holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.Our sins are not only forgiven on the cross of Christ they are also forgotten.
Illustration: The prodigal son
Father I have sinned against heaven and against you. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.”…make me like one of your hired men.
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found.”
At the Cross of Christ we get more than we deserve.
Conclusion
The cross of Christ is the place of God’s peace because of the pleasure of God
The cross of Christ is the place of God’s peace because of the participation of God
The cross of Christ is the place of God’s peace because of the provision of God.
Maybe Paul is mistaken about the cross of Christ being the place of God’s peace. Maybe Paul is just saying the Cross of Christ is the place of God’s peace because he is a Christian.
At one time Paul opposed the idea that the cross of Christ was the place of God’s peace. If he found you preaching that the cross of Christ was the place of God’s peace he would have you imprisoned and murdered.
Until one day God supernaturally revealed to him that the cross of Christ was the place of God’s peace
Since the cross of Christ is the only place of God’s peace how do I get to receive that peace? (v23)
"If you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."
I receive God’s peace through putting my faith and hope in what God did for me on the Cross of Christ.
I trust that Jesus died for my sins
Maybe you feel today that your sins have alienated you from God. Maybe you feel today that God is your enemy. Maybe you feel guilty because of your sinful behavior.
You have a choice today. You can continue how you are or you can put your faith and hope in Jesus and receive reconciliation with God.
Prayer
Thank you God that it pleased you to send Jesus to die on the Cross for my sins. Although my sins have alienated me from you today I put my faith and hope in Jesus. Thank you for offering me more than I could ever hope for today through the cross of Christ. I pray all this in Jesus name. Amen.
