“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:1-2 NIV)
All the epistles of Paul and Peter starts with blessing of “Grace and peace
1. Peace is more than a greeting word just as Grace is more than a greeting word
2. The kind of grace and peace only God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ can give.
3. Always Grace first because peace is based on Grace of God and our Lord Jesus
4. Though people seek peace from something else; temporal, circumstantial, conditional peace. But, God’s peace or peace with God is solely based on His Grace.
What is Peace with God/ Peace of God?
1. Righteous relationship with God (God is so concerned about righteous relationship)
2. We were created in the righteous relationship with God: Peace b/n God & man, man & man, man & other creatures
3. but Sin broke our righteous relationship with God: shattered peace & Broken peace b/n God & man, man & man, man & other creature
Genesis ch 4 - “murder within family” broken family as example
God’s Promise of New Creation: the Old Testament (the Law and prophets) prophesied God would send the Messiah who would restore peace. And the New Testament talks about the promised one came to give us peace.
How we restore peace with God in the meantime - righteous relationship with God.
Jesus fulfilled His mission, declaring 'It is finished' as He died on the cross: “while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Rom 5:10; 2 Co 5:18) 'Jesus was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us' (Rom 4:25-5:1).
The most precious gift:
Through His grace, He gave us the most precious gift: Salvation/Restoration, Justification/ Redemption, Reconciliation or in other words, peace with God. 'through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross' (Col 1:20 NLT).
1. Just as we were created in the righteous relationship with God, the Bible promises that, at the culmination of human history, there will be complete restoration of peace—a new creation: Peace b/n God & man, man & man, man & other creatures
2. We live in between these two creations in a period of broken peace with God, with each other, and with other creatures
3. Jesus stands at the center of this history of restoring peace with God, having come to reconcile the people with God:
Even before the new creation, we can experience and live in peace with God, thanks to Jesus offering Himself as a sacrifice—this is Grace. (the kingdom of God on earth.)
And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, Rev 5:10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
This is why Jesus’ last words to His disciples before His death were 'Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you' (John 14:27), and His first words after resurrection were 'Peace be with you' (John 20:21).
What to do to experience the peace coming from Jesus?
First, Remember that the Lord’s promise, 'My peace I give to you,' was not spoken to just anyone but to His disciples. It is a promise for those who believe in Jesus. John says you have to receive Jesus in order that you may earn the right to become a child of God. As you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you receive His salvation, His forgivenes, His love and His grace, His reconciliation and also His peace: "He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, wea have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 4:25-5:1 ESV) Only Christ's disciples are called to experience peace with God in a world dominated by division, fighting, anxiety, sin, and death.
Second, just as Adam enjoyed peace with God alongside Eve in the first creation, and as we will enjoy peace with God alongside others in the new creation to come, each of us is called to enjoy peace with God together with fellow believers. This is the essence of the church of Christ: 'Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful' (Col 3:15 NIV).
For us to experience this peace, we are all called to be one body—the church of Christ.
The church is meant to be the light and salt of the world, reflecting the Garden of Eden and the new heaven and earth where there was peace with God. (Rom 5:18) So, what should we do to make our church reflect the Garden of Eden and the new heaven and earth?
A biblical community of peace cannot be artificially created; it can only be through God’s grace. Therefore, our first priority must be to know and love the Lord: ‘To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:1-2) 'Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible' (“ Eph 6:24 ESV). Without knowing and loving the Lord through prayer and the Word a priority in our lives, we cannot truly experience grace and peace with God.
Scripture also advises, 'Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you' (2 Co 13:11). Knowing and Loving the Lord is crucial, but so is prioritizing encouragement and love for one another: 'If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone' (Rom 12:18 NIV).
Our ability to experience peace with God and reflect it to others depends on how much we love the Lord and each other. May we, guided by the Holy Spirit, grow in knowledge of the Lord and love for the Lord and our brothers and sisters so that our church and family will reflect the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve enjoyed peace with God and each other before their fall. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Rom 14:17 "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
