Sermon – Advent Continues: Peace on Earth and Goodwill Towards Men
Scripture Text: Luke 2:8-14 “That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
Introduction: Our relationship to God is the most important of all relationships, and if we are not at peace with Him, we will never have peace in our hearts or be at peace with others. We will be fighting constantly. The language of Christmas was witnessed by the shepherds, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Completing the work on the cross Jesus paid the sin debt and satisfied the conditions for peace. He declared the war is over and bridge the gap between rebellious sinners like us and the sovereign, holy God. The war that had raged since the fall of man was over. “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth goodwill towards men.” We need peace with God before we can have the peace of God. We need to know the anger is gone, and God’s goodwill is being poured out on us.
In unstable times, we all need the gift of peace now more than ever. Perhaps you or someone you love is fighting cancer and you are facing a lot of fear and uncertainty. Or perhaps you are facing other challenges, whether it be physical, social, or economic. These difficulties, whether cancer or otherwise, threaten our peace, that feeling of tranquility and calm. We need the peace of God. The peace we have within can be affected by our changing circumstances. But none of the circumstances can affect our peace with God. Paul declares is Romans 8, because we are justified, nothing can separate us from God. Romans 8: 35-38 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The second candle of Advent is the candle of peace. It reminds us of the peace with God made available to the believer by the finished work of Jesus. Because we accepted Christ as savior, we have peace with God. Reading the Old Testament books of History, the Prophets, and the Psalms, it is easy to see only the sinfulness of man and the judgment of God. God is love yet the love of God will not allow a Holy righteous God to overlook the sinfulness of mankind. Sin is judged because of the love of God. It was God’s love that drove Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden. It was His love that provided a way of their reconciliation with God. What Isaiah promised the coming Messiah would be, the prince of peace was echoed and proclaimed to the shepherd in the fields near Bethlehem.
The first people to be told the news that Israel's Messiah had been born were a group of shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem. God's gift of such a Savior was evidence of his good pleasure towards humankind and his desire that people everywhere be brought into a relationship of peace with him. Isaiah not only proclaims Jesus to be the Prince of Peace, he promised that believers can be kept in perfect peace. How do you keep your mind in perfect peace? To be kept in this perfect peace, our mind must be stayed on the Lord. If our mind is stayed on ourselves, or our problems, or the problem people in our lives, or on anything else, we can't have this perfect peace. This is the heart that says with the Apostle Paul, Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
In a world filled with war and violence, it’s difficult to see how Jesus could be the all-powerful God who acts in human history and be the embodiment of peace. But physical safety and political harmony don’t necessarily reflect the kind of peace He’s talking about. In John 14:27, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
The Hebrew word for “peace,” shalom, refers to the calm tranquility of individuals, groups, and nations with nothing missing and nothing lacking. The Greek word for peace means “unity and one accord. Paul uses that Greek word to describe the objective of the New Testament church. But the deeper, more foundational meaning of peace is “the spiritual harmony brought about by an individual’s restoration with God.”
Romans 5:8-10 describes what God in sending his son, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.
In our sinful state, we are enemies with God. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are restored to a relationship of peace with God. Romans 5:1 states, “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.” This is the deep, abiding peace between our hearts and our Creator that cannot be taken away. This peace I have is the ultimate fulfillment of Christ’s work as “Prince of Peace.”
John 10:27–28, Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
The world may be filled with turmoil, trouble, and confusion, you and I can have peace, perfect peace, a peace that passes understanding because we trust in God and keep our minds steadfast on Him. But Christ’s sacrifice provides more for us than eternal peace; it also allows us to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit, the Helper who promises to guide us into all truth. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit will manifest Himself in us by having us live in ways we couldn’t possibly live on our own, including filling our lives with love, joy, and peace. The hope, peace, love, and joy, introduced during the advent season are all results of the Holy Spirit working in the life of a believer. They are reflections of His presence in us. And, although their deepest, most vital result is to have us live in love, joy, and peace with God, when it does, they can’t help but to spill over into our relationships with people.
And we desperately need his peace, especially since God calls believers to live with singleness of purpose, in harmony with other believers, practicing humility, gentleness, and patience, “being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. This unity in purpose and gentleness would be impossible without the work of the Holy Spirit in us and the peace we have with God thanks to the sacrifice of His Son.
Ephesians 4:1–3 calls to unity in the Body, as Apostle Paul pleads,
“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”
Paul calls believers to a peaceful place in their own hearts first, to grasp it and maintain it. We do nothing to acquire or maintain our spiritual peace with God. God gives us His peace. But living in unity with other believers can be extremely difficult; living in peace in our own lives can very often feel impossible. Peace may sound easy, peaceful living doesn’t mean “easy.” Jesus never promised easy; He only promised help. In fact, He told us to expect tribulation (John 16:33) and trials (James 1:2). But He also said that, if we called on Him, He would give us the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6–7). No matter what hardships we are faced with, we can ask for a peace that comes from the powerful love of God that is not dependent on our own strength or the situation around us. Believers have a covenant of peace. Isaiah 54:9-10, God said, “Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you. For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.”
The proclamation of the angelic chorus was a Covenant of Peace, Peace on Earth, and Goodwill towards men! God so passionately loves his people that he makes a covenant of peace with them. The steadfast love of the Lord will not depart from you. This covenant of peace with God will not be removed. His servant, Jesus Christ would come as a babe in a manger and bring a covenant of peace and favor that would never be removed. Lighting the candle of Peace reminds believers that we have peace with God peace within ourselves and peace with our fellowman. Isaiah 26:3-5, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength: For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.”
Hymn writer C. W. Martin shares a peace testimony in his hymn I trust In God, listen to these words. “I trust in God wherever I may be, Upon the land or on the rolling sea; For come what may, from day to day, My heavenly Father watches over me. I trust in God, I know he cares for me, On mountain bleak or on the stormy sea; Though billows roll, he keeps my soul, My heavenly Father watches over me.
He makes the rose an object of his care, He guides the eagle through the pathless air; And surely, he remembers me, My heavenly Father watches over me.
I trust in God, for, in the lion's den, On battlefield, or in the prison pen; Through praise or blame, through flood or flame, My heavenly Father watches over me.
The valley may be dark, the shadows deep, But oh, the shepherd guards his lonely sheep; And through the gloom, he'll lead me home, My heavenly Father watches over me. I trust in God, I know he cares for me, On mountain bleak or on the stormy sea; Though billows roll, he keeps my soul, My heavenly Father watches over me.”
You see, peace with God has little to do with outward circumstance, the absence of confusion, or ease of the way, it has to do with our confidence in God who promised, peace on earth and goodwill towards men. We are favored by His goodwill and blessed by His covenant of peace. Claim God’s promise for your life, enjoy the calm it brings, then share that peace with others in Jesus’ name. During this season of Advent relight the candle of hope, then light the candle of peace! Amen, Amen.
