The Cross Of Christ-The Place Of God's Peace Series

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)