To Experience Peace From God

“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).