THE PEACE CHRIST GIVES

JOHN 14:2

A. "PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU, MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU: NOT AS THE WORLD GIVETH, GIVE I UNTO YOU."
  1. Our Lord was about to be crucified, and soon after that He would leave this world:
    1. This filled the hearts of the disciples with deep sorrow - John 14:1-3; Luke 22:45
    2. To comfort them, He promised that His own peace would abide with them.
  2. In this gracious promise our Redeemer shows His love and compassion:
    1. For all who are troubled with the sorrow that is so common to so many of us.
    2. "That ye sorrow not, even as such which have no hope" - 1 Thess. 4:13
    3. The Lord knew that the world would be hostile to the disciples after He left them.
B. THE PEACE THAT CHRIST GIVES
  1. Peace defined:
    1. Peace is both an attitude and a quality of the mind. When the mind is free from fear, agitating passion, moral conflict, it is in possession of the very substance of peace.
    2. To me, personally, peace is the effect of harmony with moral law, and consequently the fruit of loving obedience to the perfect will of God, revealed in His law - Ps. 119:165; Isa. 48:18
  2. The peace the world offers:
    1. It is superficial.
    2. It is the peace of selfishness.
    3. It has no true foundation - Isa. 57:21; 1 Thess. 5:3
    4. So long as sin controls the human heart there can be no true peace; the conscience will be defiled and the moral fiber broken.
    5. That is why God testifies in these words, "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." - Jer. 6:14
  3. The nature of the peace Christ gives:
    1. It is always the same, even as He remains the same - Heb. 13:8; John 13:1-3
    2. It is the peace of a good and free conscience - John 19:5; Matt. 27:1-3
    3. Peace of character - Heb. 7:26
    4. Peace of complete confidence - John 11:42
    5. Peace born of a sinless life - 1 Pet. 2:22-23
C. PRICE AND BLESSING OF THE PEACE OF CHRIST
  1. The price of peace:
    1. The peace Christ offers to us is, like all blessings from God, the gift of God -- "My peace give I unto you."
    2. And yet, it cost Heaven an infinite price - Rom. 5:1-3; Eph. 2:11-16
    3. We have to make peace - Jas. 3:18
    4. To have this peace, we must enter into the covenant of peace with God - Rom. 6:19
    5. We must seek and follow it at all times and at any cost - Ps. 34:13-14; Rom. 12:18; 14:19
    6. But the most important thing for us to retain is the peace of Christ; we must let it reign in our hearts - Heb. 13:20-21
  2. Blessings of the peace Christ gives:
    1. It brings calmness and assurance to our troubled hearts - EXAMPLES -
      1. David meeting Goliath - 1 Sam. 17:45-53
      2. Stephen facing death at the hands of the enemy - Acts 7:56
      3. Paul and Silas in prison - Acts 16:25
    2. The peace of Christ acts as a medicine to body, soul, and spirit - Ps. 23:1-6
    3. It is our assurance of a happy relationship with God and His people.
    4. This peace was lacking in the heart of Judas, but was present in the life of Daniel - Matt. 27:1-3; Dan. 5:1-8
    5. They, who are controlled by this peace, are the children of God - Matt. 5:9


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