THE PEACE OF THE CROSS

COLOSSIANS 1:2

A. DESIRE OF THE AGES
  1. Peace and tranquility:
  2. Lasting peace, the desire of the nations:
  3. The tragic story of history:
    1. Ambassadors of peace are bitterly disappointed - Isa. 33:7; 38:17
    2. The real enemy of lasting peace is sin in the hearts of men - Jer. 17:9
    3. There is no peace where sin rules the hearts of the people - Jer. 6:14
  4. Our world has been without real peace ever since Lucifer stirred up a rebellion in this universe: Rev. 12:7-12
    1. Selfishness is at the bottom of the unrest among the nations.
    2. The spirit of lawlessness is another contributory factor to the trouble in the world.
B. THE PEACE OF THE CROSS
  1. Christ made peace when He slew the enmity between the people:
    1. "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" - Rom. 5:1
    2. This is the peace announced by the angels when they sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" - Luke 2:14
    3. "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace." - Eph. 2:14, 15
  2. Peace of the cross is expressed in God's attitude of forgiveness:
    1. "Forgive them; for they know not what they do" - Luke 23:34
    2. "And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblemished and unreprovable in his sight." - Col. 1:21, 22
  3. It holds out God's faith in the lives of sinners:
    1. "They know not what they do" - Luke 23:34
    2. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son" - Rom. 5:10
    3. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." - Rom. 5:6, 8 EXAMPLES -
      1. The thief on the cross - Luke 23:37-44
      2. Saul, later called Paul - Acts 9:15
      3. Christ would have died for one sinner - Luke 15:4-7
  4. Christ overcame all His enemies on the cross:
    1. Lucifer - Rom. 16:20; Heb. 2:14
    2. Death - 1 Cor. 15:26; Eph. 2:14-16
    3. All enemies - Eph. 2:14, 15; Col. 2:14-16
C. BLESSINGS OF THE PEACE OF THE CROSS
  1. It brings peace to the heart:
    1. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus - Rom. 8:1 EXAMPLES -
      1. Stephen - Acts 6:15
      2. Daniel - Dan. 6:21,22
      3. Joseph - Gen. 39:22, 23; 40:1-23
      4. Many other servants of God.
    2. When we possess peace in our soul, nothing outwardly can disturb us.
  2. It is peace of character:
    1. We have such examples as Joseph, Daniel, Abraham, and other great Bible characters.
    2. Character is that part of man which expresses the highest ideal in word, thought and action.
    3. Actually, character is what a person is and does.
    4. When we can say with Job, "My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live." Job 27:6


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