Peace – Advent Part 4
This week I
conclude a four-part series on Advent. Remember,
Advent is a reminder of how the world waited for the Messiah and how Christians
wait for the second coming of Christ today. There are four weeks of Advent and a different
theme for each week. The themes are
hope, faith, joy, and peace. Let’s look
at the fourth theme this week – Peace.
“For unto us
a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”,
Isaiah 9:6. Isaiah is prophesying the
Lord Jesus Christ, He is the Child that was born, and the Son that was given. Isaiah also calls Him the “Prince of Peace”.
Christmas is
an excellent time to discuss the peace that can only come through the Lord Jesus
Christ. It was the angels that first Christmas morning that declared, “Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men,” Luke 2:14. Jesus tells us in John 16:33 “… in me ye might
have peace”.
How do we
obtain this peace? The Apostol Paul
tells us in Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. “Peace
with God” only comes through a relationship with His Son – Jesus. Paul calls this relationship being
“justified”. Jesus told Nicodemus, “…Ye
must be born again”, John 3:7. Most
Christian use the simple term of being “saved” to express this peace with God. Peace comes with salvation. Salvation comes with belief and confession. Paul tells us in Romans 10:9, “That if thou
shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart
that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved”.
Not only can
you experience “peace of God”, but you can also have “peace with God”.
Colossians 3:15,“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to
the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Peace of God is never available apart from
Peace with God. Jesus told His
disciples, and us in John 14:27, “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”. This
peace is the peace that lets us rest in the midst of storms. It is my prayer this Christmas that “the peace
of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:7.
Merry Christmas!
Elder Tim White
Ider, Alabama
