"Abiding Peace"
January 16, 2011
Senior Pastor Dr.
David Craig
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Date: January 16, 2011 - WEFC
Sermon Title: "Abiding Peace" - Sermon 8 of Colossians Series
Text: Colossians 1 : 2b
Sermon Notes for "Abiding
Peace"
( Click here to download or open the Word
document file for these notes. )
Abiding Peace
Abiding Peace
Colossians 2:2b –
Part 8 – Living the Christ Centered Life – January 16, 2011
“Grace to you and
peace from God our Father.” – Col. 2:2b
The Biblical
Meaning of “Peace”
Old Testament word = “shalom”
and is translated “prosperity, well-being, health,
completeness, and safety.”
New Testament word = “eirene”
and can mean “cessation from the hostilities of war;”
“the state of law and order that makes the fruit of
prosperity possible;” and “a state of being that lacks nothing
and has no fear of being troubled in its
tranquility.”
3 Primary Enemies
of Peace:
1) The flesh - it
is a struggle within ourselves — a war between the new life
granted to us by the Holy Spirit and our sin nature, which will
remain until our glorification (Rom. 7:7–25;
8:7; 1
John 3:2–3).
2) The world - Since
the Fall, humankind has been at constant enmity
with God. The fallen cultures of this present evil age seek to exalt themselves
and live independently of God (Rom. 12:1-2).
3) The devil - The
Bible tells us that one of Satan’s chief works is to tempt us to sin
and accuse us after we sin (Gen. 3:1–7;
Matt. 4:1-11; Rev. 12:10).
The Ultimate
Peace:
Romans 5:1, “Therefore since we have been justified by
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“In justification, God declares us to be righteous
in his sight and no longer guilty. This is a legal declaration
based on the perfect righteousness of Christ. This
righteousness is imputed to us by faith alone when we trust in
Christ alone, and it is the righteousness that God sees when He
looks upon us.”
“God’s declaration is in no way dependent on our good
works — though true faith always displays itself in works. True
faith includes knowledge of Jesus, belief in Jesus, and trust in Jesus, and
only such faith justifies us. As a result of justification we are freed from
guilt because our sins are imputed to Christ and thus sent away
from us.” - R.C. Sproul
Here in Colossians 1 Paul is describing a felt, tangible
experience of mind and heart. The peace that, like grace, comes from our God
and Father is a confident repose in the truth that what God has promised
he will fulfill. It is that restful assurance and very real
sensation that nothing can separate us from love of Christ. – Sam
Storms
By God's grace, you can use conflicts with others to:
1) Glorify God (by trusting, obeying, and imitating him)
2) Serve other people (by helping to bear their burdens or
by confronting them in love)
3) Grow to be like Christ (by confessing sin
and turning from attitudes that promote conflict).
*The Four G’s of
Peacemaking
1st “G” = Glorify God – Ask the question, "How
can I please and honor the Lord in this
situation?" (see 1 Cor. 10:31-11:1; Prov. 3:4-6; John 14:15; Eph. 5:1).
1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1, “So,
whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give
no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to
please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of
many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
2nd “G” = Get
the log out of your own eye – (see Matthew 7:1-5;
15:18-19; Philippians 4:2-9; Js. 4:1-4)
Matthew 7:1-5, “Judge
not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be
judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see
the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in
your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of
your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the
log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of
your brother's eye.
“Be not angry that you cannot
make others as you wish them to be since you cannot
make yourself as you wish yourself to be.”
Thomas a’ Kempis
3rd “G” = Gently
Restore – (see Matt. 18:12-15; 21-35; Gal. 6:1)
Matthew
18:12-15, “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of
them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go
in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you,
he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So
it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of
these little ones should perish. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell
him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained
your brother.”
4th
“G” = Go and be reconciled – (see 1 Cor. 5:17-21;
Matt. 5:24; Heb. 12:14-15; Col. 3:12-14;1 Cor. 13:5; Psalm 103:12; Isa. 43:25).
2 Corinthians 5:17-21, “Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us
the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the
world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to
us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God
making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled
to God. For our sake he made him who knew no sin, so that in him we might
become the righteousness of God.”
Matthew
5:23-24, “So if you are offering your gift
at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your
brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Hebrews 12:14-15, “Strive for peace with everyone, and
for holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one
fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and
causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.”
*Ken Sande
has excellent free resources for peacemaking @ www.peacemaker.net
Guide for
Community Discipleship and Growth
1) Learning
to love the things God loves is essential to the mortification of our flesh.
Aside from studying Scripture by ourselves, small-group Bible studies and
accountability relationships between members of the same sex are powerful
weapons in our spiritual warfare. Do you have a close Christian friend to whom
you can safely confess your struggles and temptations? Find someone who can
encourage you to live in holiness in word and in deed (for further study
see 2 Chronicles 33:1-20; Psalm 112; Matthew 26:41; Romans 7).
2) Though
we are hardly aware of it, the customs of the world affect us on every level.
There is a constant temptation to conform to the world’s standards and not to
the will of God. Take some time to look at your life and see where you might be
conforming yourself to the world. In prayer, ask God to conform you to
His will (for further study see Isa. 13:11; Matt. 16:26; John 15:19; Rom.
12:1-2; 1 Cor. 3:18-19).
3) When
we sin, both the Devil and the Holy Spirit come to us. The Devil accuses us in
order to paralyze our growth. However, when the Spirit convicts us, He brings
grace to restore us and to renew our fellowship with God. Go to the Lord in
prayer, and ask Him to help you resist the paralysis that the accuser wants to
create in you (for further study see Job 1:6-12; Rom. 8:1; Heb. 10:19-22;
1 Pet. 5:8-9).
4) Before
we came to know Jesus we were at enmity with God. We sought only to war against
Him and to become independent of His sovereign rule. However, once we came to
know Christ and to trust in Him alone, God made peace with us. In Jesus, He did
all the work necessary to end the war with us. Let us therefore offer praise to
His name because instead of giving us the punishment we deserve, He poured out
His wrath on His Son so that we could know His peace (for further study
see Num. 6:22-27; Isa. 66:12-14; Lk. 2:8-14; Jn. 14:27)
5) One
of the most unique features of biblical peacemaking is the pursuit of genuine forgiveness
and reconciliation. Even though Christians have experienced the greatest
forgiveness in the world, we often fail to show that forgiveness to others. To
cover up our disobedience we often use the shallow statement, "I forgive
her—I just don't want to have anything to do with her again." Just think,
however, how you would feel if God said to you, "I forgive you; I just
don't want to have anything to do with you again"? Praise God that he
never says this! Instead, he forgives you totally and opens the way for genuine
reconciliation. He calls you to forgive others in exactly the same way:
"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against
one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Col. 3:12-14; see also 1
Cor. 13:5; Psalm 103:12; Isa. 43:25).
( Click here to download or open the Word
document file for these notes. )
Abiding Peace
Colossians 2:2b – Part 8 – Living the Christ Centered Life – January 16, 2011
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father.” – Col. 2:2b
The Biblical Meaning of “Peace”
Old Testament word = “shalom” and is translated “prosperity, well-being, health, completeness, and safety.”
New Testament word = “eirene” and can mean “cessation from the hostilities of war;” “the state of law and order that makes the fruit of prosperity possible;” and “a state of being that lacks nothing and has no fear of being troubled in its tranquility.”
3 Primary Enemies of Peace:
1) The flesh - it is a struggle within ourselves — a war between the new life granted to us by the Holy Spirit and our sin nature, which will remain until our glorification (Rom. 7:7–25; 8:7; 1 John 3:2–3).
2) The world - Since the Fall, humankind has been at constant enmity with God. The fallen cultures of this present evil age seek to exalt themselves and live independently of God (Rom. 12:1-2).
3) The devil - The Bible tells us that one of Satan’s chief works is to tempt us to sin and accuse us after we sin (Gen. 3:1–7; Matt. 4:1-11; Rev. 12:10).
The Ultimate Peace:
Romans 5:1, “Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“In justification, God declares us to be righteous in his sight and no longer guilty. This is a legal declaration based on the perfect righteousness of Christ. This righteousness is imputed to us by faith alone when we trust in Christ alone, and it is the righteousness that God sees when He looks upon us.”
“God’s declaration is in no way dependent on our good works — though true faith always displays itself in works. True faith includes knowledge of Jesus, belief in Jesus, and trust in Jesus, and only such faith justifies us. As a result of justification we are freed from guilt because our sins are imputed to Christ and thus sent away from us.” - R.C. Sproul
Here in Colossians 1 Paul is describing a felt, tangible experience of mind and heart. The peace that, like grace, comes from our God and Father is a confident repose in the truth that what God has promised he will fulfill. It is that restful assurance and very real sensation that nothing can separate us from love of Christ. – Sam Storms
By God's grace, you can use conflicts with others to:
1) Glorify God (by trusting, obeying, and imitating him)
2) Serve other people (by helping to bear their burdens or by confronting them in love)
3) Grow to be like Christ (by confessing sin and turning from attitudes that promote conflict).
*The Four G’s of Peacemaking
1st “G” = Glorify God – Ask the question, "How can I please and honor the Lord in this situation?" (see 1 Cor. 10:31-11:1; Prov. 3:4-6; John 14:15; Eph. 5:1).
1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
2nd “G” = Get the log out of your own eye – (see Matthew 7:1-5; 15:18-19; Philippians 4:2-9; Js. 4:1-4)
Matthew 7:1-5, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
“Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be since you cannot make yourself as you wish yourself to be.” Thomas a’ Kempis
3rd “G” = Gently Restore – (see Matt. 18:12-15; 21-35; Gal. 6:1)
Matthew 18:12-15, “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”
4th “G” = Go and be reconciled – (see 1 Cor. 5:17-21; Matt. 5:24; Heb. 12:14-15; Col. 3:12-14;1 Cor. 13:5; Psalm 103:12; Isa. 43:25).
2 Corinthians 5:17-21, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Matthew 5:23-24, “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Hebrews 12:14-15, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.”
*Ken Sande has excellent free resources for peacemaking @ www.peacemaker.net
Guide for Community Discipleship and Growth
1) Learning to love the things God loves is essential to the mortification of our flesh. Aside from studying Scripture by ourselves, small-group Bible studies and accountability relationships between members of the same sex are powerful weapons in our spiritual warfare. Do you have a close Christian friend to whom you can safely confess your struggles and temptations? Find someone who can encourage you to live in holiness in word and in deed (for further study see 2 Chronicles 33:1-20; Psalm 112; Matthew 26:41; Romans 7).
2) Though we are hardly aware of it, the customs of the world affect us on every level. There is a constant temptation to conform to the world’s standards and not to the will of God. Take some time to look at your life and see where you might be conforming yourself to the world. In prayer, ask God to conform you to His will (for further study see Isa. 13:11; Matt. 16:26; John 15:19; Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 3:18-19).
3) When we sin, both the Devil and the Holy Spirit come to us. The Devil accuses us in order to paralyze our growth. However, when the Spirit convicts us, He brings grace to restore us and to renew our fellowship with God. Go to the Lord in prayer, and ask Him to help you resist the paralysis that the accuser wants to create in you (for further study see Job 1:6-12; Rom. 8:1; Heb. 10:19-22; 1 Pet. 5:8-9).
4) Before we came to know Jesus we were at enmity with God. We sought only to war against Him and to become independent of His sovereign rule. However, once we came to know Christ and to trust in Him alone, God made peace with us. In Jesus, He did all the work necessary to end the war with us. Let us therefore offer praise to His name because instead of giving us the punishment we deserve, He poured out His wrath on His Son so that we could know His peace (for further study see Num. 6:22-27; Isa. 66:12-14; Lk. 2:8-14; Jn. 14:27)
5) One of the most unique features of biblical peacemaking is the pursuit of genuine forgiveness and reconciliation. Even though Christians have experienced the greatest forgiveness in the world, we often fail to show that forgiveness to others. To cover up our disobedience we often use the shallow statement, "I forgive her—I just don't want to have anything to do with her again." Just think, however, how you would feel if God said to you, "I forgive you; I just don't want to have anything to do with you again"? Praise God that he never says this! Instead, he forgives you totally and opens the way for genuine reconciliation. He calls you to forgive others in exactly the same way: "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Col. 3:12-14; see also 1 Cor. 13:5; Psalm 103:12; Isa. 43:25).
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