Foundations of Christian Joy: Peace in Christ

Posted on June 8, 2010 in Blog, Pastor's Post

After Pastor Emilio preached Friday’s sermon, entitled “Principles of Christian Joy – Pt 3” from John 16:29-33 he wrote the following:

The peace that a Christian possesses is “in Me” as Jesus said.  This union reminds us of the Vine and the branch metaphor that Jesus has already taught in John 15 describing the believers union with Christ that results from faith; bearing in mind that “abiding” language is indicative of faith.

It is only because of this indissoluble union that we have in Christ that the believer can overcome the world and experience the peace Jesus left to the believer.  We can search for peace in the world through having a good career, plenty of money and financial stability, or through family moments that are treasured through the years, yet none of these equal to or are comparable with the peach that Christ gives.

First and foremost the peace Jesus gives is peace with God (Rom. 5:1, 15:33 | Acts 10:36 | 2 Cor. 5:18-20 | cf. Is. 57.19).  Where there once was nothing but blackness, darkness, and enmity; through Jesus, we have come to know God in a favorable way.  We have gone from enmity to amenity.

To describe the indescribable peace that has been accomplished through the cross of Christ, Paul unleashes both the vertical and horizontal dimensions of this peace when he writes to the Ephesians that we have been reconciled “to God through the cross”,

Ephesians 2:14–17 “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near.”

In John 16:33 Jesus gave His disciples both the reality of the world’s adversities or “tribulations” as well as the peace that was found in Him because He overcame the world.  So then, it is for us that Christ overcame the world.  When Scripture declares that Jesus overcame the world it means that Jesus overcame our worst enemies comprised of society, sin, and Satan.

Christ
overcomes society

To overcome the world means that Jesus overcomes the wicked world system of fallen humanity that is under the powers of a diabolical hostility against God and His Christ.

1 John 2:8 “On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.”

John 8:12 “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

Christ
overcomes sin

To overcome the world means that Jesus has overcome the power sin by making an end of the debt or the wages of sin thereby removing sin’s dominion over the life of the believer.

Colossians 2:13–14 “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, ¹⁴ having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

1 Corinthians 15:56–57 “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Christ
overcomes Satan

To overcome the world means that Jesus has defeated the god of this world, Satan, by living a perfect life, dying a perfect death, and conquering over death and the grave which have long been the devil’s tool of enslaving man.

Hebrews 2:14–15 “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”

1 John 2:13-14 “… I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one… I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”

1 John 3:8 “… The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”

The Joy of the believer is rooted in Christ because although they face the malice of the most evil of enemies in society – sin and Satan – Jesus overcomes our enemies and turns His people into fellow heirs to participate in the victory of the Son of God.  The result is that in Jesus the believer has hope that will rescue them from all of their sorrows, they have full access to the Father where they will find the help to face the evils of their day, and peace that surpasses understanding enabling the believer to walk a life of blessed joy in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.

Soli Deo Gloria