Introduction:

I.                   OBVIOUSLY, EVERYONE IN THE WORLD DESIRES PEACE.

II.                BUT, WHAT IS PEACE?

A.    The basic definitions for “peace” are as follows:

1.      In a state of concord or tranquility; freedom from hostility.

2.      It is a state of inner tranquility.

3.      Harmony in personal relations.

4.      A state of mutual concord – between individuals, within a group, governments, etc.

5.      In harmony with God.

III.             MANY DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO FIND GENUINE PEACE.

A.    They look in the wrong places for peace.

1.      People look for peace in drugs.

2.      People look for peace in the possession of money and material things.

3.      Religiously, people are inclined to seek peace in denominations or in their personal philosophy.

B.    Instead of looking for peace in the right places, the majority of mankind is “looking for peace in all the wrong places.”

IV.              FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS:

A.    Obtain peace with God, with their fellow Christians, within themselves, but not with the world.

Discussion:

I.                   CHRISTIANS ARE AT PEACE WITH GOD.

Rom. 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

A.    Not all of humanity is at peace with God.

Ezekiel 28:15, “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.”

Isaiah 59:1-2, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear; But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

Rom. 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

James 1:13-16, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:  for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:  and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.  Do not err, my beloved brethren.”

B.    Once we commit sin, we are no longer at peace with God and we must then be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ.

II Cor. 5:18-21, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us:  we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

C.    The gospel of peace reveals how we can obtain peace with God.

Isa. 52:7, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”

Rom. 10:13-15, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent?  As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

II.                CHRISTIANS ARE TO BE AT PEACE WITH THEIR BROTHERS IN CHRIST.

I Thes. 5:12-13, “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.  And be at peace among yourselves.”

A.    As brothers and sisters in Christ, we have in common our conviction in the inspired Word of God as our sole guide in religious matters.

Eph. 4:3-6, “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

B.    Our fellowship one with another as brothers and sisters in Christ must be based upon our fellowship with God.

I John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

1.      However, fellowship as Christians must be based upon the inspired Word of God.

I Cor. 1:10, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

Rom. 16:17, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

B.    From a positive standpoint, it is wonderful to know that we have brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world that are of the same faith.

Mark 10:29-30, “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come eternal life.”

III.             CHRISTIANS ARE AT PEACE WITH THEMSELVES.

Phil. 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

A.    Christians can be at peace with themselves because they are at peace with God.

B.    Christians can be at peace with themselves because they need not fear death.

Psa. 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:  for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

C.    Faithful Christians need not fear the second coming of Christ and the Day of Judgment.

       I John 2:28, “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”

 I Thes. 2:19, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?  Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”

D.    Christians can have peace because all the tough moral issues have been answered for us in the Bible.

1.      These include:  abortion, Euthanasia, Civil Rights, woman’s rights, social drinking, etc.

V.                 CHRISTIANS ARE NOT AT PEACE WITH THE WORLD!

I John 2:15-17, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:  but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

A.    The Devil is the prince of this world.

John 12:31, “Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

B.    We are to be at war with the Devil.

Eph. 6:12-17 (Read and comment on)

2 Tim. 2:3, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

James 4:7-8, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

C.    In submitting to the gospel of Christ, we become separated from unbelievers.

Matt. 10:34-39, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth:  I came not to send peace, but a sword.  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother.  And the daughter in law against her mother in law.  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me:  and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.  He that findeth his life shall loose it:  and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”

Conclusion:

       I.         True peace can only be found when one is obedient to God.

II.                Do you have this peace?

A.    Peace with God; peace with fellow Christians; peace with yourself, and enmity with evil.

IV.              God want you to have this peace.

V.                 If you have not obeyed the gospel of Christ then come forward in penitence acknowledging your conviction that Jesus is the Christ and submit unto Him in baptism for the remission of your sins.

VI.              As a child of God, if you need to make things right before the Lord and the church then come forward confessing your sins and the brethren will pray in your behalf.

--Dub Mowery