Discussion Group Questions
December 18, 2016
The Gift of Peace
nature. Specifically, this doctrine implies that a full and undiminished divine nature as well as a full and perfect human nature were united in the historical person of Jesus of Nazareth. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ is God the Son, in human flesh.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Why is incarnation important to know and believe? All of our theology hinges on this belief. In order to believe in atonement we have to believe that God became man. For God to become man we have to believe in virgin birth. All of our doctrine flows out of this belief. What does incarnation demonstrate to us? What Incarnation means: a. The goodness of the physical b. God cared enough to come to us c. It brings reconciliation
We are looking at what the incarnation brings. The gift That reconciliation brings love and joy and peace and faith into our lives. That is what we are focusing on. of love, the gift of joy, and this week the gift of peace. Two of the most important doctrines of Christianity, the incarnation and atonement, are emphasized during the seasons of advent and lent. This is the time of the year we focus our hearts on the meaning of advent.
Isaiah the prophet prophesied that there would be one who would come who would bring about peace. What does this mean to us? Let’s look at the meaning, the source and the result of peace.
The term incarnation is of Latin origin, and it means “becoming in flesh.” While the word incarnation is not contained within Scripture, the doctrine of the Incarnation certainly does convey scriptural truth. The Christian doctrine of the Incarnation teaches that the Eternal Word, the second person of the Trinity, without diminishing His deity took upon Himself a fully human
1. The meaning of peace The Hebrew Bible uses a familiar but significant word, shalom. In its purest sense, shalom means “peace.” The connotation is positive. That is, when someone says, “Shalom,” or, “Peace unto you,” it doesn’t mean, “I hope you don’t get into any trouble”; it means, “I hope you 1
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Discussion Group Questions
December 18, 2016
have all the highest good coming your way.”
10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:10)
Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of It is in our very nature to war with God. How can this be? agitation or discord. Isn’t it true that when you identify someone in your life as Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be a rival, you feel at war with them? What if you were a ceo complete, perfect and full. and your company named a new one. What if you were a coach and the AD decided to find another one. That In modern Hebrew the obviously related word Shelem person taking your place would become like your enemy. means to pay for, and Shulam means to be fully paid. That is what the human heart does with God. In our Shalom: “Abundant human flourishing in every way.” nature, we want control and want to play God. In our nature, we hate God- we want to throw him out. It is the state of being within which we were created to live. Most people think of peace in the negative This means there is no one person who is purely objective. connotation -they think of absence of conflict. But the Our hearts don’t want God. biblical understanding of peace is more than that – it is abundant human flourishing. I heard a lecture by an atheist recently who made this admission: he said “I don’t just believe that a god is not The New Testament speaks of two kinds of peace—the possible, I don’t want there to be a god.” objective peace that has to do with your relationship to God, and the subjective peace that has to That is the nature of the human heart. do with your experience in life. But when we receive Jesus Christ, we cease being This is what God’s peace brings to us- both peace in a enemies of God—we make a truce with Him. objective and subjective sense. It reconciles us with God We come over to His side, and the hostility is ended. and restores our hearts. Jesus Christ wrote the treaty with the blood of His cross. That treaty, that bond, that covenant of peace declares The natural man lacks peace with God. We all come into the objective fact that we now are at peace with Him. the world fighting against God, because we are a part of the rebellion that started with Adam and Eve. Romans That’s what Paul means in Ephesians 6:15, when he 5:10 says we were enemies of God. calls the good news of salvation “the preparation of the gospel of peace.” 2 LISTEN AND WATCH
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December 18, 2016
The gospel is that which makes a man who was at Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, war with God to be at peace with Him. This peace is Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. objective—that is, it has nothing to do with how we feel 7 or what we think. It is an accomplished fact. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace He was referring to the coming of Jesus, who would establish a new administration of peace in the human with God.” heart. Jesus said it like this: We who trust Christ are redeemed and declared righteous by faith. Our sins are forgiven, rebellion ceases, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not the war is over, and we have peace with God. That was give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27) God’s wonderful purpose in salvation. 4 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:1-3)
Colossians 1:20-22 says that Christ “made peace through the blood of His cross.... And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” 2. The source of peace
This subjective, experiential peace—the peace of God— Our lack of peace is the result of our idols. I feel anxious has its foundation in the objective, factual peace—peace when my idol is threatened. I read an amazing observation with God. of Ralph Waldo Emmerson this week: “The gods we worship write their names on our faces, be sure of that. And a man will worship something have no doubt about that, either. He may think that his tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of his heart but it will out. That which dominates will determine his life and character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping we are becoming.” (Ralph Waldo Emmerson)
The peace of God is not obtainable by those who are not at peace with Him. God alone brings peace. In fact, in Philippians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, and Hebrews 13:20, He is called “the God of peace.” So when the prophet declared: And he will be called 3 LISTEN AND WATCH
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Peace comes with putting Christ at the center of your growing up isn’t perfect. But God’s Word is perfect. heart: When you get in the Bible and build your life on it, you will have a perfect foundation. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what 5. Rely on His grace you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they The Bible says, “See how very much our heavenly Father do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your loves us, for he allows us to be called his children — think heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more of it — and we really are!” (1 John 3:1) valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry When you become a follower of Christ, you’re not just about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. a servant of God anymore. You are a child of the King. A They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even servant is accepted on the basis of what he does; a child Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. is accepted on the basis of who he is. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he A servant starts the day anxious and worried that his not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do work will please his master; a child rests in the secure not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we love of his family. drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows A servant is accepted because of his workmanship; a that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and child is accepted because of his relationship. his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for Remember how you got into God’s family in the first tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough place. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34) been saved, through faith.” There’s no other way to get into Heaven except by grace. You’ll never be good 3. The result of peace enough, and you can’t buy your way in. It’s a free gift from God. How does this kind of peace the Bible speaks of work on a practical level? Four things: 6. Let go and let God! 4. Trust in His word
What do you do about the uncontrollable things in life?
Psalm 119:96 says, “Nothing is perfect except your “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” words” (LB). What society tells you isn’t perfect. What (1 Peter 5:7 NIV). popular opinion tells you isn’t perfect. What you learned 4 LISTEN AND WATCH
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December 18, 2016
When you cast a line, there comes a point where you “Now that we have been put right with God through have to take your finger off the button and let it go. Just faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus like the essence of casting is letting go, to overcome Christ” (Romans 5:1 TEV). perfectionism, you have to let go and let God do his work. You need to make peace with God. Have you done that? If you haven’t, you’d better, because one day you will Exchange your perfectionism for God’s peace. have to face him. Perfectionism destroys peace. Jesus says in How do you make peace with God? You don’t do it by Matthew 11:28-29, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned promising to be good or by being perfect, because you out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and can’t do those things. you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.... Learn the unforced rhythms of grace” (MSG). The Bible says you make peace with God through faith — faith in God’s grace and that Jesus came to make you What a deal! part of God’s family. You believe that Jesus is the one way You’re going to fail a lot in life. But you don’t have to to become part of God’s family, and then trust that you worry about it if you’ve received God’s grace. In fact, have been made right with God. there’s only one failure you ever need to worry about: “Be careful that no one fails to receive God’s grace” (Hebrews Discussion questions: 12:15a NCV). Receive it right now, and then relax! 1. What is the meaning of peace? If you’re trying to live your life without God, you are at war with him- You are at war with God, and you need a peace 2. How does a person get peace? treaty. You need reconciliation because your relationship 3. Why is Jesus called the “prince of peace”? with God has been broken. Jesus Christ came to be that 4. How does the peace of Christ “rule” in our bridge, to be the reconciler between God and man. hearts? When you trust Jesus, he makes it all go away. He says, “I’m going to completely wipe out everything you’ve ever done wrong. You’re completely forgiven. Come on home!” Look at Romans 5:1 in a more modern translation,
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