No Peace Without Him
#2 Supremacy At The Manger
Colossians 1:19-23
INTRODUCTION
Christmas is a wonderful time of year. I enjoy ..... about Christmas.
One of the phrases we hear at Christmas is, "Peace on Earth, good will toward men." But when we look around, where is the peace? - Wars in various parts of the world. No peace in many families etc. etc. etc.
Where is the Peace? What did the angels mean when they said, "Peace on Earth?" Is there really peace among men and if so, how do we get it? It seems that all of creation is in desperate need of reconciliation.
In the book of Col., Paul, having shown us the supremacy of Jesus Christ in Salvation and in Creation, now unfolds for us the Supremacy of Jesus Christ in reconciliation.
I. No Peace On Earth 1:19-21
* Let’s set the stage to help us see why mankind needs reconciliation and God’s great plan to bring it about.
1. God’s Great Creation
* God, in Jesus Christ, created the entire Universe.
Col. 1:15-17
* GOD’S CREATION WAS GOOD
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. (Gen. 1:31)
- everything in harmony -rightness between man and creation, God and creation, and God and man
* SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENED TO GOD’S CREATION
2. Creation’s Great Tragedy
i. The Fall - Entrance of sin - Eden - disobedience
* Disobedience and rebellion always bring about negative consequences — brokenness and disharmony.
* There were terrible consequences to the fall
* ALL OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE WORLD SYSTEM AROUND US IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SIN AND THE GOD OF THIS WORLD.
ii. The Groaning Of The Universe - Rom. 8:18-22
* WE LIVE IN A CURSED EARTH AND UNIVERSE
- Do not underestimate the damning curse of sin - it has affected the entire universe.
- sin destroyed the perfect harmony between the members of the created order — and between Creation and the Creator.
* THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF THE CURSE ARE SEEN EVERYWHERE IN OUR WORLD
- El Nino — floods in California, tornadoes in Florida
- Famine in Africa
— Devastation of natural phenomena will climax during the great tribulation
* ALL OF CREATION MOANS AND GROANS FOR RECONCILIATION - to be put back in harmony with the Creator.
iii. The Groaning Of The Human Race Vs. 21
* There are consequences from the fall for every person.
* WE ARE ALIENATED FROM GOD
Alienated = “estranged” - “Cut off” - “Separated”
- We are completely alienated from God because of sin
— Make no mistake: every unbeliever is separated from God because of sin.
* WE ARE HOSTILE TOWARD GOD
New American Version = And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, {engaged} in evil deeds,
“hateful” — Natural man resents God and His holy standard because of our evil deeds.
WE ARE AT WAR WITH GOD
- enemies - scripture makes it clear we are enemies.
3. God’s Great Pleasure Vs 19-20
i. It Pleases God To Reconcile Creation To Himself
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Rom. 8:21)
- heretics of Paul’s day did not believe God created and therefore would not wish to be reconciled to it. Paul meets them head-on.
- WHEN JESUS CHRIST RETURNS, CREATION WILL BE RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL GLORY
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." (Isa. 11:6-9)
- With the Millennial reign of Christ the effects of the curse will begin to be reversed and harmony between God’s creatures restored.
ii. It Pleases God To Reconcile You To Himself
See Col. 1:21
* BECAUSE OF YOUR SIN YOU WERE SEPARATED FROM GOD
* IT GIVES GOD PLEASURE TO RECONCILE SINFUL PEOPLE TO HIMSELF.
- you thought He did it grudgingly but it’s His pleasure
Rom. 5:8 God demonstrates His own love in that while ....
II. Peace At The Manger
* God takes great pleasure in reconciling us to Himself, but how does He bring it to pass.
1. No Peace Without Him Not by Human Merit
* God is holy and just - He can never overlook our sin and rebellion. - His wrath is upon sin.
- There is nothing we could do on our own to be reconciled to God. Romans 5:6-10
i. We Lack Strength vs. 6
Ii. We Lack Merit vs. 6 = “ungodly”
iii. We Lack Righteousness vs 8 “sinners”
iv. We Lack Peace vs. 10 - we’re enemies
2. The Prince of Peace Merit of Jesus Christ
* IT PLEASES THE FATHER TO RECONCILE US TO GOD THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.
i. The Incarnation Vs, 19
“fullness” = ‘pleroma (playROma) — Paul’s claim is that Jesus Christ is not one of the lesser gods of the fullness. He is the Fullness.
* MARK THIS IN YOUR BIBLES - CLEAR DECLARATION OF THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST.
* TO RECONCILE MANKIND AND ALL OF CREATION TO HIMSELF - GOD BECAME A MAN.
“Because Jesus Christ is God, He is able to do what no mere man could ever do: reconcile lost sinners to a holy God.” ( W. Weirsbe).
- If Christ is only a man, or an emanation from God, He cannot reconcile God and man. The only one who can bring God and man together is One who is both God and man Himself.
ii. The Sacrifice Vs. 20c., 22a
* By taking on human flesh and dying on the cross Christ has made reconciliation possible.
- When He died on the cross, He met the just demands of the law of God and paid the penalty for our sin.
* RECONCILIATION WAS COMPLETE AT THE CROSS.
- Paul tells us that reconciliation in Christ is PERFECT, COMPLETE, AND FINAL.
Illustrate:
It is said that years ago in a western city a husband and wife became estranged and chose to separate. They moved away and lived in different parts of the country. The husband happened to return to the city on business and went to the little cemetery where their only son was buried. He stood there reviewing the fond memories of better days when he heard footsteps approach from behind. Turning, he saw his estranged wife. Their first impulse was to turn away. But they had a commonhearted interest in that grave, and instead of turning away, they clasped hands over the grave of their beloved son and were reconciled. They were reconciled by death.
* AT THE CROSS, WE ARE RECONCILED TO THE FATHER BY THE DEATH OF THE SON
- GOD AND I ARE FRIENDS.
- brought me into a right relationship with Him.
- you and I who were alienated from and at war
with God - now have peace through His blood
III. Peace Gifts Vs. 22
*What Is God’s aim or purpose in reconciling us to Himself. Humanity’s condition is terrible, but God’s reconciling purpose is vs 22.
* GOD’S ULTIMATE GOAL IN RECONCILIATION IS TO PRESENT US HOLY, BLAMELESS, AND BEYOND REPROACH.
1. Holy
- “to be separated from sin and set apart for God."
- Has to do with our relationship.
- God reconciles us to Himself so we can be His
special possessions.
- BECAUSE OF OUR UNION WITH CHRIST, GOD SEES US AS HOLY AS HIS OWN SON.
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor. 5:21)
2. Blameless = “without blemish”
When you have been reconciled to God through the blood of Christ - there is no blemish on your record.
3. Beyond Reproach
- beyond blameless. — Not only are we without blemish, but no one can bring a charge against us.
Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. (Rom. 8:33)
* Satan can never bring a charge against you and make it stick. AS A BELIEVER, YOU HAVE BEEN ONCE FOR ALL, ETERNALLY RECONCILED TO GOD BECAUSE CHRIST DIED FOR YOU.
- Christ’s reconciliation makes believers holy, blameless, and beyond reproach before Him.
God sees us now as we will be in heaven when we are glorified. He views us clothed with the very righteousness of Jesus Christ. The process of spiritual growth involves becoming in practice what we are in reality before God. (MacArthur)
IV. The Evidence of Peace Vs. 23
* PAUL IS NOT EXPRESSING DOUBT AS TO WHETHER THEY WILL CONTINUE ON IN THE FAITH. - Greek construction does not allow for that interpretation.
- one of most sobering truths is that not all who profess to be Christians are
Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?” And I will declare to them, I never knew you, depart from Me ... (Matt. 7:22-23)
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. (I Jn. 2:19)
** OVER AND OVER SCRIPTURE TELLS US THAT ONE MARK OF A GENUINE CHRISTIAN IS THAT HAVING BEEN RECONCILED TO GOD, THEY CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, GROUNDED AND STEADFAST, AND NOT MOVED AWAY FROM THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL.
- Those truly reconciled will continue in the faith. This is the evidence of reconciliation.
- By falling away they give evidence to the fact they were never truly saved.
- Perseverance of the Saints.
You are not saved by continuing in the faith. We continue in the faith and thus prove we are saved.
Conclusion
* BE RECONCILED TO GOD
- Without reconciliation - remain adrift on cold seas — alienated from God, creation, and others.
MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION - 2 Cor. 5:17-21
Illustrate: (The following notes match pictures used in a powerpoint presentation)
Feb. 1,2003 Shuttle Columbia - burned up on re-entry.
1. Launch - Foam from Booster Rocket chipped heat shield on the left wing.
2. In Flight - Columbia carried out its mission.
3. Re-Entry Stages: On Its Return to Earth Feb. 1,2003 - final descent - re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.
4. One small hole in heat shield allowed extreme heat to destroy shuttle.
5. Trail - We all saw the trail of destruction streak across the sky.
- Investigators later determined a paste available could have been applied to the hole with a brush and a space walk.
6. Launch Pad: Flight doomed from the start.
Application:
1. We are doomed from the start --- SIN
2. Heat of God's Wrath Toward Sin - His Holiness consumes sin.
3. One small sin is enough -- all our righteousness is as filthy rags.
4. God's Paste -- Blood of Jesus Christ brushed on by Faith covers our sin and protects us from the Wrath of God.
YOU NEED TO BE RECONCILED TO GOD - AT THE MANGER, JESUS CAME TO SAVE YOU FROM GOD'S WRATH TOWARD SIN.
INVITATION
