Advent: Peace

From Pastor Ky Martin's Sermon on Luke 2 • Dec 23, 2020

In contrast to all the ordinary-ness surrounding Christ’s birth, there is a majestic peeling back of the heavens that is also part of the story.

An angel appeared to nearby shepherds as heavenly beings came down in glorious grandeur to declare praise and proclaim peace on earth.


Shortly after Jesus was born, soldiers stormed Bethlehem looking for babies to kill. This didn’t look like peace. Divisions and wars have been a universal  part of the human story since sin first entered the world. Where is this peace that the angels came down to proclaim?


Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines “peace” as, “the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is.” 


Renowned scholar K.J. Martin defines it as a “mental state of calm and comfort that comes when our deepest fears are assailed by the knowledge and assurance of who Jesus is and what He has done.”


Both of these definitions include the removal of fear. Peace is ultimately being freed from the fear of the judgement of God.


In our natural state, we are not at peace with God. We have made ourselves His enemies. He made us with a purpose -- to be bearers of His image on earth, representing His glory and goodness -- and we failed big time. We have fallen so far from His glorious standard for us.


The news the angels proclaimed was so GOOD because while we were dead in our trespasses  -- enemies with God -- He sent Christ into the world to die for the ungodly, restoring peace between God and man.


Though we have fallen short, we can stand at peace with God under the imputed righteousness of Christ. He graciously and mercifully covers us with His righteousness.


Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”


True peace also removes the fear of death. The peace Christ offers is a peace that knows the worst thing that can happen is death, and even then, the certainty that it will be okay.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7


The peace Christ gives is a peace that surpasses all understanding. It doesn't even make sense. He gives us a sense of internal calm and comfort, no matter the circumstances around us.


The question is... how do we take hold of this peace?


  1. We can bring our concerns to God. See Philippians 4:6-7; pray.
  2. We can identify the deeper question.  At the root of our worries, is the question: "am I going to be okay?" - in Christ, we know the answer. See Habakkuk 3:17–18.
  3. We can recount the saving acts of God.


Christmastime is a great time to linger on and remember all that God has done for us. Be intentional in recounting these things: read through the Christmas story (Luke 2) with your family; light advent candles; tell the story of St. Nicholas; find a devotional or guiding resource...


Use these traditions to remind your family all that God has done to save us.


God loved us so much that He sent His Son into the world to rescue us from the fear of His wrath and the fear of if we're going to be okay. He came to give us a peace that surpasses all understanding.


Lord, help us lay hold of this peace in this season and always.


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Watch this sermon here. 

Jesus is Much More Better

15 May, 2024
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:12-21 Adam ruined it for everyone —sin came into the world through Adam —death came into the world through sin —death spread to all men because all sinned “God has always dealt with mankind through a head and representative. The whole story of the human race can be summed up in terms of what has happened because of Adam, and what has happened and will yet happen because of Christ.” —Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Jesus is the true and better Adam “Cranfield explains, ‘That one single misdeed should be answered by judgment, this is perfectly understandable: that the accumulated sins and guilt of all the ages should be answered by God’s free gift, this is the miracle of miracles, utterly beyond human comprehension.’ The final word from God could have been “Condemned, on the basis of many trespasses.” Instead, it is “Justified, through the gift of Jesus’ righteousness.” That is why Paul declares that the gift is “much more” or “much better” than the result of Adam’s trespass.” —Daniel M. Doriani, Romans Through Jesus grace abounds and grace reigns Discipleship Questions: What are some reasons we might not like the idea that we all sinned when Adam sinned? What can help us embrace the idea that we all sinned when Adam sinned? How does that idea set us up for the good news about Jesus and what He accomplished? How does the truth from this passage build our assurance of our salvation? In what ways is what Jesus did much more powerful and better than what Adam brought us? How have you experienced the reign of grace in your life despite the reign of sin and death in the world? How can we experience the reign of grace through Jesus in everyday life?

No Fear of Judgment

08 May, 2024
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:6-11 God has already done the work needed to save us He took the initiative “God has addressed the cause of the offense… Although he is the offended party, God has removed the offense. God has extended “the olive branch.” -Jay Smith He justified us He reconciled us Reconciliation is an objective event that God accomplished by removing the barrier of sin that separated himself from humanity. This result is independent of humanity’s response although it formed the basis for an individual’s subjective appropriation.” Jay Smith Appropriate: “To set apart for or assign to a particular recipient.” Christians need not fear judgment day 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Discipleship Questions: How does it change your outlook on life to know that you have peace with God? In what ways have you experienced the greatness of access to God’s grace? How does future certainty bring us lasting hope? Describe a time when you experienced joy in the midst of suffering. How has God used suffering to grow your faith and mature you? What are some ways you have experienced God’s love being poured into your heart?

The Joy of Justification

29 Apr, 2024
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:1-5 We find joy in the blessings brought by justification —peace with God —access to God’s grace Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. —hope of the glory of God “Christian hope is not uncertain, like our ordinary everyday hopes about the weather or our health; it is a joyful and confident expectation which rests on the promises of God, as we saw in the case of Abraham. And the object of our hope is the glory of God (2), namely his radiant splendor which will in the end be fully displayed. —John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans We can even find joy in our sufferings “Various kinds of sufferings will come to us, but we can rejoice in them when we recognize that they serve a purpose: to develop our Christian character. In verses 3b–4 Paul shows how a godly response to suffering can initiate a series of virtues, culminating, strikingly, in hope. Note, however, that Paul is not saying that we should rejoice because of suffering. Evil things are still just that—evil—and we never should be happy about them. But by looking beyond the suffering to its divinely intended end, we still can rejoice in the midst of them.” —Douglas J. Moo, Encountering the Book of Romans —suffering produces endurance “ We know this, especially from the experience of God’s people in every generation. Suffering produces perseverance ( hypomonē , endurance). We could not learn endurance without suffering, because without suffering there would be nothing to endure.” —John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans —endurance builds character —character gives us confident hope Discipleship Questions: How does it change your outlook on life to know that you have peace with God? In what ways have you experienced the greatness of access to God’s grace? How does future certainty bring us lasting hope? Describe a time when you experienced joy in the midst of suffering. How has God used suffering to grow your faith and mature you? What are some ways you have experienced God’s love being poured into your heart?
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