Christmas Peace

Christmas Peace - Real Peace
Luke 2:1-20

We Have Some Problems With Christmas

• We have developed a barrier to spiritual life.
• We are trained to survive by sense knowledge.
• The commercialization of Christmas.
• it's all about money and consumerism!
• The politically correct "war on Christmas."
• it's offensive to those who don't believe.
• The false history of the event:
• it's an historical manipulation of the many celebrations of the winter solstice and pagan holidays.

We Have A More Serious Problem!

• The sentimentalizing of the Christmas story.
• The new movie "The Nativity"
• These are the acceptable stories of Joseph and Mary, properly garbed, Mary riding a donkey bravely into Bethlehem in the dead of night and cheerfully turning a stable into a maternity ward.
• Various farm animals provide local color.
• Foreign dignitaries offer impractical gifts.
• A chorus of angels announces peace on earth to all men.
• The same story line, delivered faithfully in school plays, greeting cards, nativity scenes and in many sermons.

The Real Problem - Where is the Peace?

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased. Luke 2:14

The angels proclaim peace but the world is in chaos!

Peace

1. The absence of war or other hostilities.
2. An agreement or a treaty to end hostilities.
3. Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations.
4. Public security and order.
5. Inner contentment; serenity: peace of mind.

Biblical Reality
We must put away the sentimental illusions about life, as Martin Luther said;

All Christians live on the razor's edge of faith and despair, freedom and bondage.

~ Here is a faith that does not ignore the heart of darkness in our lives; the deep mystery of evil remains.
~ Yet the hope of the Christmas story, a hope that engages the mind as well as the soul, is that the evil will not remain forever!
~ God himself - here now among us, in this crib of straw - will overcome it.

Peace does not exist independently. Peace is not a detached creation, unrelated to everything else. Peace is bound up with other things, and is entirely dependent upon them. Peace is the fruit of certain relations, and if those relations are secured peace is inevitable. - Pastor John Henry Jowett (1864-1923)

Illustrated Peace:

• Architectural Peace
• Musical Peace
• The Wizards of Winter
• Bodily Peace = Physical health
• All have one thing in common:
• The peace results from something!
• If only we would give glory to God in the highest, peace on earth is sure, and goodwill among men is secured!

The Peace of God

• I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. - Psalm 4:8
• The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace. - Psalm 29:11
• But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. - Psalm 37:11
• Psalm 72:1-7
1. Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king's Son.
2. He will judge Your people with righteousness, And Your poor with justice.
3. The mountains will bring peace to the people, And the little hills, by righteousness.
4. He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor.
5. They shall fear You As long as the sun and moon endure, Throughout all generations.
6. He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, Like showers that water the earth.
7. In His days the righteous shall flourish, And abundance of peace, Until the moon is no more.
• You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. - Isaiah 26:3
• There is no peace, says the LORD, for the wicked. - Isaiah 48:22
• All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children. - Isaiah 54:13

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1