Peace Perfect Peace Ephesians 2 14 18 Peace

Peace, Perfect Peace Ephesians 2: 14 -18

Peace, Perfect Peace We do NOT live in a peaceful world There is constant strife, bickering, fighting, and killing So how can the Bible speak of peace when it doesn’t seem as though peace can ever exist in this world?

Peace, Perfect Peace 1. God is a God of Peace – The Bible speaks over and over about the peace that God offers – God is the author of peace – I Cor. 14: 33 – “The Lord will bless His people with peace” – Psalm 29: 11

Peace, Perfect Peace 1. God is a God of Peace – God is described as the God and Lord of peace – II Cor. 13: 11; II Thess. 3: 16 – Jesus was described in the Old Testament as the “Prince of Peace” – Is. 9: 6 – No God, No Peace – Know God, Know Peace

Peace, Perfect Peace 2. The world is a world of strife – So we serve the God of peace, and yet we live in a world of strife – Why is there so much discord if God is the ruler and a God of peace? – The answer is… – SIN

Peace, Perfect Peace 2. The world is a world of strife – Christ said He did not come to bring peace on earth but a sword – Matt. 10: 34 – So we live in a contentious world, yet we seek peace from the God of peace – So how do we reconcile the two things together?

Peace, Perfect Peace 3. Evil and good cannot be at peace – God cannot and will not tolerate sin – Matt. 13: 41; I Cor. 6: 9 -11; Gal. 5: 19 -21 – “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? ” – Js. 4: 4 – Why does the world hate God?

Peace, Perfect Peace 3. Evil and good cannot be at peace – “The world…hates Me, because I testify of it that its works are evil” – Jn. 7: 7 – I John 2: 15 -17 – That’s why the message of Christ creates strife, because it is a message that speaks out against the evil of the world

Peace, Perfect Peace 3. Evil and good cannot be at peace – “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? ” – Amos 3: 3 – There will always be strife as long as evil and good exist together in the same place – So is there any peace that God can offer to us?

Peace, Perfect Peace 4. We can have peace with God – God does not desire for us to be at peace with evil – God desires us to be at peace with Himself – This is why Christ was referred to as the Prince of Peace

Peace, Perfect Peace 4. We can have peace with God – “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ” (Acts 10: 36) – “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5: 1)

Peace, Perfect Peace 4. We can have peace with God – Ephesians 2: 14 -18 – Called the gospel of peace – Rom. 10: 15; Eph. 6: 15 – Jesus speaks of the difference of having peace with God but trouble with the world – Jn. 16: 33