Lesson 6 Prince Of Peace

     Isaiah 54:10 (Amplified) says that, "For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed, says the Lord Who has compassion on you."
     This covenant of peace is as strong as the Blood of our Peace Offering, Jesus.  We seem to believe that the Blood has cleansed us from sin, but that it wasn't enough to bring peace with God.  In Isaiah 54:14-15 (Amplified) God said, "You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness, in conformity with God's will and order); you shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you."  In Verse 15, He says, "Behold, they may gather together and stir up strife, but it is not from Me.  Whoever stirs up strife against you shall fall and surrender to you."
     This seems to be fairly plain and concrete in the heart and mind of God. In order to establish ourselves in righteousness, we must be born again.  Once we've received Jesus, we become established in His righteousness.
     2 Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) says that, "For our sake He made Christ (virtually) to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become (endued with, viewed as being in, an example of) the righteousness of God (what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness)."
     God's will is that man must be born again according to John 3:16.  So, in order that we enter into this peace covenant with God, Jesus is "The Way, The Truth and The Life."
     Romans 5:8-10 (Amplified) says, "But God shows and clearly proves His (Own) love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us."  Verse 9 says, "Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ's Blood, how much more (certain is it that) we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God."  Verse 10 goes on, "For if while we were enemies we  were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more (certain) now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin's dominion through His resurrection) Life."
     We've remained outside of receiving God's covenant of peace because of not having renewed our minds according to the scriptures.  In Romans 8:7 (Amplified) we read, "(That is) because the mind of the flesh (with its carnal thoughts and purposes) is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law; indeed it cannot."  Romans 12:2 (Amplified) directs us, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age) (fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs) but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind, (by its new ideals and its new attitude) so that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)."
     God's perfect will for mankind was and is that the wall between Him and us be totally removed and that we could walk with Him like Jesus (or Adam before the fall of man) did.  God's will is to be able to walk with His children in perfect peace and fellowship like any loving Father would.
     If our unrenewed minds or carnal thinking keeps us from receiving this peace covenant God made with us through Jesus, then although He has sworn to be at peace with us, we don't receive or enter into this peace with HIm.
     In our renewed minds, we still feel that God is out to chastise us and rebuke us over every little thing we do wrong.  Do you honestly think God didn't know we couldn't do right all the time?  Of course, He knew.  But, God still said that I will receive Jesus as your peace offering as well as your sin offering.
     God isn't like us saying, "I will forgive you, but I'll never forget."  God said in Hebrews 10:17 (Amplified)  that, "Their sins and their law breaking I will remember no more."  When God says that He will remember our sins no more, He does it perfectly.  We keep trying to repent and walk in guilt over things that God has perfectly put out of His heart and mind.  Because our carnal minds don't understand the Spirit of the Word, we still refuse to receive and walk in the peace that came by The Prince of Peace, Jesus.