Lesson 8 Prince Of Peace

     At Christmastime we hear more about peace on earth than at any other time of year.  I've put out this teaching so we can actually partake of this peace of the Christmas season.
     When Jesus came as the fulfillment of Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified), He came as our Prince of Peace.  It was God Himself, declaring peace between mankind and Him.  God has declared through Jesus that all who will receive Jesus would receive and partake of His promise of peace.
     Peace doesn't solely mean we will be worry free like some would think.  Peace means that we're no longer at odds with God and He is no longer at odds with us.   And, it means that all of God's judgments, His anger, His separation because of sin,and His separation from man throughout the centuries is over.  And, it means that by faith in Jesus, we can now be reconciled back to God like in the beginning.
     God took the first step towards us for this great gift by sending Jesus.  In James 4:8 (Amplified) we read, "Come close to God and He will come close to you (recognize that you are sinners), get your soiled hands clean; (realize that you have been disloyal) wavering individuals with divided interest, and purify your hearts (of spiritual adultery)."
     Under the Law, it was all a matter of works just to stay under covenant.  God was never reconciled
unto man nor was man reconciled unto God under the Law.  As long as man met the requirements of the Law, there was an agreement between God and man that would protect and bless based upon man's obedience to the Law. 
     Romans 3:21-26 (Amplified) says, "Whom God put forward before the eyes of all (Jesus) as a mercy seat and propitiation by His Blood (the cleansing and life giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation), to be received by faith.  This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment."  Verse 26 goes on, "It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has (true) faith in Jesus."
     God, provided through faith in Jesus, the gift of reconciliation to mankind by His Own Blood at the cross. 
     Now, you can understand what James 4:8 (Amplified) says that, "If we will draw nigh unto Him, He will draw nigh unto us."  God made the first move towards us when He extended the way to Himself in Jesus.
     Under the Law, there was this constant, uneasy feeling  about God's move towards man if he failed in any way.  They couldn't draw nigh unto God because only the High Priest could come that close.  No matter what sacrifice was made, they were still outside the Holy of Hollies.  They could only enter in so far and then only with blood.  This blood of bulls and goats could only cover someone for a year at the most and then it had to be renewed by a new sacrifice.
     They could by only remain in a place where God could bless them for a little while by making sacrifices and through works under the Law.  Through faith in Jesus, we have reconciled ourselves to God by Jesus like James 4:8 said: "Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you."  The only way to draw nigh unto God is to believe that Jesus has become our peace offering once and for all.
     Now, God can fulfill His end of this peace agreement He made through Jesus.  If we will draw nigh unto Him (through faith in Jesus), then He can now, finally, draw nigh unto us.  Without coming into His presence in faith in His Sacrifice of Jesus, then we are still outside of His covenant of peace and reconciliation.
     That's why in Luke 2:14 (Amplified) says, "Glory to God in the highest (heaven) and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased (men of good will, of His favor)."  How do we qualify for this peace on earth?  or well pleasing unto Him?  By accepting His extended hand of favor and grace through faith and receiving Jesus as our Savior and Sacrifice of reconciliation and our righteousness.
     Jesus, and Jesus alone, can bring this promised peace and reconciliation between God and man by His Blood.  The problem has been that even though we've received Jesus and God has declared peace with us, we haven't allowed the faith of His Blood to reconcile us to Him.  It's not a short coming on His behalf to draw me closer to me.  But, it's my lack of faith in His peace covenant to draw near to HIm.
     God's gift was to as many as will receive.  John 1:11-12 (Amplified) says that, "He came to that which belonged to Him (His Own, His domain creation, things, world) and they which were His Own did not receive Him and did not receive Him and did not welcome Him."  Verse 12 says, "But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name."
     What about those who don't believe and trust in Him?  Did God not make the same covenant of peace to all mankind?  Yes, He did.  God has made the first move of peace on earth.  It's not God Who is not at peace with us, but it's we who are not at peace with Him.
     Do we really believe that when we receive Jesus that we're forgiven for all time?  Do we really believe that through Jesus we are right with God at all times?  Do we really believe that through Jesus we have been justified forever?  Or, have we not entered into "drawing near to Him" out of fear or unbelief?
     God has secured His end of this covenant of grace.  Everything that God promised through Jesus is ours.  On the other hand, we have to appropriate by faith what He promised to and for us.  If we will not believe in His peace and still stand in our own guilt even after Jesus paid for our sin, then does this mean God's peace is void?  Of course not.  We must receive what God has provided in order to have peace in our own hearts.
     2John 3:20-21 (Amplified) says that, "Whenever our hearts in (tormenting) self accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us (for we are in God's hands) for He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts) and He knows (perceives and understands) everything (nothing is hidden from Him)."
     This means that even when we let our hearts condemn us and we won't let peace reign or rule in our lives, then He is still at peace with us.  We need to accept His peace with us and be at peace with Him and be at peace in ourselves with Him.  Verse 21 says, "And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us (if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us) we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God."
     Now we can understand what James 4:8 said that if we will "by faith in Jesus" believe that we have peace with God, it is drawing near to God.  And, now God can draw near to us because we're not in fear, guilt or condemnation, but in peace.  Now, God can walk with us in perfect fellowship because of a mutual peace.  His peace is with me and my peace is with Him.  This isn't an uneasy alliance like the world's peace, but "His Own peace He gives to us (His very Own peace with the Father" according to John 14:27 (Amplified).