Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

THE GOOD NAME OF OUR SAVIOUR

Introduction

Paul Harvey once told the story of a father whose son had gone off to fight for the Union army during the American Civil War. After months of camp fever, his son finally saw battle and was seriously wounded. News of his son’s wound came to the father on Christmas eve, and being a poet he sat down and expressed his anguish in a song.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote these words as he contemplated that bleak Christmas morning:

And in despair I bowed my head

"There is no peace on earth, ” I said,

“For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of Peace on earth goodwill to men."

We’ve seen in recent weeks how that our Saviour is “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” and “The Everlasting Father.” Today we come to the final name of Christ mentioned here in Isaiah 9:6. The name “Prince of Peace.”

But this one is difficult for many folks because there seems to be so many mixed messages when it comes to the matter of peace.

On the one side, Jesus is called the “Prince of Peace” here. Also, we know that at his first coming the angels proclaimed in Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

But then, we come to the place in Scripture where Jesus said:

Matthew 10:34-35–“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

Also, to anyone who cares to observe our earth since Christ’s first coming, it is very obvious that we have not had peace on earth. Nations are full of turmoil with wars and fighting going on all the time with no indication of it letting up. Not only that, but people are full of inner turmoil with all kinds of psychological and physiological consequences from doing wrong or having been wronged..

So how is it that we reconcile this? What is the Bible talking about when it says that Jesus’ name shall be called, “The Prince Of Peace.”

Again, let me remind you that according to the context here, these names are primarily associated with the Lord Jesus Christ’s second coming and millennial reign on the earth, though certain aspects of these names can be seen even before that time.

I.            LET’S BEGIN WITH A DEFINITION OF TERMS:

               A.         “Prince.”

When we think of the word, “Prince,” what normally comes to our minds is not what the word means here.

                            It comes from a root word that means “to have dominion.”

So, the meaning of the word used here means “a head person.”

                            So, Christ is the head of peace.

               B.         “Peace.”

Here in North America the term peace has been clearly connected with the absence of conflict.

Back in the late 1960's and early 1970's, Peaceniks protested the war in Vietnam. Today there are many who want peace by ending the conflicts that we are fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The peace they desire is connected with there being no conflict. It is almost as if they define peace by what it is not–i.e. peace is the absence of war. If there is no war, then that means there is peace.

However, the Old Testament Hebrew word that is translated peace, shalom, means so much more than that.

Shalom is indeed used to describe the cessation of hostilities, but the word itself also pictures health and wholeness. It denotes harmony and completeness.

To have shalom is to have not only a quiet life but also to be fulfilled in every way. It means to be safe, well, happy, friendly; and be in a state of health, prosperity, and peace.

                            Isaiah 32:1,16-18

II.           SO, HOW IS IT THAT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE “PRINCE OF PEACE?”

Using the definition of shalom–I think there are four distinct ways that Christ has fulfilled, does fulfil, and shall fulfill His title as “The Prince of Peace.”

               A.         Jesus Has Made It Possible For Us To Be At Peace With God!–i.e. He Is The Procurer of Peace! (Ephesians 2:13-19)

                            1.          Sinful Men Cannot Not Make Peace With God Concerning Their Sin!

All of mankind was at enmity with God because of sin.

                                         We were all under condemnation because of our sin.

                            2.          Jesus Is The One Who Made Peace Possible Between God And Man. (Isaiah 53:4-6; Isaiah 57:19-21)

                                         God did what man could not do!

Christ came and took our place and became our substitute. He took upon Himself the judgment of a holy and righteous God, so that we could be at peace with Him.

Colossians 1:20–“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.”

2 Corinthians 5:21–“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

                            3.          Peace With God Is Received Through Faith In Christ’s Finished Work At The Cross Of Calvary And Is A Product Of Our Justification!

Romans 5:1-2–“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

                            4.          This Message Of Peace Is To Be Preached To Every Nation And Every Person In The World By Those Who Have Received God’s Peace!

                                         (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

It is up to men to accept and receive the peace that God is offering or they can ignore or reject Jesus Christ and remain at enmity with God.

Jesus Has Made It Possible For Us To Be At Peace With God–(i.e. He is the Procurer Of Peace!)

               B.         Jesus Makes It Possible For Us To Have The Peace Of God Through The Trials Of Life!–i.e. He Is The Producer Of Peace! (John 14:27; 16:32-33)

The peace of God is the comfort, encouragement, and tranquility of heart and mind that comes when we walk in obedience to the Lord!

                            Colossians 3:15–“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts”, We can only enjoy the peace of God when we cast our care upon Him! (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:6-7)

Jesus gives peace and comfort to His followers as they meditate upon the Lord and His loving care in their lives!

Isaiah 26:3-4–“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:”

Jesus Has Made It Possible For Us To Be At Peace With God–i.e. He is the Procurer Of Peace!

Jesus Makes It Possible For Us To Have The Peace Of God Through The Trials Of Life!–i.e. He Is The Producer Of Peace!

               C.         Jesus Makes It Possible To Be At Peace With One Another!– i.e. He Is The Path Of Peace!                            

1 Thessalonians 5:13–“. . .be at peace among yourselves.”

Peace among us as the saints of the Lord is His desire as long as it can be maintained without compromising the Truth and righteousness.

If we desire to please God, we must carefully seek to maintain peace among our Christian brethren!

                            James 3:14-18; Ephesians 4:31-32

Ephesians 4:2-3 says that we are to walk “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Paul told the Corinthian Christians in 2 Corinthians 13:11–“Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”

Galatians 5:22 tells us that this peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit! So that means it is enjoyed by believers who “walk in the Spirit”– that is, those who allow the Spirit of God to rule their lives!

1 Peter 3:10-12

We are even admonished in Scripture to seek to be at peace with unbelievers as best we can.

Romans 12:18–“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

Hebrews 12:14–“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

Jesus Has Made It Possible For Us To Be At Peace With God–i.e. He is the Procurer Of Peace!

Jesus Makes It Possible For Us To Have The Peace Of God Through The Trials Of Life!–i.e. He Is The Producer Of Peace!

Jesus Makes It Possible To Be At Peace With One Another!– i.e. He Is The Path Of Peace!

               D.         Jesus Will Make It Possible For Peace To Come To This World!–i.e. He is The Perfecter Of Peace!

                            (Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-9)

Peace on earth will not come until Jesus Christ returns to destroy the rebels and establish His kingdom on the earth!

Until then, men on earth will continue, in vain, to achieve peace through human schemes, but it won’t work! This is not pessimism, but reality!

Isaiah 48:22–“There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.”

As long as the world is in rebellion against the LORD, and as long as the nations are ruled by wicked men, there will not be peace on earth!

But, when the Lord Jesus Christ comes again, He will complete peace perfectly!

                            Psalms 37:9-11; 72:1-8; Micah 4:1-3

Conclusion

As we close let me ask a few questions:

1) Are you at peace with God?

2) Do you have the peace of God in your life?

3) Are you at peace with the brethren?

4) Are you sharing the message of peace?

Numbers 6:24-26–“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!