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Choosing Peace

Choosing Peace

Words of Faith 10-11-19

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2019

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Colossians 1

 [20] and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.      

 

        So, what does all this mean?  Christ is supreme, but what is the result and effect? This is the "so what" verse…  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.   By him, all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him, all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. And what good is all that?  Through Him, God reconciled to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.      

        The Father willed that all the fullness of deity should dwell in Christ.  He also willed to reconcile all things to himself through Christ.  In fact, this pleased the Father.  The essential meaning of the word "reconcile" means to change from enmity to friendship, but it is also parallel to the word meaning "dwell.”  He has created a dwelling between God and man.  As John declared, the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

         Paul made this work of reconciliation clear in his letter to the Romans-- For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation (5:10-11).

          To the Corinthian church, Paul proclaimed this same truth-- All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are, therefore, Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18-20).

           The Ephesian church received this truth of God-- For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace. (Eph. 2:14-15).

         Now, does this mean we have no responsibility?  By no means.  God has made peace with us in Christ.  It is a peace treaty that is offered unilaterally.  But, like any peace treaty, we must accept the terms of His offer.  We must not reject His offer of peace in Christ, or there is no peace with Him for us. This is clear in scripture.  Jesus spoke of those who reject His way of peace as going away into "eternal punishment" (Matt. 25:46).

          The personal questions are these: If God has gone to such extreme effort to make peace with me, am I at peace with Him?  Have I accepted His unconditional and unilateral offer of peace that is paid for completely on His side?  I may say that I have done this, but then, why am I still not at peace with Him?  Why do I not trust His plan?  Why do I not trust His scripture?  Why do I resist His continuing work in my life? Do I need to reaffirm and continue in this peace?

 

          Father God, I receive Your work of reconciliation in the Lord Jesus.  I receive the forgiveness of sin in general and my sins specific.  I choose to trust You today and put behind me the restless rebellions of my life.  I choose to walk with You as You have chosen to dwell with me.  I choose Your peace.  In Jesus' Name.

 

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, and our website, and our church app, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.  

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