Peace from the World, Peace from Heaven?
VBC Albuquerque · Dec 24, 2024
This sermon distinguishes clearly between worldly peace and God's peace. Worldly peace depends on material possessions, beauty, and status but is fleeting and temporary. In contrast, God's peace is given to those who trust Christ and does not depend on external circumstances.
The sermon opens by reconstructing the actual context of the Nativity, which is completely different from the peaceful, serene scene depicted in traditional Christmas cards. Pastor explains that Mary and Joseph had to walk nearly 80-90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem while Mary was pregnant, gave birth in a filthy animal stable, and then fled to Egypt to escape King Herod. These historical events make clear that the Nativity did not bring worldly peace to Jesus' family.
The second section develops the concept of worldly peace according to human perspective. Worldly peace is defined as a state of safety, quietness, and freedom from threats, encompassing both material elements (money, beauty, education, status) and spiritual elements (health, morality, reputation). According to the world, each person must strive and work hard to achieve this peace; no one else can give it. However, this peace is very fragile because it depends on things that can be lost at any moment due to human sin, greed, envy, and selfishness. Pastor cites biblical examples such as Cain killing Abel, King Saul hunting David, and King Herod killing infants to illustrate that worldly peace is not sustainable.
The third section explains how God's peace is given through the salvation of Jesus Christ. God's peace comes from three sources: awareness of salvation through Jesus Christ, God's promises in Scripture, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers. Pastor emphasizes that God's peace is completely different from worldly peace—it does not depend on external circumstances but is a firm trust that Christ has overcome the world. Even in times of tribulation, war, and loss, those who have God can remain steadfast because God is with them.
The final section applies the message to each person's choice. Pastor presents two types of people: those who say to God "Your will be done" are those who value God's peace more than worldly peace, and those who say "my will be done" are those who pursue success, wealth, beauty, and status. Pastor urges choosing God's peace because material things will be lost and no one can take them when dying, but God's peace is eternal and everlasting.