E32 - Hope’s Harbor Gritty Bible Devotions - Peace - How does the Atonement give Peace?
Hope’s Harbor
Gritty Bible Devotions
Episode #32
Title: Peace – How does the atonement give peace?
Date: December 13, 2021
Contact: info@hopesharbor.net
Key verse(s): John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Peace: (literally or figuratively); by implication prosperity: - one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.
Intro: In the 4 Gospels nearly every use of the word peace is used by Jesus.
Devotion focus:
· Jesus has another gift to give after that of eternal life -
Peace
When angels announced the birth of Jesus they proclaimed to those shepherds in Luke 2:14 - "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
This final proclamation by the angels of peace on earth, and goodwill toward men was preceded by their announcement of the birth of the Messiah, the Savior, and (deliverer).
This proclamation contains the core reason for any real peace on earth. (That is the Son of GOD coming to earth as one of us, which the angels also said was “… good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”)
Notice the angel said ‘all people.’ This negates false teaching which claims only certain people will be saved. And while it is true not all will accept the Bible’s truth about salvation - here and elsewhere it is declared in Scripture Jesus, that baby born in an animal pen in Bethlehem, came to save sinners.
Listen to Paul in Timothy 1:15 – ‘This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.’
1 Corinthians 15:3 – ‘For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…’
But for whose sins did Christ die?
2 Corinthians 5:15 – ‘…and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.’
If Jesus died for all, then just who is the ‘all’ Paul refers to? The answer is right here in 1John 2:2 – ‘And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.’
And then the condition to receive forgiveness is here in Act 26:18 – ‘…to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'
This brings us back to John 3:16 & 17:
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 - “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
If you have listened to very many of my podcasts you may recognize I refer to John 3:16&17 often. Why do this?
Because, listen carefully, the supernatural peace Jesus promised in John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
And in John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Is found only by those who belong to Jesus and the cause of this peace is the truth of having a new spiritual birth as Jesus explained to a priest one night. The account is found in John 3:3 – ‘Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
And now for those who belong to GOD by faith in Jesus dying for their sins, peace is available. And this peace comes through Jesus’s death on the cross when He provided atonement (That’s payment acceptable to GOD for our sins).
This peace is not dependable on circumstances although good circumstances can make for a measure of peace, but this type of peace is circumstantial. It is fleeting.
The peace Jesus gives, besides being supernatural, has a staying power. Now, can it be diminished, even eradicated? Sure, but the cause is with us.
I can begin to doubt and have done so many times. Doubt sways our mind away from Bible truth and toward despair. This destroys our peace.
And it is not the Prince of Peace who desires we lose what He gives.
It is the prince of darkness and death, Satan, who comes to kill, steal and destroy.
My encouragement to you is protect your peace by staying mindful of all Jesus gave us as a result of His death on that cross. According to John 19:30 His last statement on record from the cross was: “It is finished!”
John 19:30 – ‘So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.’
This means the payment for all sin was and is complete. When we believe this by faith our destiny is secured through the new birth. We are safe.
This truth alone has the power to give peace when meditated upon.
Summary: It is possible to have GOD’s peace when our circumstances are causing distress and fear. It is the peace found in the eye of the hurricane. But to have this kind of peace we must trust Him regardless of the circumstances, those of the swirling storm. This takes resolute faith on my part and yours to look at the face of Jesus and not at the howling circumstances.
Action to consider: Replace fear with the peace that comes forming a new mindset about your future – your eternal future with the Prince of Peace.
Next week’s devotion: Longsuffering, meaning Patience