JESUS COMFORTS HIS DISCIPLES

PART 4

JOHN 14:27

JESUS PROMISES HIS DISCIPLES PEACE THAT THE WORLD CANNOT GIVE 14:27

INTRODUCTION

Jesus is about to go to the cross and make peace with God the Father on behalf of all those the Father has given him. Theologians call this the objective peace of Christ.

Jesus will also give his followers a peace to endure whatever circumstances they may face as they live out the Christian life in a sinful world. This will be a fruit of the Spirit who is coming to indwell them. Theologians call this the subjective peace of Christ.

PEACE WITH GOD (OBJECTIVE PEACE)

The objective peace of Christ is a necessary prerequisite for subjective peace, neither of which is possible for the person who is not born again and trusting in Christ alone for forgiveness and righteousness.

Since the rebellion of Adam and Eve, the human race has been at war with God. All of Adam’s fallen race by nature disobey God’s Holy law and refuse to give Him glory. Therefore, they are enemies of God.

As enemies of God, Adam’s fallen race stands justly (righteously) under the wrath of God, awaiting eternal judgment.

The good news, however, is that the enemies of God can be reconciled to enjoy peace with Him through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is through Christ alone that God the Father has chosen to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:20; Romans 5:1; Romans 5:9-11

At the moment of justification (being declared righteous through faith in Christ), the enmity ends and God’s wrath is turned away (we are no longer His enemy and are now His friend). All sins are forgiven, and enemies become sons of God.

The substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ to satisfy God’s holiness was necessary so there could be peace between sinful men and holy God.

Because God is holy and just, He requires that a penalty be paid when sinners break His law. It is only because Christ’s sacrifice fully satisfied the demands of divine justice that God can “be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom 3:26).

Though perfectly righteous, Christ was punished in the place of all who believe as though He were a sinner, so that they through faith in Him could be treated as though they were perfectly righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21.

THE PEACE OF GOD (SUBJECTIVE PEACE)

The objective peace of justification results in subjective, experiential peace. Subjective peace is not peace with God but “the peace of God”. Philippians 4:6-7

The peace of God protects believers from being affected by circumstances; it triumphs over them, turning sorrow into joy, fear into boldness, and doubt into confidence. This is the peace that Jesus promised His followers.

Negatively, for the believer to experience the peace of God Paul says that he must not be anxious about anything (must not worry about anything).

Worry says “I don’t really trust you Lord to take care of this.” Worry is a lack of faith and whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

As sin, worry grieves the Spirit, and peace, which is a fruit of the Spirit, is quenched in our lives. To retrieve it, we must confess our sin of worry, appropriate God’s love and forgiveness and be filled afresh with the Holy Spirit.

Positively, for the believer to experience the peace of God, Paul says in  Philippians 4:8-9 that he must think on those things that are true, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy. And he must put into practice the things he has learned from God’s word. And the God of peace will be with him.

In Isaiah 26:3-4 it says that the Lord keeps in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on the Him; those who trust in Him as their everlasting rock.

In other words get your eyes off your circumstances and put them on Christ who is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy. Only when your eyes are on Christ and you are doing what He says will you learn to be content (to be at peace) in whatever circumstances you are in.

This subjective peace that surpasses all comprehension is the same peace that Jesus experienced in the face of mockery, scorn, hostility, hatred, betrayal, and death.

THE WORLD CANNOT GIVE PEACE

Jesus said that the peace He gives cannot be given by the world. The world only offers a superficial (fake) peace that is based on feelings for a moment. Then it is gone.

That is why Jesus said I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart (be at peace)! I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

Only those who are in Christ, (“the Prince of Peace”) can have peace with God and experience the peace of God in this life.

Only true believers can be free from a troubled and fearful heart in the midst of hardships and trials. Thus Jesus says to His disciples, Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.