peace, part 2

©2023 dan bulkley | ask@lifechurchco.com

Peace and God

section 1

As we have been studying it might have become clear that peace is characterized by the relationships we have. The welfare, the shalom, of our life is literally determined by our own pursuit of the eternal welfare of other’s souls i corinthians 10:24, 33  acts 20:24 . So, it is even more essential to peace that we have a harmonious relationship with the Lord Himself.

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i corinthians 10:24, 33 niv

No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

...even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

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acts 20:24 esv

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.

my notes:

section 2

God gives peace to those in a relationship with Him luke 2:14 , but not to those who refuse Him isaiah 57:18-21 , for in refusing a genuine relationship with Him they are refusing Peace Himself deuteronomy 28:65-66  i samuel 8:7-9  ii chronicles 12:8 .

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luke 2:14 esv

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!"

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isaiah 57:18-21 esv

I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, creating the fruit of the lips.

Peace, peace, to the far and to the near," says the LORD, "and I will heal him.

But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."

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deuteronomy 28:65-66 csb

You will find no peace among those nations, and there will be no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a despondent spirit. Your life will hang in doubt before you. You will be in dread night and day, never certain of survival.

my notes:

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i samuel 8:7-9 niv

And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights."

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ii chronicles 12:8 nlt

But they will become his subjects, so they will know the difference between serving Me and serving earthly rulers."

my notes:

section 3

In our outright sin and even subtle rebellion we try to replace the God of Peace with delusions of well-wishing jeremiah 6:14  isaiah 30:9-11  making lies our comfort and refuge jeremiah 2:13  isaiah 28:15  all the while trying to convince ourselves that the just consequences of our selfishness and pride won’t come about romans 1:32  romans 6:23 . It leaves us with a reluctant sense of doom even when God is being gracious proverbs 28:1  hebrews 10:26-27 . Our sins take us out of the path of peace and therefore we have no peace with God isaiah 59:2, 8 , others titus 3:3  or within ourselves romans 2:15 .

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jeremiah 6:14 csb

They have treated my people’s brokenness superficially, claiming, "Peace, peace," when there is no peace.

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isaiah 30:9-11 niv

For these are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the LORD’s instruction. They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets, "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!"

my notes:

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jeremiah 2:13 esv

for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

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isaiah 28:15 niv

You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death, with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place."

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romans 1:32 nlt

They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

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romans 6:23 esv

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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proverbs 28:1 esv

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

my notes:

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hebrews 10:26-27 niv

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

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isaiah 59:2, 8 csb

But your iniquities are separating you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not listen.

They have not known the path of peace, and there is no justice in their ways. They have made their roads crooked; no one who walks on them will know peace.

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titus 3:3 niv

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

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romans 2:15 esv

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

my notes:

section 4

Yet, God has provided the Way for us to come near to Him with freedom and confidence john 14:6  hebrews 4:14-16 . God offers His peace in reconciling our relationship with Him through Christ’s mending of our separation ii corinthians 5:17-21  i timothy 2:5 . When we believe God, agreeing with Him on the terms of our relationship, we now can walk together amos 3:3  because Jesus has TRUTHFULLY and LOVINGLY bridged the gap between us romans 5:1-2  isaiah 53:5  providing the means by which the grace, mercy and PEACE of God will characterize our lives…His very Truth and Love ii john 3  instead of our lies and selfishness.

Jesus gives us His peace…His eirenes…His shalom…by including us ephesians 1:13  philemon 17  in His relationship with the Father john 17:20-26 . It is in Him alone that we have peace with God, others, and ourselves john 16:33, 14:27  acts 10:36 . Therefore, we have the goodness (towb) of God flowing in our lives because we have peace (shalom) with God that otherwise could never be ours psalm 4:6-8 .

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john 14:6 esv

Jesus said to him, "I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

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hebrews 4:14-16 esv

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

my notes:

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ii corinthians 5:17-21 esv

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, Who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

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i timothy 2:5 esv

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus...

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amos 3:3 nkjv

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

my notes:

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romans 5:1-2 esv

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

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isaiah 53:5 niv

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.

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ii john 3 esv

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

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ephesians 1:13 niv

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the Gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

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philemon 17 nas

If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.

my notes:

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john 17:20-26 niv

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.

I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one—I in them and You in Me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.

Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world.

Righteous Father, though the world does not know You, I know You, and they know that You have sent Me. I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I Myself may be in them."

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john 16:33, 14:27 niv

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

my notes:

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acts 10:36 esv

As for the word that He sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all),

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psalm 4:6-8 esv

There are many who say, "Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!" You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

my notes:

section 5

The only appropriate response to God’s terms of relationship, "peace treaty", this covenant of peace malachi 2:5-6  is the life of worship romans 12:1  ii corinthians 5:15  that is harmonious with God romans 12:2  amos 3:3  recognizing the Truth that we are the ones in need of His forgiveness, grace, mercy, instruction, etc. micah 6:9  matthew 10:28 , and that we in no way control it or deserve it, but rather simply respond peaceably to His offer of peace micah 6:6-8  psalm 32:8-10 . We have surrendered (not despaired), i.e., submitted to His Truth and Love and thereby live only by His grace james 4:7, 10 .

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malachi 2:5-6 niv

My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin.

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romans 12:1 nas

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

my notes:

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ii corinthians 5:15 esv

and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him Who for their sake died and was raised.

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romans 12:2 niv

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.

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amos 3:3 nkjv

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

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micah 6:9 niv

Listen! The LORD is calling to the city— and to fear your name is wisdom— "Heed the rod and the One Who appointed it.

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matthew 10:28 esv

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him Who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

my notes:

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micah 6:6-8 nlt

What can we bring to the LORD? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

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psalm 32:8-10 csb

I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel. Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you. Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the LORD will have faithful love surrounding him.

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james 4:7, 10 niv

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

my notes:

section 6

This covenant of life and peace means your life is not yours but now His romans 14:7-8  i corinthians 6:19-20 , yet it is an eternal life john 17:3  that is one of eirenes…shalom…welfare…mutually beneficial relations romans 8:6  when your mind, heart, soul, etc. are set on Him isaiah 26:3  matthew 22:36-40  rather than on yourself matthew 16:25  luke 9:24  and thereby the God of Peace establishes and continues to build shalom for you, by you and in you isaiah 26:12  philippians 1:2, 6 . Jesus is our Peace!

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romans 14:7-8 esv

For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

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i corinthians 6:19-20 esv

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

my notes:

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john 17:3 esv

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent.

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romans 8:6 nas

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace...

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isaiah 26:3 nlt

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

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matthew 22:36-40 niv

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

my notes:

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matthew 16:25 esv

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

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luke 9:24 esv

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

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isaiah 26:12 niv

LORD, You establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished You have done for us.

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philippians 1:2, 6 niv

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

...being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

my notes: