Reconciliation and Peace Through Christ's Sacrifice
Summary
In today's reflection, we delve into the profound issue of enmity and strife that plagues our world. The root cause of this discord is sin, which manifests as pride and self-interest, setting individuals against God and each other. This pride leads to a false sense of autonomy, where individuals elevate themselves as gods, demanding their rights and desires, inevitably resulting in conflict. The world, in its wisdom, seeks peace through conferences and agreements, yet fails to recognize that true peace cannot be achieved without addressing the fundamental issue of sin.
The scriptures provide a clear solution: reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. The greatest commandment, as stated by Jesus, is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, followed by loving our neighbor as ourselves. However, the modern world often attempts to start with the second commandment, neglecting the first. Without a right relationship with God, it is impossible to truly love oneself or others. The peace we seek is found only in Christ, who is our peace and has made peace through His sacrifice.
Christ's work on the cross has broken down the barriers of enmity, particularly the division between Jews and Gentiles, symbolized by the middle wall of partition in the temple. This division, rooted in the law of commandments, was abolished by Christ, who fulfilled the law and opened the way for all to come to God. The enmity that once existed due to sin and self-interest is removed in Christ, allowing for true reconciliation and peace.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Root of Conflict: Sin, manifesting as pride and self-interest, is the root cause of enmity between individuals and God. This pride leads to a false sense of autonomy, where individuals elevate themselves as gods, resulting in inevitable conflict. True peace cannot be achieved without addressing this fundamental issue of sin. [15:13]
2. The Order of Love: The greatest commandment is to love God first, followed by loving our neighbor. Without a right relationship with God, it is impossible to truly love oneself or others. The modern world often neglects this order, attempting to start with the second commandment, leading to failure in achieving true peace. [21:10]
3. Christ as Our Peace: Jesus Christ is not only the maker of peace but is our peace. True peace is found only in Him, as He reconciles us to God and to one another. His sacrifice on the cross broke down the barriers of enmity, allowing for true reconciliation and peace. [25:29]
4. The Abolition of Enmity: Christ's work on the cross abolished the law of commandments that created division, particularly between Jews and Gentiles. This division, symbolized by the middle wall of partition, was removed, allowing all to come to God through Christ. [36:40]
5. The Necessity of Reconciliation: True peace requires reconciliation with God and with one another. This reconciliation is made possible through Christ, who has broken down the barriers of enmity and opened the way for all to come to God. Without this reconciliation, peace remains unattainable. [45:14]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[13:41] - The Problem of Peace
[14:11] - The Relevance of Scripture
[15:13] - Sin as the Root Cause
[16:17] - The Fall of Man
[17:46] - The War of False Gods
[19:05] - The World's Blindness
[20:06] - The Greatest Commandment
[21:10] - The Order of Love
[22:16] - Christ as Our Peace
[24:51] - The Necessity of Christ
[28:53] - Misinterpretations of Peace
[33:13] - The Role of the Church
[35:38] - Reconciliation Through Christ
[39:03] - The Abolition of Enmity
[45:14] - Access to God Through Christ
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 3:1-6
2. Matthew 22:36-40
3. Ephesians 2:14-16
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what is identified as the root cause of enmity and conflict in the world? [15:13]
2. How does the sermon describe the order of the greatest commandments given by Jesus, and why is this order significant? [20:06]
3. What does the sermon say about the role of Christ in breaking down the barriers of enmity, particularly between Jews and Gentiles? [35:38]
4. How does the sermon explain the concept of Christ being our peace? [25:29]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that pride and self-interest manifest in our lives today, and how do they contribute to conflict? [15:29]
2. How does the sermon interpret the failure of the modern world to achieve peace by starting with the second commandment instead of the first? [21:10]
3. What does the sermon imply about the necessity of reconciliation with God before reconciliation with others can occur? [21:58]
4. How does the sermon explain the significance of Christ abolishing the law of commandments in creating peace? [36:40]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent conflict in your life. How might pride or self-interest have played a role in that situation? What steps can you take to address these issues? [15:29]
2. Consider your relationship with God. How might strengthening this relationship impact your ability to love and reconcile with others? [21:10]
3. The sermon emphasizes Christ as our peace. How can you incorporate this understanding into your daily life, especially in moments of stress or conflict? [25:29]
4. Think about a division or barrier you have experienced, whether personal or communal. How can the example of Christ breaking down barriers inspire you to seek reconciliation? [35:38]
5. The sermon discusses the importance of starting with the first commandment. How can you prioritize your love for God in practical ways this week? [21:10]
6. Identify a situation where you have tried to achieve peace without involving God. How might involving God change the outcome? [21:58]
7. Reflect on the concept of Christ abolishing the law of commandments. How does this understanding affect your view of religious practices and traditions? [36:40]
Devotional
Day 1: The Root of Conflict: Pride and Self-Interest
Sin, manifesting as pride and self-interest, is the root cause of enmity between individuals and God. This pride leads to a false sense of autonomy, where individuals elevate themselves as gods, resulting in inevitable conflict. True peace cannot be achieved without addressing this fundamental issue of sin. The world often seeks peace through external means, such as conferences and agreements, but these efforts fall short because they do not address the internal issue of sin. The scriptures remind us that reconciliation with God is the first step towards true peace. [15:13]
"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." (James 3:16, ESV)
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where pride or self-interest has caused conflict. How can you begin to address this with humility and seek reconciliation today?
Day 2: The Order of Love: God First, Then Neighbor
The greatest commandment is to love God first, followed by loving our neighbor. Without a right relationship with God, it is impossible to truly love oneself or others. The modern world often neglects this order, attempting to start with the second commandment, leading to failure in achieving true peace. By prioritizing our relationship with God, we align our hearts with His love, enabling us to genuinely love others. This divine order is essential for cultivating authentic relationships and fostering peace. [21:10]
"And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37-39, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your current priorities. Are you placing your relationship with God above all else? What changes can you make to ensure God is first in your life?
Day 3: Christ as Our Peace: Reconciliation Through Sacrifice
Jesus Christ is not only the maker of peace but is our peace. True peace is found only in Him, as He reconciles us to God and to one another. His sacrifice on the cross broke down the barriers of enmity, allowing for true reconciliation and peace. In a world filled with division and strife, Christ's work on the cross offers a path to unity and harmony. By embracing His peace, we can overcome the divisions that separate us and experience the fullness of His love. [25:29]
"For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility." (Ephesians 2:14, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation. How can you invite Christ's peace into this situation and take steps towards healing?
Day 4: The Abolition of Enmity: Breaking Down Barriers
Christ's work on the cross abolished the law of commandments that created division, particularly between Jews and Gentiles. This division, symbolized by the middle wall of partition, was removed, allowing all to come to God through Christ. The enmity that once existed due to sin and self-interest is removed in Christ, allowing for true reconciliation and peace. By breaking down these barriers, Christ invites us into a new community where all are welcome and united in Him. [36:40]
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on any prejudices or barriers you may hold against others. How can you actively work to break these down and embrace unity in Christ?
Day 5: The Necessity of Reconciliation: Peace Through Christ
True peace requires reconciliation with God and with one another. This reconciliation is made possible through Christ, who has broken down the barriers of enmity and opened the way for all to come to God. Without this reconciliation, peace remains unattainable. As we seek to live in harmony with others, we must first seek reconciliation with God, allowing His love to transform our hearts and guide our interactions. [45:14]
"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a person or group you feel distant from. How can you take a step towards reconciliation today, trusting in Christ's power to bring peace?
Quotes
Sin I say is the cause of the trouble and it puts men at enmity against God it puts men at enmity against men why well the answer is perfectly simple sin is essentially Pride self now we must go back you see to the Book of Genesis and people who think that you can cut out the early chapters of Genesis and still have a Christian Gospel are again just displaying their ignorance it's there you get the fundamental explanation the root cause of all trouble is the pride of men man interested in himself man setting himself up as an autonomous being even face to face with God. [00:15:13]
The greatest of all the Commandments and this was his reply Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy soul and all thy mind and all all thy strength that is the first and the greatest commandment and the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself now the thing there the important thing there is to notice the order first second first the relationship to God second the relationship to your fellow men and women now the whole tragedy of the modern world is due to the fact that the first is entirely left out. [00:20:06]
He is our peace and he alone is our peace there is is no peace apart from him my dear friends I'm not doing anything at all dangerous when I say this this morning the world can go on developing intellectually and in every other respect it can add to its knowledge of Science and of sociology and of psychology and of Affairs it can multiply its institutions it can train Us in this respect and that respect and the other but it will all lead to nothing whatsoever because the problem can never be solved except in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. [00:25:29]
He is our peace who have been made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us having abolished in his flesh the enmity even is supplied it isn't there in the original the word even is in italics even the law of Commandments I don't think that's good it's better to take it like this he ha broken down the dividing wall of hostility or of enmity by abolishing the law of Commandments that's better Heath broken down the middle wall of partition of enmity how by abolishing the law of Commandments in ordinances. [00:36:40]
Men must be reconciled to God and men must be reconciled to one another the Apostle takes up both he starts with men being reconciled to one another he does that I take it because what was prominent in his mind at the moment was this he was looking at the Christian church and there he could see Jews and Gentiles so he starts with the concrete fact of the church there together praising God are men who were bitter enemies what's brought them together that's the first question he starts with that that's what he deals with in verses 14 and 15 then in verse 16 he shows how they both together have been brought to God and how the enmity between them and God has been done away. [00:45:14]
Sin is essentially Pride self now we must go back you see to the Book of Genesis and people who think that you can cut out the early chapters of Genesis and still have a Christian Gospel are again just displaying their ignorance it's there you get the fundamental explanation the root cause of all trouble is the pride of men man interested in himself man setting himself up as an autonomous being even face to face with God ready to listen to the question hath God said who is God to speak to you man said Satan to men you don't realize how big you are how great you are God's keeping you like a slave and using you as a servant why don't you stand up for yourself why don't you assert yourself why don't you stand on your dignity and demand your rights don't be put down any longer stand up and and he stood up. [00:16:17]
The problem is how am I to love myself and according to the Bible I will never love myself in the right way until I see myself as I am in my relationship to God so I cannot possibly carry out the second commandment unless I am already clear upon the first commandment it's impossible and men today not recognizing God and not starting with God and not submitting himself to God is trying to reconcile himself to his fellow men and of course he isn't succeeding he never can succeed it's impossible he's violating the law of his own nature he has been made by God he is made for God he doesn't see himself truly he doesn't see anybody else truly until he sees himself and all others in the light of God's law face to face with God himself. [00:21:10]
The Lord Jesus Christ not only makes peace he does make peace as I'm going to show you but not only does he make peace he himself is the peace he is our peace which is just of course another way of saying this that we must be in Christ before we can enjoy the blessings of God as the God of Peace it is only as we are related to Christ it is only as we are Incorporated in Christ or to use a biblical term grafted into Christ it is only as we are members of Christ and parts of Christ and sharing the Life of Christ and drawing from the Life of Christ it is only as that is true of us that we shall really enjoy the blessings of peace. [00:25:29]
Christ has broken down the middle wall of partition the enmity and that's how he's done it Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth there is no need any longer of the ceremonial and the ritual of the Jew it's been finished Christ is the Fulfillment of all that they were but types pointing to him men should never have stopped at them they should have been led by them to him he's finished it so that in this whole matter of access to God the old distinction originally made by God himself has been abolished by God himself in Christ and the way is now open to Gentile as well as Jew to come into the presence of God not through an Earthly human priesthood not with material offerings and sacrifices but through the one and only mediator between God and Men the men Christ Jesus and by the sacrifice of his life his Precious Blood the middle wall of partition has been broken down because the thing that raised it into an enmity has been abolished by the blood of Christ. [00:36:40]
The world today is full of that look at the gifts that God gives to men they all of his Bounty and of his graciousness he gives the gift of ability and understand ending he gives the the the business Acumen to certain men and they prosper and they succeed he shes his gifts in these ways but to all men together get down on their knees together and thank God for his gracious gifts to men do they all with humility ascribe the glory and the honor to him and thank him who is The Giver of every good and and every perfect gift we know perfectly well that they don't they are still doing what the Jew and Gentile did what they do is this a man with ability says of course I have a brain I have understanding look at that other fellow knows nothing despises him hates him and the other man looks up at him and says who is he who does he think he is enmity and it's all because of the gifts of God and so on with every every other single gift that God gives they gifts of God they're wonderful and if we all only realize that and we're humble we'd all enjoy them together and the men without the talent would say how marvelous to see that man how wonderful is God to have endowed a man with such a capacity but not at all it leads to jealousy and rivalry and enmity and hatred and Malice and bitterness and Scorn and everything that poisons life it's still going on and there'll never be peace until all that is broken down and Christ says the Apostle here has broken it down in this matter of religion once and forever. [00:36:40]
The Apostle takes up both he starts with men being reconciled to one another he does that I take it because what was prominent in his mind at the moment was this he was looking at the Christian church and there he could see Jews and Gentiles so he starts with the concrete fact of the church there together praising God are men who were bitter enemies what's brought them together that's the first question he starts with that that's what he deals with in verses 14 and 15 then in verse 16 he shows how they both together have been brought to God and how the enmity between them and God has been done away with now then how does Christ reconcile men to one another how does he bring men to one another in love how does he destroy the enity that is between them well first of all he puts it negatively the negative is this he says that he has broken down the middle wall of partition between us. [00:45:14]
Christ has broken down the middle wall of partition the enmity and that's how he's done it Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth there is no need any longer of the ceremonial and the ritual of the Jew it's been finished Christ is the Fulfillment of all that they were but types pointing to him men should never have stopped at them they should have been led by them to him he's finished it so that in this whole matter of access to God the old distinction originally made by God himself has been abolished by God himself in Christ and the way is now open to Gentile as well as Jew to come into the presence of God not through an Earthly human priesthood not with material offerings and sacrifices but through the one and only mediator between God and Men the men Christ Jesus and by the sacrifice of his life his Precious Blood the middle wall of partition has been broken down because the thing that raised it into an enmity has been abolished by the blood of Christ and it is only as men realize that that negatively they will thus be delivered from the enmity. [00:36:40]
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