The Peace of Christ is not about ruling like a king but functions as an umpire, guiding our actions and decisions in alignment with the values of the Kingdom. This peace actively informs our interactions, reminding us of the cost of our unity in Christ. It is a peace that was purchased at a great cost—through the blood and sacrifice of Christ, who broke down the walls of hostility and created unity among believers. As we navigate our daily lives, this peace should be the guiding force that helps us make decisions that honor Christ's sacrifice and reflect His love. [02:00]
Colossians 3:15 (ESV): "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
Reflection: Think of a recent decision you made. How might the Peace of Christ have guided you differently in that situation?
Day 2: The Cost of Unity
This peace is blood-bought, achieved through the sacrifice of Christ, who broke down the walls of hostility and created unity among believers. It is a powerful force that transforms our relationships and hearts, calling us to live in a manner worthy of His sacrifice. The unity we experience as believers is not something to be taken lightly; it was purchased at a great cost. As we interact with others, we are reminded of the sacrifice that made this unity possible and are called to live in a way that honors that sacrifice. [06:15]
Ephesians 2:14-16 (ESV): "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."
Reflection: Consider a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation. How can you actively work towards unity, keeping in mind the cost of Christ's sacrifice?
Day 3: Aligning Actions with Christ's Peace
The Peace of Christ challenges us to consider whether our actions and words align with the peace that Christ has established. It calls us to put away anger, wrath, malice, and slander, replacing them with actions and words that reflect the peace and unity Christ achieved. This peace is not passive; it actively informs and shapes our interactions, reminding us of the cost of our unity and the call to live in a manner worthy of that sacrifice. [10:13]
James 3:17-18 (ESV): "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
Reflection: Reflect on your recent conversations. Are there words you need to retract or apologize for to align with the peace of Christ?
Day 4: Navigating Conflict with Christ's Peace
When conflicts arise, the Peace of Christ should be the guiding force that helps us navigate disputes. It is not just a personal experience but a communal one, fostering harmony within the body of Christ and creating an environment where His love and sacrifice are honored. By allowing the Peace of Christ to rule in our hearts, we create an environment where His peace is made manifest in our relationships. [09:34]
Romans 12:18 (ESV): "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."
Reflection: Identify a conflict you are currently facing. How can you let the Peace of Christ guide you in resolving it?
Day 5: Manifesting Christ's Peace in Relationships
By allowing the Peace of Christ to rule in our hearts, we create an environment where His peace is made manifest in our relationships. This peace is not passive; it actively informs and shapes our interactions, reminding us of the cost of our unity and the call to live in a manner worthy of that sacrifice. As we embody this peace, we honor Christ's love and sacrifice, fostering a community that reflects His Kingdom. [10:51]
1 Peter 3:11 (ESV): "Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it."
Reflection: Think of a relationship where you can actively pursue peace today. What steps can you take to manifest Christ's peace in that relationship?
Sermon Summary
In our exploration of Colossians 3:15-17, we delve into the profound role of the Peace of Christ in our lives and communities. The term "rule" in this context is not about dominion like a king but rather functions like an umpire or referee, guiding us in our interactions and decisions. This peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a powerful, blood-bought reality that transforms our relationships and hearts. It is a peace that was purchased at a great cost—through the blood and sacrifice of Christ, who broke down the walls of hostility and created unity among believers.
The Peace of Christ acts as an arbiter in our lives, determining what is in line with the values of the Kingdom. It challenges us to consider whether our actions and words align with the peace that Christ has established through His sacrifice. This peace is not passive; it actively informs and shapes our interactions, reminding us of the cost of our unity and the call to live in a manner worthy of that sacrifice.
When conflicts arise, the Peace of Christ should be the guiding force that helps us navigate disputes. It calls us to put away anger, wrath, malice, and slander, replacing them with actions and words that reflect the peace and unity Christ achieved. This peace is not just a personal experience but a communal one, fostering harmony within the body of Christ. By allowing the Peace of Christ to rule in our hearts, we create an environment where His love and sacrifice are honored, and His peace is made manifest in our relationships.
Key Takeaways
1. The Peace of Christ is not about ruling like a king but functions as an umpire, guiding our actions and decisions in alignment with the values of the Kingdom. It is a peace that actively informs our interactions, reminding us of the cost of our unity in Christ. [02:00]
2. This peace is blood-bought, achieved through the sacrifice of Christ, who broke down the walls of hostility and created unity among believers. It is a powerful force that transforms our relationships and hearts, calling us to live in a manner worthy of His sacrifice. [06:15]
3. The Peace of Christ challenges us to consider whether our actions and words align with the peace that Christ has established. It calls us to put away anger, wrath, malice, and slander, replacing them with actions and words that reflect the peace and unity Christ achieved. [10:13]
4. When conflicts arise, the Peace of Christ should be the guiding force that helps us navigate disputes. It is not just a personal experience but a communal one, fostering harmony within the body of Christ and creating an environment where His love and sacrifice are honored. [09:34]
5. By allowing the Peace of Christ to rule in our hearts, we create an environment where His peace is made manifest in our relationships. This peace is not passive; it actively informs and shapes our interactions, reminding us of the cost of our unity and the call to live in a manner worthy of that sacrifice. [10:51] ** [10:51]
What does the term "rule" mean in the context of Colossians 3:15, and how does it differ from the typical understanding of ruling like a king? [01:43]
According to the sermon, what is the significance of the Peace of Christ being "blood-bought"? [06:15]
How does the Peace of Christ function as an umpire in our lives and communities, according to the sermon? [05:01]
What are some of the behaviors that Paul instructs us to put away in Colossians 3:8, and how do they relate to the Peace of Christ? [10:13]
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Interpretation Questions:
How does understanding the Peace of Christ as "blood-bought" change the way we approach conflicts within the church? [06:15]
In what ways does the Peace of Christ challenge us to align our actions and words with the values of the Kingdom? [09:52]
How can the concept of the Peace of Christ as an umpire help us navigate disputes and maintain unity within the body of Christ? [09:34]
What does it mean for the Peace of Christ to be a communal experience, and how does this impact our relationships within the church? [05:01]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on a recent conflict you experienced. How might the Peace of Christ have served as a guiding force in that situation? What could you have done differently? [09:34]
Identify a relationship in your life where hostility or division exists. How can you actively work towards peace, keeping in mind the sacrifice of Christ? [06:15]
Consider the behaviors listed in Colossians 3:8. Which of these do you struggle with the most, and how can you replace them with actions that reflect the Peace of Christ? [10:13]
How can you create an environment in your home or workplace where the Peace of Christ is honored and made manifest? What specific steps can you take this week? [10:51]
Think about a time when you allowed anger or malice to dictate your actions. How can you remind yourself of the cost of unity in Christ to prevent this in the future? [10:31]
How can you encourage others in your community to let the Peace of Christ rule in their hearts, especially during times of conflict? [05:01]
What practical steps can you take to ensure that your words and actions align with the peace that Christ has established? [09:52]
Sermon Clips
I pray that we would so understand it and so embrace it that indeed in our hearts and in our relationships the effect would be that Christ's peace really would govern in a way that peace is established, Christ's peace, and I asked this in his name, amen. [00:56:16]
In English the word rule almost inevitably in a context like this sounds like the work of a king or ruler of some kind like that whereas this word doesn't carry that connotation this is not rain like a king that's basiluo, this broadbuto here is Rule like an Umpire, like a referee, like a line judge in a football game. [00:92:82]
It doesn't just stop conflict but it introduces into all disputes and all conversations and all tensions in our lives it introduces this reality, this Force piece of Christ. Now to remind ourselves what that implies let's go back and see the Peace of Christ as Paul unpacks it in its fullest place. [00:314:88]
Now in Christ Jesus you were once far off but have been brought nearby the blood of Christ this is what it cost for us alienated people to be brought together the blood of Christ so when you hear the phrase peace of Christ you should hear Blood Bought peace, that's a powerful factor to introduce into conflict. [00:352:56]
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh so his blood was shed his flesh was rent and thus he tore down the dividing wall of hostility that's going away because of this enormous price. [00:381:84]
Utterly essential to making sense of this is to take very seriously not just the word peace like oh peaceful feelings are gonna uh fix things they're going to function as a arbiter among squabbling parties no it won't only if it is of Christ, in other words there is a massive reality in this piece. [00:453:66]
The Peace of Christ ruling means that all of our conversations all of our relations all of our efforts relate to each other are done with the Consciousness or awareness that Christ's Blood Bought peace is deciding the rules here and who keeps them. [00:547:38]
So that if I speak in a certain way or you act in a certain way the Peace of Christ The Blood Bought word informed peace of Christ says no that's out of bounds here that's not serving my blood-brought peace so we saw Paul do that here in Colossians 3 8. [00:588:89]
But now you must put them all away anger wrath malice slander obscene talk those are the ways that we relate to each other when the Peace of Christ is not governing it's not arbitrating but if you put the peace of Christ in the room and remind yourself of what it costs. [00:610:14]
It cost him his flesh it cost him his blood to bind Christians together and you put that front and center in our hearts and in our minds remember in our hearts not just in our relations in our hearts you put that together that a line keeper is going to say out of bounds. [00:638:10]
It's going to make judgments like that and thus function for us in making not only internal but intra member that is within the body of Christ peace the kind of peace that glorifies what Christ actually achieved. [00:665:45]
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, argue that this comes right after this because the word informs of Christ, word of Christ informs peace of Christ so the question then how does it, how does it actually work when you have a have a dispute. [00:494:52]