Unity # 19: The Covenant of Peace
Dear Father,
You are our Life, our King, strong and mighty to save. There is no one
worthy like You to receive praise, honor, and glory. Please forgive me for the
impatience of my flesh and teach me to trust in You like a child. Thank You for
the saving peace that You have established by Your blood by which we are
reconciled to You. There was no peace for us before we knew You, but now You
Yourself, Jesus, are our peace. Help us to do what is better: to drink and eat
from the Life of Christ, to know Him with our whole beings, and to sit at Your
feet. Please bless Your people everywhere to cry out to You for revival and
bring it soon. Just a few more days, and we will be with You. Jesus Christ is
Lord and He has come in the flesh.
In Jesus Christ’s Name,
Amen
Dear
Beloved,
In last week’s letter we discussed the
eternal Life that is granted to all those who have been regenerated. This
eternal Life starts at the time of conversion and is the state of knowing
Christ. Our knowledge of Christ will surely grow over time until we see Him
Face to face, and we are perfected in His love, joy, peace, and righteousness
for all eternity. This letter is about
the Covenant of Peace which God has established for all of His
people. Because of the peace made between God and man, man is able to have
the eternal Life of knowing Christ that we discussed. Prior to our
regeneration we had no peace; the Lord says that there is no peace for the
wicked (Is 48:22). We did not know the way of peace, and there was no justice
in our tracks. We had made our paths crooked, and those who treaded on us did
not know peace (Is 59:8). The false leaders among us sought to superficially
heal our brokenness by proclaiming peace to us, but there was no peace (Jer
6:14). Even when we thought that we had peace, it became a trap and a snare (Ps
69:22) because it never lasted, and we would be destroyed under this false
peace. Formerly, we were alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds.
Yet, it was our Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in His
Son, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace
through the blood of His cross; through Him, whether things on earth or things
in heaven. He has established peace for
us by reconciling us in His fleshly body through death, that is our sinful
nature was destroyed with Christ, in order to present us before Him holy,
blameless, and beyond reproach—if indeed we continue in the faith firmly
established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel,
which we heard and which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven (Col
1:19-23). Dear saints, we will come forth as righteous on the Day of Judgment
only if we continue in our faith until the end. God speaks peace to His people,
to His Godly ones, but let them not turn back to folly (Ps 85:8).
God extends His offer of peace to all
of His children. For example, when the Angel of the Lord appeared to
Gideon, he was afraid, but God told him “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die”.
Gideon then built an altar there to the Lord and named it “THE LORD IS PEACE”. (Judges 6:22-24) Often, when God appeared to His people in
Scriptures, He proclaimed peace to them as the initial greeting. Now apart
from the Law, the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by
the Law and Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus
Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His
grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed
publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate
His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins
previously committed; for the demonstration of His righteousness at the present
time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
(Rom 3:21-26)
Our peace with God also results in
peace with all those who have been granted the same peace. Now in Christ
Jesus we who were formerly far off have been brought near by the blood of
Christ. From now on we recognize no one according to the flesh, that is, from
an earthly point of view, though we used to know Christ according to the flesh,
yet now we know Him in that way no longer. If we are in Christ, we are new
creatures; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all
these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave
us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling
the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has
committed to us the Word of reconciliation. We are ambassadors, therefore,
for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on
behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. God made Christ who knew no sin to be
sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
(2 Cor 5:16-21) How lovely on the
mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who announce peace and
bring good news of happiness, who announce salvation and tell Zion that her God
reigns (Is 52:7). The seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by
those who make peace (James 3:18). He Himself is our peace, who made the Jews
and the rest of the people of God from all nations into one and broke down the
barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is
the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might
make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile
them both in one body to God through the cross, by having put to death the
enmity. He came and preached peace to us who were far away and peace to us who
were near. Through Christ we have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
So we are no longer strangers and aliens, but we are fellow citizens with all
the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the Cornerstone, in whom
the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the
Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the
Spirit. (Eph 2:13-22) Now all the people of God are to Him a Name of joy,
praise, and glory before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all
the good that He does for them, and they will fear and tremble because of all the
good and all the peace that He makes for it (Jer 33:9).
Therefore, dear saints, having been
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in
which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this,
but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about
perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out
within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we
were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one
will hardly die for a self-righteous man; though perhaps for a good man someone
would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been
justified by His blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His
Son, much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. As we
deny ourselves, we share in His sufferings. And as we fellowship with Him we
know His love, joy, and peace; we know eternal life. And not only this, but
we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now
received the reconciliation. (Rom 5:1-11)
The Counsel of the Old Testament elaborated greatly on God’s extension
of the Covenant of Peace to His people. The Lord said through the prophet
Isaiah that He extends peace to His people like a river, and the glory of the
nations like an overflowing stream (Is 66:12) For a Child would be born, a Son
would be given to them; and the government would rest on His shoulders; and His
Name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of
Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on
the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it with justice and
righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will
accomplish this. (Is 9:6-7). He will create the praise of our lips. He would
proclaim peace, peace to those who are far and to those who are near and God
would heal them (Is 57:19). He willbring health and healing to His people; and
He will reveal to them an abundance of peace and Truth (Jer 33:6). For He makes
a Covenant of Peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. He will
place them and multiply them, and will set His sanctuary in their midst forever
(Ez 37:26). Dear saints, we are the temple of the living God! There will be
peace for the Seed of Christ: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will
yield its produce and the heavens will give their dew; He will cause the
remnant of His people to inherit all these things (Zech 8:12). For the
mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but His lovingkindness will
not be removed from us, and His Covenant of Peace will not be shaken says the
Lord who has compassion on you (Is 54:10). The Covenant of Peace was made
through Christ, our High Priest. He revered His Father and stood in awe of
His Name. True instruction was in His mouth and unrighteousness was not found
on His lips; He walked with His Father in peace and uprightness, and He turned
many back from iniquity. For the lips of the Priest should preserve knowledge,
and men should seek instruction from His mouth; for He is a messenger of the
Lord of hosts. (Mal 2:5-7). He vindicates the afflicted of the people, saves
the children of the needy, crushes the oppressor. They fear Him while the sun
endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. He comes down
like rain upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. In His days
the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace till the moon is no more. (Ps
72:4-7) Dominion and awe belong to Him who establishes peace in His heights
(Job 25:2).
Our reconciliation to God through the
blood of Christ affects us in all ways. The Lord has established peace for
us, since He has also performed for us all our works (Is 26:12). For He has
given His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the sunrise from on high will
visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to
guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:77-79) Christ leaves with and
gives us His peace; not as the world gives, but a peace that comes from Him.
For in the world we will have tribulation, but He has overcome the world and so
we may have courage. He tells us not to let our hearts be troubled or fearful.
(John 14:27, John 16:33) The work of Christ’s righteousness is peace, and the
service of His righteousness is quietness and confidence forever (Is 32:17) Our
minds controlled by faith are steadfast and the steadfast of mind, God keeps in
perfect peace, because they trust in Him (Is 26:2). In peace we both lie down
and sleep, for He alone, the Lord, makes us to dwell in safety (Ps 4:8). The
mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and
peace (Rom 8:6). The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord will bless His
people with peace (Ps 29:11). We are to let the peace of Christ rule in our
hearts, to which indeed we were called in one body; and we are to be thankful
(Col 3:15). We are to depart from evil and do good; to seek peace and pursue it
(Ps 34:14). Remember that the desires of the regenerate are for the
righteousness of Christ. Those who love God’s Law have great peace, and nothing
causes them to stumble (Ps 119:165). Deceit is in the heart of those who devise
evil, but counselors of peace have joy (Prov 12:20). May the Lord of peace
Himself continually grant us peace in every circumstance. He is with us! (2
Thess 3:16)
Not everyone delights and exults in our
peace. As the Psalmist wrote, “5 Woe is me, for I sojourn in Meshech, for I dwell among the tents of Kedar! 6 Too long has my soul had its dwelling with those who hate peace. 7 I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war. Ps 120” But He will redeem our soul in peace from the battle which
is against us, for they are many who strive against us (Ps 55:18). The
God of peace will soon crush Satan under our feet (Rom 16:20). Dear saints, now
may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit, soul,
and body by preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. (1
Thess 5:23-25)
Excellent Messages:
What
is Baptism and Does it Save? Essay by John Piper
Pray
and Be Alone With God Sermon by Paul Washer 52 min
Summary of our Trip to
Indiana: Our family went to
Indiana for the past several days to spend time with Anand and Prasanna. God
always has a glorious purpose for each of our traveling experiences. The Spirit
taught me through Anand’s pastor about the Light of
God’s glory invading the darkness of sin, gloom, hopelessness,
despair, slavery, apathy, everything in the world apart from Him. I felt the
Spirit’s promise that I will continue to see the Light of His glory in
increasing measure in the time ahead. And whenever the worst trials,
temptations, and burdens would come upon me, His Light will always dispel the
darkness. Our family was also encouraged to pursue
intimacy with Christ above all else and to pray for revival (also from Anand’s pastor). Our
work for the Lord flows out from and its efficacy is dependent on our intimacy
with Christ (See Ps 63). I understood more about baptism in the process of
understanding from Anand that a certain false Gospel called “baptismal
regeneration” exists even among seemingly God-fearing people from all ages (the
heart of which seems to be the opposite extreme of free grace theology). The
external act of being baptized is an appeal to God for a good conscience,
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 3:21). The
outward act of baptism is a due response of the inner saving regenerating work
of the Spirit. Finally, I learned that the true Gospel and the
right Doctrine are vindicated by the fruit of love and obedience in those who
hold fast to them. Thus, by our fruit we know that we abide in
the Truth and that we have eternal Life. (see 1 John) We were also able to
spend time fellowshipping with several of Anand’s friends and Anand Uncle, Lois
Aunty, Timothy, and Abby who know the Counsel of God’s Word and desire to know
Christ above all else. I am amazed how God enables Anand to make such blessed
friends. On the drive back home, I realized that God had improved my
deliberation to pursue Him and His Kingdom in the past few months and deepened
my understanding of His Word in an unimaginable way. He has also increased my
love for the saints and their righteous acts of faith and love. I never thought
that my life would become what it is now, but I praise Him, and I long to
desire to be with Christ! I pray that He continues to discipline me and remove
from me everything that hinders my obedience and love. This song is in honor of and
love for Anand and Prasanna: O
Mighty Cross
Love in Christ,
Preethi
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