Peace By God – Peace Of God – Peace With God

— Peace By God —

— The Peace Of God —

— Peace With God —

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (Hebrews 10:12)

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:2)

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (Ephesians 2:15)

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (Colossians 2:14)

   Peace by God: this is the peace that God, in Jesus Christ, accomplished on the cross of Calvary. The peace of God: this is the peace that God Himself holds within His eternal being like righteousness peace is an eternal part of the Almighty, and He alone possesses true peace. Peace with God: this is the peace that we acquire through the Lord’s work of reconciliation that we (as enemies) have been brought into Abraham’s covenant through the death of Christ with the Almighty, and it is His peace that He gives unto us. Three distinct avenues leading to one result of finality: a peace that is beyond all understanding.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

Eternal Peace

   The eternal peace of God is beyond the mind of man in Adam because Adam is at enmity with the Almighty. Adam became an enemy of God through sin. Adam entered into the kingdom of sin and death by bringing sin and his transgression against God into the world. Adam became a confederate with the chief rebellious steward of evil, Satan himself. Only through the Holy Ghost can anyone understand and know the wonder of God’s peace. Even the redeemed do not understand the magnitude and depth of God’s peace because God’s peace (although possessed by the redeemed) is not totally revealed. For His peace is a continuum for the redeemed each and every day as God pours out His peace to the hearts, to the souls, and to the spirit of His dear children. His peace is an everlasting peace. It is an eternal possession by the redeemed, and was given by an everlasting love. Therefore, let’s begin our journey of peace with the Lord Himself speaking to His disciples as documented in John 14:26 and 27. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The Work of the Comforter Revealing and Ministering

   The importance of this peace is clarified by the One who gives it for this peace comes from the Lord Himself. In John 14:26, we see the ministry and the work of the Holy Ghost, and the Lord Jesus Christ uses this specific title to show His disciples that the Holy Ghost is going to minister to them the unseen things of their redemption. The Lord Jesus was pointing His disciples to the divine Comforter, and the ministry of the divine Comforter who was to come, and has come, and in our present day reveals the peace of God to the redeemed of the Lord Jesus Christ.

   The Comforter’s ministry to the new born creature in Christ is to reveal the glories of the Lord Jesus, the wonders of His salvation to man, and to magnify (in every way) the Person of God’s dear Son. The Holy Ghost accomplishes this by ministering to the heart, to the soul, and to the spirit of God’s dear children. He uses the eternal glories of God, as the Lord Jesus told His disciples, that the Holy Ghost would bring all things concerning Him to their remembrance. This shows the power and the work of the Holy Ghost. Men try to limit the Holy Ghost by their external vanity in actions that they claim and attribute to the Holy Ghost, which are false, thus, they are tools of the devil to deceive the children of God; however, the Holy Ghost is the power to enlighten God’s eternal truths through the Word of God. I am speaking specifically of the divinely revealed Word in the KJV. We see, according to John 14:26, that He has been given not only to reveal, but to keep that which belongs to the Lord and to the Lord’s people. He ministers peace today, to our heart, to our soul, and to our spirit. This is a witness of the faith, and grace that God has given to us through Jesus Christ. For only by receiving faith and grace can anyone have peace with God.

   We have been reconciled, let me phrase it this way: the enemy of God, Adam, has been kicked out of us forever, and he has been replaced (by the new birth) with Jesus Christ. This might be too much for some, but believe me, the transaction of faith, and the reception of grace is centered in all the power and eternity of the Godhead; therefore, faith and grace cannot fail in the individual soul who has been redeemed by the Almighty. By being reconciled to God there is nothing left behind to disturb the peace of God. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1) The Nicolaitans have brought into the Church a lot of deception and confusion over the word ‘justified.’ In the context of Romans 5:1, there is nothing left behind for we have been justified by God in the very work and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. This has given us God’s eternal peace.

   In the judicial system when a man is justified, and all the charges against him are dropped then he can never be tried again for that same indictment. We were indicted because we were, and are, children of Adam, and we possess the sin that Adam brought into the world. But we have been justified through faith in our Savior Jesus Christ, and have been released forever from all charges against us in Adam. How can this be? Your very guilt, your punishment, your iniquity, your sin was laid by Almighty God on His dear Son, Jesus Christ. It is Christ who justifies us, and He is the Justifier of all them who come to Him through His faith, and His grace. He is the enactor, and He has enacted all for us. In His sacrificial death He left nothing behind, He took all out of the way, and nailed it to His own cross in His own Being on the hill of the skull, the place of death. He defeated the kingdom of sin and death, and the devil on the cross of Calvary. His glorious resurrection day proved that He had defeated sin, and death, and the devil. This is the glorious Savior who went into battle and accomplished our peace, and reconciled us to the Almighty God.

   He loved you and me, and the Lord told His own when speaking to His disciples that He would leave His peace with them. This is the work of the Holy Ghost to minister God’s peace; thus, He is the Comforter, and what could be more comforting than having peace with God. In our present day, the title of the Holy Ghost describes His unseen work to us. It is the work of the heart, and this is the peace the world cannot understand, for they have not known the way of peace. The way of peace they know not; and [there is] no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. (Isaiah 59:8)

   The ways of the world cannot know God’s peace for they contradict all the ways of peace. So how can anyone find peace with God? It is Christ, and Christ alone, who gives this peace that is within His very Being. When speaking to His disciples in John 14:27, He categorized the peace that is beyond all understanding by telling them it was His possession, His peace, the eternal peace of God that He is giving them, and because He has given this peace, He told them, Let not your heart be troubled, neither let your heart be afraid. This is applicable to all His redeemed. This peace of God has been made, and brought to us, by the Prince of Peace. He had to reconcile us to God, and He did this in His death on the cross, and by shedding His most righteous blood. And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20) In Colossians we have the accomplishment of the eternal peace that His death on Calvary accomplished for us.

The Scope of Eternal Peace and the Scope of War

   We have a past peace, a present peace, and a future peace in His atonement on the cross. Speaking of us, who are the redeemed, He has made that eternal peace for us by the blood of His cross. Notice also the eternal concept of His peace in this verse in Colossians for it has a broad scope, we have His peace for the redeemed, we also have a promise of His peace for the earth, and an eternal peace for heaven itself. His peace is eternally linked to His work of reconciliation, and to all the redeemed, and to all things under the curse to include things in earth, and things in heaven. This gives us the knowledge, and the heart, soul, and spirit experience that we KNOW the peace of God that is in His eternal Being. But the world around me does not know the peace of God. They cannot determine by looking at me that I have peace with God. For they are at war with God. They war against God by their sin and enmity, and their hatred for the Holy. They are at war with earth, they are at war with each other, and they are at war with God, and the heavens.  All this is described and prophesied in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to His dear Son to show unto the servants of the Son (not to the world) things to come. Mankind cannot acquire peace (even in this world) for sin opposes peace, and because of sin, men oppose each other. When man is speaking peace, and acquiring a peace, his own heart betrays him. Even the nations, while making peace, their leaders are planning for war. Mankind has proven this throughout his history, and the Bible confirms this by recording the true nature of man, and his actions against God, and against his fellow men because of sin.  

Side Note: Someone once asked me to prove the Bible. I went outside the Bible, and beyond their thoughts. I said, If you want to prove the Bible, all you have to do is to consider the Jew and trace his history. He is still here, Israel still exists, and there is an eternal link in the heart of the Jew that has made them survivors of a world that has done every imaginable thing to destroy them, and to assimilate them out of existence, and yet, the Almighty Jehovah keeps them to fulfill His divine promises and counsels that He made to Abraham. This proves the Bible. The Jew proves the Bible. The nation of Israel proves the Bible.

And the day of peace for Israel is coming. For the Prince of Peace will one day be revealed to them, and the remnant that is left will know the peace of God.

The Prince of Peace

   The title Prince of Peace is only given once by the Holy Spirit in the Word of God and that is in Isaiah Chapter 9, verses 6 and 7.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

   This wonder of the Wonderful comes in Isaiah Chapter 9. We have the God of peace in the very Prince of Peace. And He is yet to sit on David’s throne. Many do not see the fulness of this prophecy. For this prophecy and Chapter speaks of Israel’s judgment, and not of Israel’s peace, and their judgment and conflict is by the Almighty God, the mighty God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a God of the living and not a God of the dead. For this Prince of Peace will fulfill the eternal promise of sitting on David’s throne with more glory than Solomon. He will fulfill His eternal kingship that He made known to Pilate when Pilate asked Him, Art thou a king? The reply from the Lord Jesus was, ‘For this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world.’ Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:37) The Prince of Peace was sitting before Pilate, He was born of the line of David, and was waiting to be coronated and take His rightful place on the throne of David; yet, He was rejected as the King of Israel, and instead of a throne, He was nailed to a cross.

  Truly, the heart of mankind always betrays itself. His sin and enmity is so strong that he develops a delusional life, and lifestyle to cover his sin when it can never be covered. Pilate was such a man, although he washed his hands of innocent blood it had no effect on Pilate’s eternal destination. He would cry out in hell because of his own delusion. Although the Savior of mankind stood before him, Pilate chose the way of hell and not the way of heaven.

   The throne of David was given to David by God Himself. Israel had chosen its king in Saul, a man after the flesh, but God chose His king from the sheepfold to shepherd and lead His people and to establish a throne which would be a shadow of a glorious throne to come in the millennial kingdom. The Lord Jesus claimed as one of His titles, the Good Shepherd in John’s gospel Chapter 10. In His second advent He will lead the people of Israel into a glorious kingdom. At that time He will call the people of Israel, His people once more. The cast off of God will be reunited by the Lord of lords, and King of kings. He will call them His people, and they will call Him, their God. (Hosea) This will be where the Prince of Peace, the mighty God, and the everlasting Father will be coronated to sit upon the throne of David, the throne of His glory. Yet, have I set my King upon my throne in Zion. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. In Psalm 2 we not only have His eternal throne, we have the eternal Son of God, This day have I begotten thee. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (Psalm 2:7) These two verses take in the first and second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. This adds to the statement of Paul in Galatians when he declared (by the Spirit of God) that the day of Christ was the fullness of time. For in Psalm 2 we have the same concept of both the first and second advent connected to the very birth of the Son of God.

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Galatians 4:4)

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:5)

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)

   In Galatians Chapter 4, verses 4 thru 6 God takes the tentacles of time: past, present, and future and weaves them into His redemptive purposes, and His determinate counsels in the redemption of mankind. God declares the birth, the death, and the resurrection of Christ as the center of all time. His redemptive work provided salvation for all those who have walked by faith: past, present, and future. In Psalm 2, verses 6 and 7, God presents to us the first and second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. By the pen of David, and the Spirit of God, the Almighty unites the past, and the present, and the future in two verses combining them with Galatians 4 gives you an eye into God’s determinate counsels. The future millennial kingdom will be a place of peace for the Prince of Peace will be coronated as King on the throne of His glory. He will sit there as both Priest and King, again I refer you to Hebrews Chapter 7 where He is both Priest and King and He is both the King of Peace, and the King of righteousness. This will be the culmination of peace for Israel. The world also (in many measures) will enjoy His peace. Concerning His Person sitting upon the throne let’s travel back to Zechariah 6:12 – 15.

And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: (Zechariah 6:12)

Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:13)

And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD. (Zechariah 6:14)

And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God. (Zechariah 6:15)

   In all the prophesies that we have been discussing (Isaiah 9, Psalm 2, and Zechariah 6) they all revolve around the fullness of time mentioned in Galatians Chapter 4:5. They all add to the fullness of time. The One who gave us day and night, the four seasons, and time, uses time differently then we do. We look at time as part of our daily lives. God looks at time as part of His redemptive plan for mankind. He always has an overview of what has taken place, what is going on, and what is going to happen. That’s why every letter of prophecy is fulfilled by Him so that man can see the ultimate power and wisdom of his Creator. God knows the beginning of the history of man, and the very end of man’s history. The Creator of all things sees a completed painting of His plan of redemption: past, present, and future Each individual born into this world plays out his part as God works among the children of men. God works in this continuum of time making sure that His determinate counsels are completed in every way according to the fulfillment of all righteousness which is in His Son Jesus Christ.

   To understand a little bit of His will and purpose let’s look into the book of Acts, Chapter 2. It was Peter in the power of the Holy Ghost who stood before the Jews and explained the determinate counsels of God through the prophecies of David. There is a lot to be learned here, as God moved through time. Words written by David, and then declared by God’s dear Son, and then Peter in God’s final message of the Holy Ghost to the Jews, in hope of their redemption, Peter used the same Scriptures in one continuum of time. It was David who declared (by the Holy Ghost) that God’s holy one would not see the corruption of death. His body would be revealed in resurrection power without corruption. In John Chapter 11, the Lord Jesus stated of Himself that He was, and is, the resurrection and the life, and all those who believe in Him would not taste of the sting of death. David, by the Spirit of God, spoke of the Lord sitting upon the throne of Israel, and making all His enemies His footstool. Peter, by the Holy Ghost, confirmed this to the Jews, as it was the voice of God.

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. (Acts 2:29)

Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; (Acts 2:30)

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. (Acts 2:31)

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (Acts 2:32)

Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. (Acts 2:33)

For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, (Acts 2:34)

Until I make thy foes thy footstool. (Acts 2:35)

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)

   Let us not forget the only time that God’s determinate counsels is mentioned in the Bible is in Acts 2:22-25.

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: (Acts 2:22)

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (Acts 2:23)

Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (Acts 2:24)

For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: (Acts 2:25)

   As Peter was speaking to the Jews he had the full mind of God. Peter was speaking by the Holy Ghost, and the Holy Ghost had Peter quote from the Psalms of David. From the psalms of David we have the very voice of God that was given to David, and the Lord Jesus quoted these very psalms to declare to the Jews (in His trial before the Sanhedrin) that these Scriptures spoke of Him. It was He, and He alone, who had the title to sit upon the throne of Israel and it could not be any plainer. It was quite plain to the Jews because at THAT point they determined to take counsel to kill Him.

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10)

<<A Psalm of David.>> The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalm 110:1)

The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. (Psalm 110:2)

Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. (Psalm 110:3)

The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. (Psalm 110:4)

The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. (Psalm 110:5)

He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. (Psalm 110:6)

He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head. (Psalm 110:7)

I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. (Psalm 16:8)

   Once again, we see the past, present, and future of God’s plan of redemption. And the center of that plan is the Lord Jesus Christ. This is clarified (without dispute) in the New Testament in one verse, Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; This is the crowning touch of our redemption and His redemptive work. It is WHEN He had purged our sin, when the final peace was made that He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. This is the place that has been given to Him with complete authority and power over earth and heaven as He told His disciples. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18) He paid the very price of this position by His own blood on the cross.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14)

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (Colossians 2:13)

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (Colossians 2:14) 　

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:15)

   In Colossians we see our peace — that this peace is made with God by the very blood of the Son of God upon the cross of Calvary. In these Scriptures we have the path of His divine blood. In 1:14 we have redemption THROUGH His blood which leads to the forgiveness of sin. In verse 1:20 we have peace THROUGH His blood. And in 2:14 He has blotted out the handwriting that was against us.

   God’s record of our life in Adam and His ordinances that was against us are all blotted out for Christ has taken them and nailed them to His cross which clarifies the fullness of the redemptive power of His blood. For it was His Person who was nailed to the cross. It was His Person who became sin for us. It was His Person who endured the travail of His soul. It was His Person who defeated death for us. Therefore, in His shedding His blood for us, we enter in, we are embraced, we are captivated by the power of His endless life. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16) This battle that He endured has made peace for us. In Colossians 3:15 we have the peace OF God. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Notice the word ‘rule’ in this verse. This is dominion. This is sovereignty — that God’s peace should rule in our hearts. This peace (God’s peace) separates us from the world of strife. For we, through the divine work of Christ, have entered into God’s eternal peace. This is not a peace that the world can give because it belongs only to God, and He bestows it because of the work of Christ on the cross to those who walk by faith, and who are made the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ.

  Today, among the religions of men, God’s peace is not explained. God’s peace is not held in hearts, but God declares that those who are redeemed have received His peace. This is one of the crown jewels of our redemption. For if God’s peace rules in our hearts then we would never doubt God, we would never question God, we would never doubt our salvation, and we would never doubt His working through us. God’s peace is all about being centered in Him for He has become the center for us. If we see the Lord in this way then we are absorbed in and of His very peace. And this glorious peace is part of His own glory. As the triumphant warrior over sin, death and hell, He presents His glory and His peace to the world, but they still reject the glories of the Lord Jesus and the endless peace that He offers.

   In the days of Solomon, when the temple had been completed, it was completely emptied of man, for there was one more thing that had to be accomplished, it could not be fulfilled by man, not by the priests, nor by the Levites because only God could bring His glory and His peace to the temple and to the nation of Israel. At this point, the glory of the Lord descended into the temple, not into one little part, but the entire temple was completely embraced by the glory and the peace of God. Now it was up to Israel to embrace that glory and embrace that peace for themselves. They did this under the reign of Solomon, but as the shadows of sin embraced their king and their nation, the glory of Israel would one day depart along with its peace because of their sin; consequently, they would endure the sufferings from God’s judgment, and the treachery of the wars of men against them because they did not and would not embrace the glory of God, and the peace of God. Solomon was merely a shadow, a type, a picture of the One who would be the perfect King and Priest; the One who would fulfill all the kingly prophecies dedicated to His glorious being, and He would bear the title (and will bear the title) of King of Peace, and He Himself will fill the temple of God with His own glory on the throne of David. And how will He comfort His people? He will comfort His people by giving them His perfect peace. Once the glory of God departed from the temple, the peace of Israel also departed. He not only removed His glory, but removed His peace from the nation. Later when He returned lowly sitting on the colt of an ass, He was rejected of men, rejected of the nation of Israel because the Jews could not see their own day of peace. They could not behold His glory or the peace that He had brought with Him. They cast Him out of the vineyard. They killed the Prince of life, and killed their own peace, and they have not known peace since that very day. It is recorded that (before Pilate) all the people cried out, His blood be on us, and on our children. (Matthew 27:25) Those words have been fulfilled every day since they were uttered by the Jews. Compare this with Zechariah 9:9. (I find this interesting 9:9 — numbers do not lie). Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:9) What is so remarkable about this prophecy is that it is fulfilled in every detail before the Jews, and the nation of Israel, when the Lord made His entry sitting upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Their Day of Peace Had Come

   This was to be the day of their peace. This was to be the day that God would break the bars and shackles of Rome from Israel. This was the day that peace had come in all its fullness — in the fullness of time. In Zechariah 9:9 we have a remarkable movement of the Holy Ghost.

Side Note: The more that I read and study my Bible the more I see the sure footedness of the Holy Spirit of God as He has walks through the pages, and through the sentences, the verses, the punctuation, the titles, the chapters, the names and records of the books, and the numbering sequence — all under His power and direction. The same Spirit who moved over the face of the deep in Genesis 1:2 is the same Spirit who passes through my Bible, and gives me the sure Word of God. I am not moved by the world and its liars. I am only moved by the Spirit of God, and the Word that He protects and preserves.

   In the fullness of time peace had come by a lowly shepherd, a carpenter’s son, who came to be the Lord of lords, and King of kings. Would the Jew receive His peace? Would He reign in truth and peace? No, they would reject Him, and this too was prophesied by the Holy Ghost through Zechariah.

And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. (Zechariah 13:6)

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. (Zechariah 13:7)

   At that very moment that the Lord was preparing to give them peace and to defeat their enemies the prophecy of Zechariah was being fulfilled.

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, (Luke 19:41)

Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. (Luke 19:42)

For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, (Luke 19:43)

And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. (Luke 19:44)

   Consider verse 42, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. They did not know that the day of their peace had come, showing us their own ignorance of the Scriptures, and their heart felt lack of knowledge of the prophecies of Zechariah. And the Lord took away their peace, and in verses 43 and 44 declared their suffering at the hands of the Gentiles, that their cities would be destroyed and leveled to the ground because they knew not the time of their visitation. And this is recorded before the entrance of the Lord into the temple. When He entered the temple, He cleansed it by casting out them who sold, and them also who bought the tainted and unlawful sacrifices according to the law of Moses. It was only then, after He has cast them out and made a cord, a three-fold cord, that He proclaimed that, My house is a house of prayer. But the wickedness of the Jews, and the priests, and the Levites had made it a den of thieves. Only after He had cleansed the temple, and took possession by calling it ‘My house’ did that temple of Herod become the temple of the Lord. The glory of God was there in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The peace of God was there in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although He taught daily in His house, they would not embrace Him as the Lord of glory. And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him (Luke 20:47) He had come to bring peace, the mighty God had come to His temple to break the shackles of blindness, and the shackles of Rome, and yet, they denied Him and took counsel against the Lord, and against His anointed. He came to claim His temple, and yet, those of the temple rejected Him. They would not allow His eternal glory to fill His house. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. They wanted no part of His glory or His peace. Such is man in Adam. The deep enmity that is within him against God, his Creator, is beyond understanding. The enmity against God has blinded mankind to all truth, he has become a liar and a murderer like his father, the devil for the devil was a murderer from the beginning. The devil was, and is, the father of all lies. How long can mankind go without a lie? If you listen closely, his speech betrays him. The Jews told the Lord they were not in bondage to any man when the steel bars of Rome surrounded them. Man, today, denies that he is a sinner, yet, his life shows the very lie of his very life in the sin that he performs. Man is in bondage, but he will tell you of his freedom, and his liberties. He will establish documents, and traditions around this lie. For mankind is in the bondage of sin in every way. This is part of man. It is mankind who has become sin and death. This is part of who he is. For the slow of mind and spirit, sin and death has a dominion, has a king, and the his name is Abaddon, which is the devil. (Revelation 9:11) The dominion of the devil is called hell. In Revelation Chapter 6,verse 8, we have the phrase, ‘death and hell followed him,’ notice the trinity of evil: in sin, death, and hell. Notice that they followed the pale horse, and its rider, a symbol of both death and hell. This is why the Scriptures declare that Christ (on the cross) defeated death. He defeated him who had the power of death: the devil, the pale rider of Revelation 6. The proof of my words can be found in Hebrews 2:14 and 15.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14)

And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:15)

   All this led to making reconciliation for the sins of the people. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17) This is God, the Creator of all things, it is He who has reconciled us unto God. God Himself, in the likeness of sinful flesh, came into the earth that He might reconcile a people for Himself. If mankind were to be involved, it would not be full reconciliation. There would always be a condition, a rule, or a ploy of man to keep those under them in some form of bondage, but Christ in His reconciliation has made us free in Himself. As He freely gave us our redemption He has freely given us liberty as the sons of God. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

   For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3) The Lord Himself declared in John 8:36, If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)

Translated to a Kingdom from a Kingdom

   In the reconciliation and redemption by His blood He has taken us out of the kingdom of sin and death, and delivered us to the power of His endless life. In verse 7 of Romans Chapter 8, we have the bondage of the flesh in the carnal mind. It is the bondage of the mind to sin. It is also the bondage of Adam, and the depth of the enmity and hatred against God, and this can only be reconciled by Christ. It is the Adam in mankind that gives us man’s religion because all the traditions of man, and the ordinances of man, and the conditions of man are all after the flesh, and not after the Spirit. It is the carnal mind that gives us death through sin. And those who are outside of Christ remain in the shadows of death and hell because of sin. To be spiritually minded is life and peace. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)

   Our liberty and our freedom are not of this world. God has severed us from Adam’s world, and delivered us into the realm of His dear Son. Religion can’t do this; only faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can deliver us from sin and death, and from the carnal mind. When the Spirit of God takes up residence within, God makes the declaration that His children will have life in Christ and peace in Christ. World religion doesn’t deal with sin. It sees the effects of sin, but does not deal with the issue of sin. It took one divine Man from heaven above, the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ to deal and eradicate the issue of sin. By taking sin upon Himself, He destroyed sin and death and the works of the devil. In His wonderful proclamation of His resurrection, the Lord Jesus said, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25) We now get another crowning jewel of Scripture for the Lord Jesus also said And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:26) I ask you with all sincerity the same question that the Lord asked, Believest thou this?

   Mankind in their blindness gropes in the darkness of sin. Some attempt to bury their sin in a world of fantasy, and others hide their sin in the ways of religion. They have never come to the realization that they are at war with God, and that it is futile for mankind to war against the Almighty God. The religion of mankind has usurped God’s vineyard, and all who come with the Spirit of God is driven out of their religion. This has given us all the man-made divisions, and all the organizations that have attempted to take away the sovereignty of God over His own Church, just as the Jewish religious leaders and scholars in the day of Christ. They would not commit themselves to Him, and so also today, they commit themselves to man and not to the true head of the Church, Jesus Christ. The glorious Church of the Lord Jesus Christ belongs to Him, and the only ministry that the Church can receive MUST come from Him through the Holy Ghost — and do not forget this!

   This world of mankind and its religion is a battlefield for the believer. It is not a sanctuary. Every day you wake up in the territory of the devil, in the territory of sin and death. The Christian may cry, Peace, the peace of God; yet, the world and religion will not listen. In my experience, I have taken the blind to the water of life, held it to their mouths, and they still would not drink. I have held dying souls in my heart and in my arms, and watched while they passed into eternity without Christ. Adam has such a hold on humanity that only the power of the Holy Spirit of God can jar one lose from the fires of hell. The present-day liberal evangelist paints a different picture: in their delusion they see millions running to the cross; yet, they do not understand that the cross is a place of death, the cross is the place of the cruelty of mankind, the cross is a place of suffering.

Playground or Battleground

   Who really knows the depth of that suffering? Only One, the Lord Jesus Christ, knows. It is one thing to use the name of Jesus Christ, and it is quite another to KNOW the Lord Jesus Christ, to know Him as the Savior, to know Him as the Redeemer, and the mighty God. Paul stated to us that by our faith in Jesus Christ there is a suffering aspect of our salvation. For the true Christian has entered into the sufferings of Christ. When we look at Jerusalem, we moan in our spirits for the Holy Spirit of God has taught us in the Word of God that Jerusalem and Israel will suffer her hour of tribulation. When we see the throngs of Adam, we moan within ourselves for we see their ties with the kingdom of sin, death, and hell, for they have trodden down the way of peace. They are at war with a holy and righteous God. Darkness is their hiding place. When day light comes, they crawl back into the box of sin and death. This is the world that we live in, and too many Christians think that they are in a playground and not on a battlefield. This is why so many church goers have no peace of any kind, however, the child of God has a peace that is beyond understanding for our life is hid in Christ in God. And as we have been crucified with Christ we now live with Him, for He is our life. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) This mortal will put on immortality, and this mortal has been translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son, and with these eyes, I will behold Him, as Job stated, when my change comes, and I am released into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:16)

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19)

For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, (Romans 8:20)

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21)

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:22)

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)

   Let’s pause here for a moment — for these Scriptures have been neglected for years in the Church, it is time that this part of Chapter 8 of the book of Romans is unveiled. It IS an address of the Holy Spirit of God to the sons of God, what we are now in our flesh WILL pass away to the glorious image of Christ Himself. For we shall be like Him.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3:1)

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:3)

    As the sons of God we see the world and mankind (in Adam) in true light. We see the suffering of mankind, and yet, we suffer because of mankind. If we feel the sufferings of Christ then we will also be arrayed with His glory for His Spirit, the Spirit of peace, dwells within us. We take comfort in the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, for He is the Comforter of our peace beyond all understanding. Many times after a mighty battle of the world’s armies, a mysterious cloud of peace descends over the battlefield, and the armies stare in wonder not knowing that the Holy Spirit is ministering peace so that they might come to God. Many battle survivors will tell you that it is like the peace after a tremendous storm, and yet, they do not see that God is witnessing to them, and offering them His peace, eternal peace in Jesus Christ. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:7) This mysterious cloud of peace comes over the battlefield after the battle has ceased, whether with the armies of David, or the armies of Nebuchadnezzar, or the mighty legions of Rome, or Antietam, or the great world wars, or even the rice paddies of Vietnam. This cloud of peace has hovered over many battles, and over many wars on many continents, over many centuries: endless wars, countless conflicts, innumerable maimed and the dead beyond number — all have witnessed this cloud of deathly silence descending over the battlefield after the battle. This cloud of peace haunts men — peace among the dead — and for many of the dead they awaken in hell itself among the pains of sin and fire with no peace, peace is gone forever, and now only a place of torment. However, looking over the battlefield for a brief moment, the Spirit of God passes by with a cloud of witnesses of God’s peace for the survivors. Will they hear His voice of peace? They will have to answer that question. I cannot do it for them because I have made my peace with God through His Son Jesus Christ. My battlefield is to cry out mercy and peace to a dying world.

The Peace BY God, the Peace OF God, and the Peace WITH God

   The Spirit Himself witnesses within every child of God that we have a peace that cannot be comprehended by Adam: this is peace BY God, the peace OF God, and peace WITH God. Romans 8:16 begins with the assurance of life in Christ by the Holy Spirit for every child of God. This is undeniable, if anyone has the life of Christ within, then one KNOWS it by the Spirit of Christ within. In verse 17 of Romans Chapter 8 we are brought into the family of God as joint heirs with Christ. The word ‘with’ has a permanent tone, it is an enduring heirship that begins at salvation, and lasts throughout eternity. We are joined to Christ in every way. We are His brethren, and He is not ashamed to call us this. (Hebrews 2) However, along with heirship comes suffering, what He is in us the world still rejects; therefore, His suffering becomes our suffering. For He Himself suffers as Heir of all things.

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:2)

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)

Together in Suffering — Together in Redemption — Together Glorified

   And what is the fruit of suffering? Listen to the voice of the Spirit. He records this: If we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified together. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)

   All the suffering of the saint or saints cannot be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us in the unsearchable riches of Christ, and His peace that is beyond all understanding. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19) The world, the creation, and the creature also wants peace for they have endured the results of sin in Adam. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. (Romans 8:20)

    When Adam brought sin into the world, all was put in bondage because of sin. We only see through a glass dimly, and fail to see the suffering all around us. A world of animal, vegetable, and minerals, are all under a curse because of sin, and much more, being put in bondage not by reason of themselves, but by the reason of the sin of Adam. However, glory to God, the world itself comes under the redemption that Jesus Christ proclaimed from the cross when He cried, It is finished. And the creature itself is waiting and groaning till that day, till that hour of the glorious liberty of the children of God when all their pains and sufferings will truly be free at last. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:22) The Holy Spirit tells us of the pain of the entire creation, and this pain is laid at the feet of Adam and all his descendants. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12) The cloud of death is a continual witness to the sin of Adam that sin put ALL in bondage, flowers die because of sin, animals die because of sin, the whole creation groans and travails because of sin, the earth suffers: it shutters, quakes, erupts and spews out its inner life because of the kingdom of sin and death. And we ourselves, who have the fruit of the spirit of life and peace, groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our body.

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:7)

   The fact that God has given us peace today is one of those earnest things of salvation. Our peace comforts us, and assures us, that we will be embraced by God’s glory as sons and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. However, according to Galatians, we are heirs in waiting, and according to Romans 8, we are heirs waiting for our liberty as the sons of God. The entire Church, the true unseen (but known) body, is being prepared for their great day when they will see their Savior and King coronated and be presented by the Spirit of God as a glorious Church without spot to the Lord of lords, and King of kings. Therefore, let us set our minds on the peace of God which is beyond all understanding. Amen.

© Copyright 2019, Michael Haigh

Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)