Receiving Peace

Jesus statement about bringing division makes much more sense when you look at the rest of his teachings. Jesus said he was the way, the truth and the life - no one comes to the Father except through him. When Jesus came here and wrapped Himself in human flesh, he came to provide the way for humanity to come home to the Father. In doing this, He offered a gift to us all - the gift of forgiveness, the gifts of reconciliation, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is given to us because we need help, wisdom, and protection from the enemy who seeks to separate us from God.

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet... (Romans 16:20 NIV)

This is God's plan. The problem with this plan is that it does not save everyone. It only offers to save everyone. We have to choose, however, whether we want to be with God or not. God puts the decision in our hands. When we listen to God and follow His wisdom, we are walking with God. When we don't, we ignore God and fight against His direction. This rebellion is called sin. When we sin, we set ourselves up as God's enemies. There are only two solutions to being enemies. One is death. The other is surrender. Since we are setting ourselves up as enemies to God, we are the ones who will die. God always wins. The only other possibility is if God will accept our surrender. Jesus is God's way of telling us, "yes."

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:13-18 NIV)

Jesus is our white flag. Jesus provides a way for us to surrender. Jesus is the way we can return to the Father and walk together with God. Through Jesus, we can receive peace with God.

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV)

How about you? Have you received peace with God?